Chinese Herbs – Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum) to Boost Immune System and Prevent Cancer

The interest of the modern Western world on the wisdom of the ancient eastern Chinese herbal remedy as a complementary or alternative therapy is rising and gaining popularity because of its holistic approach, emphasis on quality of life and prevention of illness by strengthening and restoring the body’s immune system.

Building a strong immune system is essential for the body to recognize and eliminate cancerous cells. Cancer is a disease resulting from uncontrolled defective cell division from damaged genes from any parts of the body. A weaker or impaired immunity will increase your susceptibility to various bacterial and virus infection, allergies, eczema, chronic fatigue, sickness and aging prematurely also.
Modern advanced technology and scientific research have helped to unlock the many preventive and healing secrets in Chinese herbs.

History of Ancient Herbal Remedy

Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum) - is a mushroom commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Japanese medicine. In Japan it is called Mannetake meaning ‘thousand year mushroom’.
Its Chinese name is Lingzhi which means “herb of the spirit”. It was a very rare and precious Chinese herb in ancient time and Emperors of the great Chinese dynasties and Japanese royalty drank teas and concoctions of Lingzhi for vitality and long life.

For over 2000 years Reishi mushroom has been the most cherished and sought after medicinal herb in Asia and rated as one of the superior herbs in the "Seng Nong's Herbal Classic", a 2000-year old medicinal Chinese book for:

• its efficacy for multiple diseases
  
• maintaining and restoring balance to the body’s interdependent systems
  
• safety in long-term consumption with no unfavorable side-effects
  
• natural resistance of the body and longevity
  

The dried powder of reishi was popular as a cancer chemotherapy agent in ancient China. Research has shown that reishi clearly demonstrated anticancer activity with cancer cells and has possible therapeutic potential as a dietary supplement for an alternative therapy for breast and prostate cancer.

Medicinal mushrooms such as Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi) and Cordyceps have well been documented in many recent scientific studies to be potent medicine to enhance and support the body’s immune function from certain compounds in them such as polysaccharides which increase the activity of the body’s natural killer cells(lymphocytes) that are vital to eliminate foreign cells(such as cancer cells).

Supporting research reports published in the Journal of Alternative Complement Med. 2003, Journal of Cancer Integrative Medicine 2004, International Journal of Oncology 2004, FASEB 2004 showed that reishi clearly:

• demonstrates anticancer activity in experiments with cancer cells
  
• protects the liver and improves liver functions
  
• has possible therapeutic potential as a dietary supplement for an alternative therapy for breast and prostate cancer
  

Health Benefits of Reishi(Ganoderma Lucidum):

• supports the body’s own immune system by promoting the activity of antibodies
  
• improves the body's resistance to stress and infections
  
• balances stress response
  
• reduces allergies
  
• promotes healthy liver function
  
• enhances the body’s detoxifying process to reduce accumulated toxins
  
• inhibits invasiveness of breast and prostate cancer cells
  
• supports a normal, restful sleep
  
• enhances vitality and energy
  

Tips to select the Best Reishi

• choose red reishi – it has the highest quality extract and has most scientific evaluations
  
• choose those with cracked spores – which release the medicinal benefits and better absorbed by body
  
• solid wood log cultivation – this determines the potency of the resulting fungus
  
• look for Good Manufacturing Practice(GMP) standards – this ensures the stability of active bio-components harvested
  
• standardization of active constituents – the effectiveness of reishi lies in its polysaccharides and triterpenes contents
  

Many commercial preparations are available, such as extracts, dietary supplement, tinctures, dried fruiting bodies, teas and teabags, tonics and pills.

by Elena Leong