Health Benefits of Ganoderma Lucidum Mushroom

Ganoderma Lucidum mushroom is known to cure various chronic diseases including organ diseases and cancer. It also slows down the aging process and prevent illnesses. Ganoderma is a genus of polypore mushooms which grow on wood and include about 80 species, mostly from the tropical regions. The name Ganoderma is derived from the Greek ganos "brightness, sheen", hence "shining" and derma "skin" and lucidum in Latin for "shining." As a fungus it is not capable of producing their own nutrient through photosynthesis such as green plants. They lead a parasitic life by surviving on nutrients of other plants and animals. Ganoderma are wood-decaying fungi with a cosmopolitan distribution, and can grow on both coniferous and hardwood species. They are white-rot fungi, and have enzymes that allow them to break down wood components such as lignin and cellulose.

Língzhi  is the name for one form of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, and its close relative Ganoderma tsugae. It is extensively used in traditional Asian Chinese medicine for more than 4,000 years for their potential for bioremediation and it is one of the oldest mushrooms known to have been used in medicine. An ancient medical practitioner Lee Shizhen from Ming Dynasty classified Ganoderma as the "superior herb" also known as the "King of Herbs." He grouped Ganoderma herb into six categories by its color and form, namely Green, Purple, Red, Yellow, White and Black Ganoderma. All six types have its own medicinal values and healing effects.

Description
Ganoderma are characterized by basidiocarps that are large, perennial, woody brackets, also called "conks". They are lignicolous, leathery, and either with or without a stem. The fruit bodies typically grow in a fanlike or hooflike form on the trunks of living or dead trees. They have double-walled, truncate spores with yellow to brown ornamented inner layers. It is a polypore mushroom which is soft when fresh, corky, and flat, with a conspicuous red-varnished, kidney-shaped cap and depending on the age, white to dull brown pores underneath. It lacks gills on its underside and releases its spores through fine pores and so is classified as a polypore.


Benefits

There are special healing properties of Ganoderma on circulatory system, nervous system, and immune system as well as anti-cancer effects. Ganoderma Lucidum has the an unusual combination of beneficial components such as Polysaccharides, Organic Germanium, Peroxide Dismutase, and Triterpenes.

It possess anti-tumor, immunomodulatory and immunotherapeutic activities, supported by studies on polysaccharides, terpenes, and other bioactive compounds isolated from fruiting bodies and mycelia. It has also been found to inhibit platelet aggregation, and to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.

The mechanisms by which Ganoderma Lucidum may affect cancer are unknown and they may target different stages of cancer development: inhibition of angiogenesis mediated by cytokines, cytoxicity, inhibiting migration of the cancer cells and metastasis, and inducing and enhancing apoptosis of tumor cells.

Ganoderic acid  can help to strengthen the liver against liver injury by viruses and other toxic agents in mice, suggesting a potential benefit of this compound in the prevention of liver diseases in humans and Ganoderma-derived sterols inhibit lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase activity in the biosynthesis of cholesterol.

Ganoderma is reported to exhibit direct anti-viral with the following viruses; HSV-1, HSV-2, influenza virus, vesicular stomatitis. Ganoderma mushrooms are reported to exhibit direct anti-microbial properties with the following organisms; Aspergillus niger, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans, and Escherichia coli.

Ganoderma Lucidum also contains Polysaccharides which help to strengthen your immune system. Hence the stabilizing effects of Ganoderma can strengthen your health, improve your vitality and improve your immune system. These mushrooms can improve the immune system by activating Macrophages and Natural Killer (NK) cells. Macrophages are the important first line defence against virus, bacteria and foreign substances. NK cells are responsible to kill cancer cells in the body. Some can even improve allergic conditions such as skin allergy and asthma.


Extracted active components of Ganoderma can neutralize toxics in the body, reduce free radicals to slow down aging, and remove circulation blockage. Ganoderma can eliminate toxins accumulated in your body through intake of drugs. The organic Germanium in Ganoderma helps to enhance the ability of blood to take in more oxygen by 1.5 times. It also increases the metabolism rate and slow down the aging.


Availability
Ganoderma is available in capsules and liquid extracts, which can be found at health food stores. You can also take ganoderma in tea or coffee form, but the flavor may be bitter.

Medicinal Use
Usually 1 to 3 capsules of Ganoderma extract capsule per day is recommended for normal person and the dose can be increased from 3 to 6 capsules for those with serious and chronic health problems. Some people experience dry nose, dry throat, nausea, and gastrointestinal problems when taking Ganoderma, which is normal. Since the mushroom might interact with certain medications (such as anticoagulants and some chemotherapeutic agents), it is important to tell your physician when considering the use of Ganoderma. Please consult a registered medical practitioner before using it.