Ganoderma lucidum, also known as lingzhi and reishi mushroom, contains beneficial substances such as beta-glucan polysaccharides, triterpenes, amino acids, riboflavin and ascorbic acid. Available in tinctures, liquid extracts and dry extract in capsules, Ganoderma lucidum is primarily used as an immune system booster. Consult a qualified health-care provider before taking ganoderma capsules.
Antioxidant Properties
Ganoderma lucidum appears to raise plasma antioxidant capacity, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Antioxidants help protect cells against the negative effects of free radicals. The body produces free radicals as waste products during the digestion of food and in response to environmental toxins. These molecules can cause cell damage and may be involved in the development of diseases such as heart disease and cancer, according to National Institutes of Health website Medline Plus.
Immune System Enhancement
Ganoderma stimulates white blood cells known as macrophages, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Macrophages consume foreign substances in the body and alter levels of interleukins, which are chemicals that regulate inflammation and the immune response. Some cancer patients take ganoderma because clinical trials have found that people with advanced-stage cancer experienced better immune responses when using this substance, according to Sloan-Kettering. Substances in ganoderma may inhibit tumor invasion and metastases. Some cancer patients also take ganoderma because it may relieve nausea from treatment and increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
Blood-thinning Effects
Ganoderma decreases the ability of blood platelets to stick together, which may have a blood-thinning effect. This activity is probably due to a chemical in ganoderma known as adenosine. Although this can be beneficial, the University of Maryland Medical Center advises consulting your doctor before ingesting ganoderma capsules or other preparations if you take any medications with blood-thinning effects. Some of these medicines include warfarin, clopidogrel, aspirin and ibuprofen.
Urinary-tract Benefits
Studies indicate that Ganoderma lucidum improves lower urinary-tract symptoms that are common in older men and are often associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The University of Maryland Medical Center also lists a suggested dosage of 150 to 300 mg of Ganoderma lucidum standardized extract two to three times per day as a therapy for urinary-tract infections in women.
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