Breast cancer occurs when malignant cells invade the breast tissue. It most commonly arises in the milk ducts and spreads into the surrounding tissue. Treatment depends on how far the cancer has spread but usually includes surgery to remove cancerous tissue along with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Some herbs, including reishi mushroom, might play a role in the treatment of cancer. However, evidence to prove that reishi mushroom is effective is lacking. Do not use this herb in place of conventional cancer treatments and talk to your doctor before including it in your treatment plan.
Properties and Potential Benefits
The cap and stem of the reishi mushroom, also known as the mushroom of immortality, contain a variety of active compounds, including beta-glucan polysaccharides and triterpenes, and it might play a role in the treatment of a number of conditions including fatigue, inflammation, hypertension and HIV. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center notes that resihi mushroom might help to reduce chemotherapy-related nausea and might also increase the effectiveness of radiotherapy. It adds that it might also boost immune response in cancer patients.
Administration
Reishi mushroom is commonly eaten raw, but reishi mushroom extract is also available in capsules or tablets. Guidance regarding the amount required to help prevent or treat breast cancer is lacking. However, Mississippi Baptist Health Systems notes that the usual dosage is 2 g to 6 g of raw mushroom daily.
Effectiveness
Clinical studies evaluating the effects of reishi mushroom on breast cancer are lacking. However, the results of a laboratory study published in the December 2000 issue of the "International Journal of Oncology" found that reishi mushroom inhibited breast cancer cell invasion, leading the authors to conclude that it might be of some value in the treatment of invasive breast cancer. However, reisihi mushroom was combined with several other varieties of mushroom, so it is therefore difficult to know whether reishi mushroom has the same effect when used alone.
Safety Considerations
Mississippi Baptist Health Systems states that reishi mushroom is generally regarded as safe but adds that it might impair blood clotting. Do not use this herb if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking anticoagulants. Reishi mushroom might also increase your immune response, so do not take it if you are using immunosuppressants. Keep in mind that it might also interact with chemotherapy drugs.
References
- BBC Health: Breast Cancer; Dr Gill Jenkins; March 2011
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Reishi Mushroom
- Mississppi Baptist Health Systems: Reishi
- "International Journal of Obesity"; Novel Medicinal Mushroom Blend Suppresses Growth and Invasiveness of Human Breast Cancer Cells; J. Jiang and D. Silva; December 2010
