The cap and stem of the reishi mushroom are used to make herbal remedies for a variety of ailments, including cancer, HIV and hypertension. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, reishi mushroom's active compounds include beta-glucan polysaccharides and triterpenes, which may boost immune system function and inhibit cancer cell growth. Reishi mushroom may also reduce inflammation by altering the levels of inflammatory chemicals such as interleukins. Don't use this herb for any medical condition without first consulting a medical practitioner.
HIV/AIDS
HIV, the virus responsible for causing AIDS, attacks white blood cells known as T-lymphocytes, reducing the body's ability to fight infection. The reishi mushroom is sometimes used as an an immune stimulant by HIV patients, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Studies evaluating the role of reishi mushroom in the treatment of HIV are limited, but early research published in the October 1998 issue of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, found that triterpene compounds, found in reishi mushroom spores, exhibit anti-HIV activity. Clinical studies are needed to confirm the reishi mushroom's anti-HIV activity.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common health concern that, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, affects 1-in-3 American adults. While normal blood pressure measures 120mm-Hg/80mm-Hg, the blood pressure of an individual with hypertension consistently measures 140mm-Hg/90mm-Hg, or above. UMMC notes that reishi mushroom may help to lower high blood pressure but admits that evidence to prove its effectiveness is weak.
Cancer
Writing in the December 2003 issue of Integrative Cancer Therapies, D. Silva from the Cancer Research Laboratory, Methodist Research Institute in Indianapolis, notes that reishi mushrooms demonstrate anti-cancer activity and may have therapeutic potential as a dietary supplement for breast and prostate cancer. Research published in the December 2006 issue of Life Sciences found that reishi mushrooms also induce lung cancer cell death, leading the authors, W. Tang et al., to conclude that reishi mushrooms may be a potentially useful chemotherapeutic agent. However, controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm reishi mushrooms' anti-cancer effects.
Safety Considerations
The reishi mushroom is likely safe for most people, according to RxList. However, it may cause side effects, including stomach upset and nosebleeds. Don't use reishi mushrooms if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have low blood pressure. It may interact with other drugs you may be taking, including anti-hypertensives and anticoagulants. Talk with your doctor before using reishi mushrooms.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Reishi Mushroom
- "Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin;" Triterpenes From The Spores of Ganoderma Lucidum And Their Inhibitory Activity Against HIV-1 Protease; B.S. Min et al; October 1998
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypertension
- "Integrative Cancer Therapies;" Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi) in Cancer Treatment; D. Silva; December 2003
- "Life Sciences;" Ganoderic Acid T from Ganoderma Lucidum Mycelia Induces Mitochondria Mediated Apoptosis in Lung Cancer Cells; W. Tang et al; December 2006
- RxList: Reishi Mushroom
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