Red reishi is known as the queen of medicinal mushrooms in China and Japan, and is one of the most popular mushrooms within folk medicine in this part of the world. For more than 4,000 years, emperors and prominent taoists have used reishi as a curative elixir. Historically, this mushroom has been exclusively reserved for the higher classes of society.
Nowadays, there is an ever-increasing interest in finding ingredients in nature. What’s more, reishi is now easier to source. As a result, this potent and adaptogenic mushroom is more popular now than ever before.
WHAT ARE ADAPTOGENS?
In 1947, a russian researcher defined an adaptogen as an agent that allows the human body to withstand severe physical, chemical and biological stress factors. The body does so by developing a resistance to this type of stress, thereby allowing the organism to adapt. Put more simply, adaptogens respond to stress and imbalance, allowing the body to continue functioning as normal.
An adaptogen will promote a balancing effect on different systems in the body, such as the immune system, nervous systems and the cardiovascular system. The most commonly known plants and herbs that are adaptogens include roseroot, ginseng, schisandra and chaga.
A NUMBER OF EXCITING EFFECTS
Reishi is an adaptogen mushroom that restores the body’s different functions when these have become imbalanced. It can revitalize, refresh or sooth, depending on what the body needs. Reishi is particularly effective in combating stress, insomnia and hormonal changes. It is also claimed that reishi can alleviate allergic reactions and inflammation, and calms the nervous system. At the same time, it is a potent antioxidant, helping to boost the immune system.
GROWS ON TREES
Reishi, or its latin name Ganoderma Lucidum, is known as “the queen healer” within traditional chinese medicine. As with chaga, reishi grows on trees. One of the benefits provided by mushrooms that grow on trees is that the tree itself acts as a filter for the mushrooms. A mushroom growing in nature acts like a sponge. If the area where it is growing has a lot of waste products, the mushrooms will also contain large quantities of waste products. The trees on which reishi grow however filter away a lot of these waste products.
HIGH CONTENT OF BETA-GLUCANS
Reishi is also similar to chaga in that it has a high content of polysaccharides and beta-glucans. Reishi also contains a number of micronutrients in addition to vegetable matter, and is therefore a wonderful source of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Another similarity between chaga and reishi is the content of bitterns. These boost digestion and stabilize blood sugar levels.
DUO-EXTRACTED FOR MAXIMUM EFFECT
Double extraction or duo-extraction is required to exploit all the active agents in reishi. Duo-extraction is a technical term that implies extraction in two phases; one water-soluble and the other alcohol-based. The extract we use is developed by Four Sigmatic, one of the pioneers within this area. Our analyses show that this extract is extremely potent and pure, and without a doubt the best currently available.