Reishi Ganoderma Lucidum) mainly in China, Korea, Japan and the United States show
effectiveness of Reishi for a very wide range of diseases and symptoms. But the studies
have not given indisputable explanation on its healing mechanism because none of its
presumed and known active components taken alone have given better results as a whole than
the intake of Reishi itself.
Its effectiveness applies to many areas so it is difficult to classify
each of them and conduct research in each field. It is perhaps more comprehensible at this
time, to explain Reishi's "miraculous powers" from the Traditional Chinese
Medicine point of view.
In the West, we have separated and classified each disease meticulously, and have
specialized in each of them to such a degree that it seems today as if each disease is
autonomous and standing alone.Oriental Medicine,resulting from knowledge accumulated
through 4000 years of human observation, asserts that health can be maintained by
sustaining the right balance within the body and that diseases can be cured by restoring
this balance through nutrition, including medicinal herbs, exercise and mental peace. In
other words, a disease is believed to be the tip of an iceberg, the result of the
underlying imbalance of the body which must be restored.
The 2000 years old medicinal book"Seng Nong's Herbal
Classic",considered today as the oldest book on oriental herbal medicine, classifies
365 species of roots of grass, woods, furs, animals and stones separates herbal medicines
into 3 categories. The first category, called superior, includes herbs effective for
multiple diseases and mostly responsible for maintaining and restoring the body balance.
They have no unfavorable side effects. The second category, middle, comprises tonics and
boosters and their consumption must not be prolonged. The third category, low, must be
taken usually in small dosages and for specific ailments. This category includes some
poisonous herbs.
Reishi,ranked number one of the superior medicines, was the most
exalted medicine in ancient times.All observations show that Reishi has no side effects
and can be consumed in high dosages and in parallel with other medications. Its main
properties are the cleansing of blood, enhancement of the immune system and the lessening
of nervous tension. These properties are conducive to normalizing and balancing the body
and as a result preempt cure a multitude of diseases from within.History of Reishi The
virtues of Reishi(Ling-Zhi),are believed to have been known since Chinese great antiquity,
since at least the reign of "Fuxi", a legendary ruler of that time known also as
the first of the Three August Ones.Seng Nong, the Holy farmer,who was the second of the
Three August Ones, is said to have discovered the curative virtues of plants by tasting
hundreds of species. "Seng Nong's Herbal Classic" is considered to be the
earliest manuscript on Chinese materia medica and is still today the foundation of
Traditional Chinese Medicine and in general all Oriental Medicine.Seng Nong's Herbal
Classic describes ling-zhi in detail: among 365 species of plants, roots, wood, fur,
animals and stones, divided into 3 grades, Ling-zhi is listed No.1 among the first
"superior" grade. The characteristic of the first grade is that no side effects
occurs even being taken for a long period of time. On the contrary, longer taking reduces
weight and extends life.6 species of Ling-zhi,differentiated by colors, are mentioned in
the Seng Nong classic. Li Shi Zhen, a famous medical scholar in the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644) introduced the indications of the 6 species concretely. The work of the latter
was republished in 1956, and translated into several foreign languages including Japanese,
English, French, German, Russian and Latin and is regarded as the cornerstone of
Traditional Chinese medicine.
To find reishi(Ling-zhi) in ancient times,people had to go high up on
the mountains and deep into the forests to harvest this most valuable medicine. The
discovery of Ling-zhi, which was very scarce, and which was believed to bring eternal
longevity, led to wide spread festivities.Ling-zhi was so valued it was used almost
exclusively by Emperors and by courtesans.Preparation was a long process of boiling the
mushrooms for hours or let them soak in alcohol for weeks so as to be able to drink them
after its active ingredients have been dissolved.