Today, there are a huge number of plants that are famous for their medicinal properties. The most important thing when using them is to familiarize yourself with all the side effects.
Reishi mushroom, or varnished Ganoderma, has long been famous for its medicinal properties. The properties of this plant have been actively used in traditional oriental medicine for more than two thousand years. Even in ancient treatises there were references to the fact that it grants longevity and eternal youth.
Reishi mushroom, proven by years of practice, is often used for preventive purposes. It is used to treat many diseases. Also called lacquered tinder fungus, sacred mushroom, lingzhi.
Where does it meet?
Under natural conditions, this fungus grows in many countries of the world. However, it is much more difficult to find it in temperate latitudes than in the subtropics. Lacquered tinder fungus is quite demanding on environmental conditions. Find real reishi mushroom in natural conditionspretty hard. Therefore, it is considered an expensive and hard-to-find product.
Description of the mushroom
Lacquered polypore belongs to saprophytes. Dead and dying trees are excellent as a substrate. Most often, the fungus can be found on deciduous and coniferous trees. It usually grows on oak, alder, birch, beech. The fungus is placed closer to the base of the plant. Sometimes it can be found on a stump. Fruit bodies can be located directly on the soil. However, in this case, the mycelium is likely to be hidden in underground roots. In our country, reishi mushroom can be found in the Altai, Stavropol, Krasnodar Territories, as well as in the Caucasus.
Appearance
The fruiting body of the fungus is annual and is formed in the warm season. His hat has a flat, slightly rounded shape. In diameter, it can reach 18 cm. In the upper part it is covered with a shiny wavy skin. It is divided into concentric growth zones. Each of them can have its own color. The edges of the cap are sharp and can be slightly bent towards the bottom. The leg is uneven, shaped like a cylinder, up to 3 cm in diameter. Its length can reach 25 cm. The pulp of the mushroom has a yellow-brown color and is hard in texture. At first it resembles a sponge, but as the fungus grows, it becomes stiff. On the underside of the mushroom cap is a hymenophore. It consists of short, single-layered tubes that are up to 1.5 cm long. The fungus has small pores and turns yellow as it grows.
Composition
So, what is the plant in question? Reishi mushroom, applicationwhich is not limited to the preparation of traditional medicine, has no taste and smell. The chemical composition and appearance of the product depend on the environment in which it grows. Lacquered tinder fungus is characterized by an extremely complex structure. It has been studied by scientists from America and Japan for many years.
The following substances are found in mycelium and fruiting bodies:
- amino acids;
- vitamins (C, B3, D, B5);
- essential oils;
- phytoncides;
- polyunsaturated and organic fatty acids;
- macro and micronutrients;
- flavonoids;
- steroids;
- triterpenoids;
- lipids.
From the point of view of medicine and biology, the most important in the composition of the fungus are carboxyethyl sesquioxide, polysaccharides, ganodermic acids. Thanks to the presence of these valuable compounds in the composition of the Reishi mushroom, it is characterized by its medicinal properties.
Medical use
An unusually wide range of medicinal preparations are obtained from the lacquered herbalist. Why is reishi mushroom so good? The medicinal properties and contraindications of this product are used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. It is also used to cleanse and strengthen the body as a whole. It has been proven that the regular use of drugs made on the basis of this remedy helps to improve memory, increase efficiency and cope with chronic fatigue and depression. Due to the high content of organically bound germanium reishihelps to saturate the heart and blood with oxygen. The fungus can be used to prevent the development of myocardial hypoxia. In addition, the product improves metabolic processes and strengthens the body's defense against viruses and microbes. Germanium helps to reduce the level of free radicals in the blood. This is known to be one of the causes of premature aging.
Beta-glucans, which are present in the composition of the reishi mushroom, have an excellent immunomodulatory effect, and also have antibacterial properties. They are great at lowering blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Reishi mushroom tea has a hypoglycemic effect and increases insulin sensitivity. This is especially important in the treatment of diabetes. The polysaccharide lanostane contained in the varnished tinder fungus is also of great importance. It has an anti-allergic effect, prevents the production of mediators of allergic reactions and antibodies. Thus, the mushroom significantly reduces symptoms such as itching, swelling, rash.
Today, medical institutions in America, Canada, France and Japan are actively working on the study of such a product as reishi mushroom. Properties and contraindications to its use have not yet been fully studied. Although today it is used in official medicine to prevent the development of cancerous tumors.
Triterpenoids, which are part of Ganoderma lacquer, play an important role for the human body. They have anti-allergic, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. They are also often used fordevelopment of painkillers and anticancer drugs. Triterpenoids help reduce blood viscosity. They are especially effective in reducing the risk of diseases of the cardiovascular system. Reishi mushroom is recommended for use as part of rehabilitation therapy after strokes and heart attacks. Plant-based preparations and products are widely used in traditional and folk medicine, both as part of complex therapy and for prevention. They are often used to relieve the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
What diseases is the mushroom effective for?
