Reishi mushrooms, known in China as lingzhito yellowish lacwort (Ganoderma lucidum), belonging to the species Ganodermataceae. They have a characteristic, shiny, lacquered hat in shades of red and brownhard consistency and bitter taste. They grow mainly on dead wood of deciduous trees – oak trees, book, less often spruces – in the warm, humid forests of China, Korea and Japan. They are very rare in Poland, they are a protected species and can be found in only about 150 places, mainly on old oak trees in landscape parks.
The history of reishi dates back over two thousand years. The first descriptions can be found in the classic herbarium Shen Nong Ben Cao Jingin which reishi was called top quality herbswhich “replenish qi, calm the mind, relieve cough and asthma, relieve dizziness, insomnia and heart palpitations.” In a later, 16th-century compendium Ben Cao Gang Mu authored by Li Shizhena this mushroom was presented as a raw material that strengthens the heart and spirit. Emperors and Taoist monks drank reishi infusions to maintain vitality and mental clarity.
In Chinese art, reishi appears and symbolizes Han Dynasty paintings ““immortality”. Wooden carvings depicting lingzhi as a good luck talisman were found in the tomb of Empress Xiaojing (1st century BC). However, in Japan, reishi (霊芝) was one of the gifts offered in Shintō temples as a representation of “pure energy”.
Modern phytochemical research confirms the presence of compounds that have aroused the interest of herbalists for centuries: β-glucans, ganoderic acids, ergosterol and polyphenols. You can buy reishi in Poland in pharmacies, herbal stores, health food outlets and online sales. Standardized extracts are the most popular, often marked with the DER ratio (e.g. 10:1) and the polysaccharide content.
Reishi mushrooms are among the most researched adaptogensi.e. natural plant substances (herbs, mushrooms) that increase the body’s resistance to physical, mental and environmental stress. They contain an extensive set of bioactive compounds:
- polysaccharides (including β-glucans): this is the largest group of compounds present in the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum. β-glucans influence the activity of macrophages, T lymphocytes and NK cells, and at the same time regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines;
- triterpenes (ganoderic acids): attributed antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects;
- sterols: natural lipid compounds present in the structure of the mushroom. They support the body’s lipid balance and participate in the stabilization of cell membranes;
- numerous antioxidants: neutralize free radicals and protect cells against oxidative stress, which accelerates the aging process and weakens immunity;
- copper, zinc, manganese and selenium: elements involved in the work of antioxidant enzymes;
- vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and niacin: compounds supporting energy metabolism;
- ergosterol: a precursor of vitamin D2, which can be transformed into its active form under the influence of UV light.
Review published in the 2025 journal Antioxidants by a team from the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca shows that reishi mushrooms influence on the immune system, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid profile and oxidative stress parameters. The authors emphasize that regular supplementation with standardized extracts was associated with improved inflammatory markers, reduced LDL cholesterol levels and supported liver function.
The adaptogenic effect of reishi also applies the body’s reaction to mental stress. In 2025 in the magazine Chinese Medicine A paper by several Chinese research centers was published entitled “Ganoderma lucidum spore oil alleviates psychological stress-evoked tumor progression by enhancing FcγR-mediated macrophage phagocytosis”. Scientists observed that reishi spore oil (GLSO) can slow down the development of tumors, especially when the body is under long-term stress. This is because it supports the action of macrophages, i.e. immune cells that “absorb” and remove abnormal cells, including cancer cells.
Studies have shown that GLSO improves the functioning of special receptors on the surface of these cells (so-called FcγR), thanks to which the immune system recognizes and destroys the threat more effectively. This effect was visible even in conditions of chronic stress, which usually weakens immunity. This is one of the first studies to clearly show the relationship between stress, weakened immune system and the effects of reishi mushroom extracts.
Another important area of research is the intestinal microbiota. Review article published in series Frontiers in 2024 by Jilin Engineering Normal University analyzes the impact of reishi polysaccharides on the composition of the intestinal flora and the production of short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate. The authors describe that polysaccharide fractions from Ganoderma lucidum they promote the development of anti-inflammatory bacteria, which translates into on better integrity of the intestinal barrier and indirectly on the regulation of the gut-brain axis. This direction of research explains the observations regarding the improvement of mood, sleep quality and subjective energy level in people using reishi extracts in interventional studies.
Combining this data paints a coherent picture: reishi work in many ways. They influence metabolic parameters, support the liver, strengthen immunity, and at the same time participate in the regulation of the response to stress and the condition of the intestinal microbiota. So they can be used as an adjuvant in metabolic syndrome, chronic fatigue, convalescence after illness and in cardiovascular prevention programs. At the same time, researchers emphasize the importance of the quality of the raw material: standardization for the content of polysaccharides and triterpenes, control of contamination and clear origin of crops determine how effective the preparation taken by the patient will be.
Reishi mushrooms have bitter, woody taste, with a distinct note of resinwhich is why in the kitchen they are treated as a functional raw material and not an element of the everyday menu. They are most often used in the form of extracts, powders or decoctionsbecause the structure of the fruit body is very hard.
The most convenient way to incorporate reishi into your daily routine is through extracts in capsules and powder added to your diet. coffee, cocoa, plant milk or smoothie. It is worth combining reishi with products rich in vitamin C, because an acidic environment supports the absorption of polysaccharides. A morning drink with citrus fruits, ginger or currant juice works better than taking a supplement in the evening. This form allows you to include reishi in a ritual that builds energy for the entire day.
In the kitchen, reishi is also found in broths and infusions. A few thin slices of dried mushroom added to vegetable or poultry stock it gives it depth and a characteristic bitterness, which is balanced by miso, sesame or ginger. In East Asia, such broths are treated as part of the care for the body’s balance, and not as a dish in itself. The home version is simple: the dried fruit is boiled for 30-40 minutesremoves it before serving, and the aroma remains in the background of the dish. Reishi can also be added to cream soup with carrots and kale or to an infusion with spices, which is drunk in small portions.
Including reishi in your diet is worth considering as part of a broader strategy for taking care of your body. A bitter infusion, a morning cocktail with powder or a broth with a delicate note support balance in periods of intense work and tension. People taking anticoagulants, immunosuppressants or with bleeding disorders should consult supplementation with a doctor, because reishi affects processes related to the immune system and blood.
Source: Terazgotuje.pl, frontiersin.org, MDPI, onlinelibrary.wiley.com
