Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi) – History and Benefits
Ganoderma…it’s not exactly a word people appreciate or recognize in North America, but it’s time to lift the curtain on this “King of Herbs” and reveal it’s full history and benefits. Get ready to see what the Chinese have quietly kept to themselves for years, but has now been found out by a small percentage of North Americans who don’t go a day without it.
Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi) – What Is It?
Ganoderma is a member of the mushroom family, and is often called Reishi or Ling Zhi, the herb of immortality or longevity.
Ganoderma is found in nature in densely wooded mountains of high humidity and dim lightning. It is extremely difficult to find as it flourishes mainly on trunks of dead plum trees, and of every 10,000 of these aged trees, you may find that 2 or 3 Ganoderma have growth.
It’s no wonder that in the old days when one discovered Ganoderma (Reishi), that it was kept from even your closest relatives and there was large celebrations upon its successful return.
Ganoderma has also been documented in the oldest Chinese pharmacopoeia that was written around the first or second century B.C. In this documentation, Ganoderma was recorded as having the most extensive and effective healing powers. Due to this recognition, there was research into successful propagation of Ganoderma, and in 1972 the cultivation of Ganoderma became successful and started to become available to everyone and not just a privileged few.
Ganoderma – The “Superior Herb”
In ancient times, Ganoderma was so successful that its results have been attested to in the oldest Chinese medical text, which is presumed to be over 2000 years old.
This book has over 365 different kinds of medicine classified and explained. 120 of them are declared superior medicines, 120 are average, and the other 125 are fair.
The superior medicines are called “God’s Herbs” and are for perpetual youth and longevity. The average medicines are those to be taken as a tonic, and the fair category are for specific ailments. A person must be careful about the amount you take in the average or fair categories and they should not be taken continuously. However, the book states that any amount of superior medicines can be taken as desired on a continual basis with no unfavorable side effects.
Of all the superior herbs listed in the text, Ganoderma (Reishi) was rated #1.
This is precisely why concerns over side effects are often misplaced, and why it needs to be completely understood that any side effects you may feel while consuming Ganoderma are likely due to detoxification, which is a constructive development for your long term health.
Ganoderma – The Benefits
As a superior herb, Ganoderma has extensive use in a wide range of health situations.
Generally speaking, Ganoderma is well known for improving quality and length of life by warding off disease and frailty that comes with aging, as well as sustaining overall wellness and promoting renewal.
Two of the most important compounds in the health benefits of Ganoderma are polysaccharides and triterpenes.
Polysaccharides play an important role by:
. Stimulating the immune system, which is vitally important in helping the body heal and renew. As we age, our immune system weakens which makes us more susceptible to infections and immune system disorders.
. Strengthening the cardiovascular system to promote strong, healthy blood circulation and help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
. Improving liver function to help detoxify and cleanse the body of a painful toxin load.
. Helping delay the aging process and improving the skin (Ganoderma is roughly translated as “bright shiny skin”).
Triterpenes and ganoderic acids are strongly associated with the following benefits:
. Immune system support.
. Hormone regulation – through support of the endocrine system.
. Stress reduction – through blood pressure control.
These are a few of the health benefits of Ganoderma, and a quality source will ensure you supply your body with the tools to do the work required to rejuvenate your health.
Ganoderma – Successful Cultivation Methods
Due to its rarity, extensive research and wide use of Ganoderma was initially prohibited. However, with the advent of successful cultivation of Ganoderma, it could now be researched and consumed for everyone’s benefit.
It’s important to note that the potency of Ganoderma is largely affected by the cultivation method. Wood pulp/bottle/plastic bag cultivation is widely used as a cost cutting measure and the resulting crops medicinal value are not as potent as those that use natural wood log cultivation. Wood log cultivation is considered to be the best way to cultivate higher quality Ganoderma and is used by those who are serious about delivering benefits to it’s end users.
Ganoderma – Selecting the Right Source
It’s very important to consider the quality of Ganoderma before you purchase a product containing it.
Often, companies sell lower grade products with inferior growing methods, low quality purity, and fill their supplements with excipients, binders, and/or fillers. This results in a drastic dilution in the potency of the herb and the potential health benefits, so selecting a higher quality ganoderma is very important.
Ganoderma – Application Methods
As a result of the expansion of cultivation methods, Ganoderma is now seen in more innovative and enjoyable products than it was 10 years ago.
The fact that you could even enjoy Ganoderma on a daily basis and not need to hunt down the magic log out of 10,000 is a serious accomplishment and benefit to mankind. Being able to take a capsule with a glass of water is a bit more convenient than finding Ganoderma in the forest, bringing it home, then cutting it up and boiling it into a bitter tasting tea so you can enjoy the benefits.
Thanks to research, innovation, and technology, you can not only enjoy high quality ganoderma daily, but in formats that make it incredibly easy and enjoyable to consume.
Ganoderma is now available in premium coffee, tea, meal replacement shakes, water, performance bands, and others. You can now even hook up your dog to Ganoderma, and watch them grow old as gracefully as you!
All these applications make it incredibly easy to take Ganoderma, and enjoy it to the fullest on a daily basis. Healthy habits can’t get much simpler than that.
To your health!
To learn more about ganoderma and it’s many enjoyable applications, please visit http://ganocoffeebenefits.com/.





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