The « shiny » Ganoderma, GANODERMA LUCIDUM, GANODERMATACEAE, is a basidiomycete (or « hat » fungus) which is part of a plant family with many species (about 80) that are found more in hot countries.
Ganoderma lucidum, LINGZHI in China, REISHI in Japan is a very old traditional medicinal plant in Asia (especially in China).
It is a rather rare mushroom in nature (but is now cultivated ) and which was reserved for the ruling classes of the Chinese and Japanese Empires, to live better and longer, a mushroom to delay old age and prevent diseases as well. as energy imbalances.
Modern studies confirm the pharmacological properties of this type of fungus: strengthening the immunity and natural defenses of the body, adjuvant to modern cancer treatments.
According to recent botanical studies the mushrooms « Ganoderma lucidum » are in fact a mixture of several species difficult to differentiate from each other but with similar therapeutic properties.
Thus in Asia the main variety of Ganoderma lucidum used in herbal medicine would in fact be a new species proposed as Ganoderma lingzhi.
The Ganoderma lucidum itself is present in forests from China to Europe and also seems to be present in North America, it grows at the feet of living or dead deciduous trees, sometimes quite far from the trunk on buried roots.
Another Ganoderm, Ganoderma tsugae is also medicinal and has the peculiarity of growing at the feet of certain conifers.
Fungi of the « ganoderm group » look very similar and are fairly easy to recognize in nature.
At the beginning the shiny ganoderm looks like a very vertical finger colored in brown or cream (it is the foot of the mushroom) then the cap develops laterally creamy white with reddish-brown staining or red-coppery with a lighter margin.
The appearance of the mushroom is glazed (shiny), its consistency very fleshy and woody.
It is a fungus that persists for a few months (which is rare for a fungus) but disappears during wintertime.
All parts of the fungi of the ganoderma lucidum « group » are used in herbal medicine: the cap and the foot, the cultured mycelium and the spores.
GANODERM GANODERMA LUCIDUM MEDICINAL MUSHROOM REISHI LINGZHI IMMUNITY REINFORCEMENT CANCERS INFECTIONS OLD AGE SENESCENCE DIABETES AIDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES
Ganoderma lucidum cultivation
THE AERIAL PART OF GANODERMA LUCIDUM (the fungus itself or carpophore) contains:
- POLYSACCHARIDES of various molecular weight (polymers of glucan), and complex carbohydrates (associations of simple sugars and organic acids).
These substances are IMMUNOSTIMULANTS (strengthen the body’s defense), in particular by ACTIVATION OF LYMPHOCYTES (T and B) and MACROPHAGES (cells that ingest bacteria or abnormal cells).
- Specific compounds with a triterpene nucleus (such as sterols):
Ganodermic acid and related compounds (ganoderic, ganolucidic ..).
They are ANTITUMORAL in vitro (anticancer), slowing the development of certain cancerous lines (liver, spleen, breast, prostate, cervix).
More generally, they PROMOTE APOPTOSIS (cell death) of abnormal cells (cancer cells, infected cells),
They increase the EFFICIENCY oF anticancer CHEMOTHERAPY (potentiation of the effects of chemotherapy).
- ANTI-INFLAMMATORY antiviral compounds.
THE CULTIVATION OF MYCELIUM (the underground part of the fungus) allows to recover:
- The substances described above (polysaccharides and triterpene compounds).
- ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE protein compounds (mycelium extracts).
- Substances acting on the functioning of the brain: anti-inflammatory and associated with an ANXIOLYTIC and ANTI-DEPRESSIVE effect (extracted from the culture medium).
Fungi of the Ganoderma lucidum « group » (reishi, lingzhi) are widely studied in Asia.
Research is focus on how the compounds extracted from these fungi act on cancer cells or participate in the body’s defense, how they interact with the functioning of the brain.
USES
In Asia this mushroom has been used and « revered » for a very long time, it is the « LONG LIFE MUSHROOM », a remedy formerly reserved for Emperors and Nobles (aristocrats) but which is now found in Asia in all traditional pharmacies (like ginseng or astragalus).