This issue should be given special attention. What can reishi mushroom be used for? Reviews of physicians and patients confirm that this remedy is especially effective for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. It can be used for hepatitis, cirrhosis, gastritis, ulcers, enteritis, pancreatitis, colitis, dysbacteriosis. A positive effect is also observed in violations of the cardiovascular system. Reishi mushroom allows you to fight against arterial hypertension, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis. It can also be used to treat infectious and autoimmune diseases. Reishi mushroom preparations have been proven effective in the treatment of respiratory diseases.
Use for weight loss
How else can reishi mushroom be used? The properties of this product help speed up the metabolism. This means that the mushroom can be used as a weight loss aid. With its regular use, there is a decrease in appetite,normalization of metabolism and cleansing of the body. Therefore, the use of tea with reishi mushroom often becomes a must-have item in many modern diets.
How to properly prepare raw materials based on this plant?
There are different ways. So, how to properly cook reishi mushroom, the beneficial properties and contraindications for which were discussed in this review? As a rule, the fruiting body of the tinder fungus is used to prepare medicines. For the past 20 years, this mushroom has been successfully cultivated for medicinal purposes. It is cultivated on an industrial scale on specially designed plantations in Southeast Asia. The fruits are harvested and harvested from mid-summer to late autumn.
How is Reishi mushroom grown?
Let's take a closer look at this. This culture, if desired, can be easily grown at home. How does reishi mushroom grow? Photos of home plantations indicate that for its cultivation it is necessary to purchase mycelium on wood sticks. You will also need a freshly cut log. Hardwoods are best. Holes up to 5 cm deep are drilled along the edge of the log in a checkerboard pattern. Sticks with mycelium are immersed in the holes obtained and closed with wet sawdust. A log infected in this way must be left in order for the fungus to germinate on it. Planting and cultivation should take place in a clean, damp place. The main conditions are the absence of drafts and sunlight. The recommended temperature range isfrom 18 to 25 degrees. It is also worth monitoring the soil moisture daily. Try to prevent waterlogging and drying of the soil.
Given that the reishi mushroom is quite rare in the wild, growing it can be quite challenging. Therefore, for medicinal purposes, it is better to buy ready-made raw materials from reliable manufacturers.
How to use it correctly?
Dried reishi mushrooms can be used to make a tincture, tea or decoction. To do this, you need to grind the fruit. You can do this with a coffee grinder or blender. To prepare the tincture, you should take 10 grams of chopped mushroom, pour it into a glass jar and mix with half a liter of vodka. The mixture is infused for 45 days. After that it is filtered. Take tincture daily before breakfast, 5-20 ml.
To prepare the infusion, you need to take one teaspoon of chopped mushroom, pour half a glass of water and leave for a while to infuse. The cooled solution is filtered and drunk before meals. This procedure for maximum effect should be repeated three times a day. The duration of treatment is 2 months.
To prepare a decoction, place one tablespoon of chopped mushroom in a saucepan. You should also add half a liter of water. The resulting mixture is boiled for 30 minutes. After that, the broth is cooled and filtered. It should be taken three times a day before meals. It is best to store the prepared mixture in the refrigerator.
Reishi mushroom tea is also highly effective. For its preparation it is necessarytake two teaspoons of raw materials, add a liter of water to them and insist for 20 minutes. Drink this drink instead of regular tea. Often lacquered tinder fungus is used as an addition to plain black, fruity teas. It gives the drink an interesting specific flavor. This tea benefits the whole body and helps to strengthen the immune system.
Contraindications
They are definitely worth exploring. Despite the huge list of positive properties that the reishi mushroom has, it also has contraindications for use. It should not be used by pregnant and lactating women. The fungus can cause serious side effects in people with poor blood clotting. It is also not recommended for children under 7 years of age. In some cases, individual intolerance and allergy to this product may develop.
In order for the reishi mushroom, whose medicinal properties and contraindications have long been known, to bring only benefits, it is recommended to consult a doctor before using it.
In conclusion
In this review, we examined in detail what a reishi mushroom is. At present, not only has it not lost its significance in medicine, but it is becoming more and more accessible. But before it was not available. Today, technology has emerged that makes it possible to grow reishi mushrooms in plantations around the world.
Many call the plant in question a real natural miracle. Its medicinal properties are being actively studied by scientists around the world today. It is believed that it can be used in the fight against cancerdiseases.
Reishi mushroom contains many useful substances. This makes it not just a good prophylactic, but a real drug. Due to the high concentration of ganoderic acids, reishi mushroom is effective in fighting tumors. This product also contains peptides, steroids, lipids and antioxidants to improve the overall condition of the body. The use of reishi mushroom helps to strengthen the immune system, helps fight bacterial and viral microorganisms, and normalizes the natural intestinal microflora. Many people are interested in this product in terms of weight loss. Reishi infusions and teas have been scientifically proven to help you lose weight. And this is not a complete list of all the positive effects of using this product.
Despite the many positive characteristics, do not mindlessly consume reishi mushroom. It is better to consult with your doctor first.