Currently it is advised and prescribed:
- to STRENGTHEN THE physical and mental TONUS: asthenia, effect of age, osteoarthritis and rheumatic pain, after a long illness, depression,
- to STRENGTHEN THE ORGANISM’S DEFENSE, in particular against infectious bacterial and viral diseases as well as CANCERS,
- to reduce the risk of TYPE 2 DIABETES (especially in cases of obesity) and to reduce its effects on the body (cardiovascular and neurological disorders, chronic inflammatory state).
- in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy to try to SLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANCERS, limit metastases, and in the event of serious viral infection it is prescribed in combination with specific drugs (AIDS, hepatitis).
HOW TO USE GANODERMA LUCIDUM REISHI
- DECOCTION:
It is the traditional preparation.
The fungus is fragmented into a strip or pulverized, the decoction is long (at least two hours) in very hot or simmering water.
The liquid becomes dark and very bitter.
Example of DOSAGE:
5 to 10 grams of dry mushroom in a decoction of half a liter of water, to be consumed in two to three days (keep the decoction in the cold).
- TABLETS OR CAPSULES:
The aqueous or alcoholic extracts of ganoderm are very bitter, the use of capsules or tablets of ganoderma powder is preferable and makes it possible to adapt the dosage more easily:
EXAMPLE, 2 to 4 tablets or capsules per day dosed at 500 mg of mushroom powder.
In general, follow the laboratory’s instructions because the dosage in powder or mushroom extract may vary.
To be effective it takes at least 15 days of treatment, which can be extended up to 30 days if it is well tolerated: absence of digestive disorders or side effects (tendency to hemorrhages).
Ganoderma lucidum is not yet part of the European pharmacopoeias, for a long time it was only found in traditional pharmacies in Asia, but with the development of efficient cultivation techniques and the globalized trade in food supplements thanks to the internet, it is possible to find ganoderma powder or extract at a reasonable price.
PRECAUTIONS and CONTRA-INDICATIONS
Ganoderma lucidum, reishi or lingzhi, is not poisonous.
It can nevertheless lengthen the blood coagulation time, ie promote SMALL BLEEDING (by a mechanism still not understood).
You must therefore be careful when you are already on anticoagulant treatment (following a myocardial infarction or stroke for example).
In some people it can cause minor digestive problems.
REISHI, GANODERMA LUCIDUM CULTIVATION
Mushrooms of the Ganoderma lucidum group are quite rare in nature, but mushroom cultivation techniques have been refined and standardized thanks in particular to the growing worldwide demand for antibiotics (mainly extracted from lower fungi).
- The mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum, ie the « body of the fungus », a dense network of small generally colorless filaments is cultivated
in laboratory conditions, in aqueous medium, free of germs and whose physicochemical parameters are adjusted to obtain rapid and regular growth. - The reproduction part of the fungus, the « carpophore » or surface fungus.
Mycelium is added to a vegetable mixture (example straw, wood chips), the sown culture is maintained at the most favorable temperature, humidity, light intensity and even air quality so that the mycelium « decides » to form the aerial part of the fungus.
The appearance of cultivated ganoderms is sometimes very different from that of the « wild » mushroom, very elongated foot, small carpophore (fruiting body).
The main producers of ganoderm fungi and mycelium are in the Far East, Southeast Asia and North America.
There are a few European producers.
You can try your hand at « domestic » cultivation of ganoderma or reishi by purchasing a « kit » of cultivation of this mushroom, result not guaranteed!
ABSTRACT
A MEDICINAL MUSHROOM WITH GOOD REPUTATION IN ASIA
GANODERMA LUCIDUM, REISHI in Japan or LINGZHI in China is present in the forests of the northern hemisphere.
It helps strengthen the body’s immune defenses to fight infections, cancers and delay aging.
It is a fairly rare mushroom in nature but is now cultivated in Asia, North America and Europe.et Europe
Copyright 2023 : Dr Jean-Michel Hurtel
You are on www.phytomania.com
French site dedicated to medicinal plants and essential oils
PHYTOTHERAPY, AROMATHERAPY, MEDICINAL PLANTS, ESSENTIAL OILS