Reishi New Roots Herbal's Reishi provides a pure, concentrated extract of Ganoderma lucidum , a medicinal mushroom highly valued for its benefits to the immune system, its antitumour activity, as well as its ability to balance the nervous system and support longevity. Reishi provides a wide variety of bioactive compounds, but its therapeutic properties are mainly due to polysaccharides, notably beta-glucans, triterpenes and ergosterols. It also contains minerals (including zinc, copper, iodine and iron), amino acids and adenosine analogues. The concentration and effectiveness of the product rely mainly on the hot-water extraction method used for the active ingredients. This approved process preserves the molecules in the extract, and guarantees a high final concentration of polysaccharides (40 %), including 24 % beta-glucans. The mushrooms used in our formula are grown in climate-controlled greenhouses, free from contamination by heavy metals, herbicides or pesticides, to ensure the concentration and purity of the extract. Ganoderma lucidum - a panacea Used in traditional Chinese medicine (under the name Lingzhi ) for millennia, reishi is still today one of the most popular medicinal mushrooms due to its many properties. The name “reishi” comes from Japanese, and can be translated as “mushroom of immortality”, or “elixir of life”, as it is reputed to increase longevity. Reishi also has adaptogenic properties, as it supports the body's ability to adapt to changes and to physical, mental or emotional stress factors. Its extract provides a synergy of active ingredients: triterpenes slow the growth and proliferation of cancer cells; while polysaccharides increase cytokine production and the antitumour activity of immune cells, while also exerting an antioxidant action. Numerous studies have been conducted to quantify this antioxidant effect, using biomarkers to assess antioxidant enzymes as well as the mitochondrial activity of heart cells. The results demonstrate the strong antioxidant effect of G. lucidum , including a reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease and a reduction in the loss of cellular energy associated with ageing. Several clinical trials have also looked at its immune-boosting properties in patients with cancer (lung, breast, colon or prostate), mainly in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The immunomodulatory properties of the polysaccharides positively influence the activity of antigen-presenting cells, the reticuloendothelial system, as well as humoral and cellular immunity. It has been observed in several studies that G. lucidum acts at different points in the cell cycle to interrupt the growth of breast, lung, liver, pancreatic and prostate tumour cells, as well as in leukaemia. This mushroom also has an anti-angiogenic effect, as it stops the creation of new blood vessels that feed tumour cells and promote their proliferation. The synergy between its polysaccharides and triterpenes has also been observed in benign prostatic hyperplasia, where it inhibits the activity of 5-alpha-reductase. Furthermore, an antiviral effect has been demonstrated, with inhibition of the viral replication of Herpes simplex I and II, HIV and hepatitis B virus. Reishi has proven effective against Gram-positive bacteria ( B. subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, E. faecalis ) as well as Gram-negative bacteria ( E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ). Triterpenes also have hepatoprotective actions, making reishi a useful treatment for liver diseases. The anti-inflammatory properties of triterpenes explain the effects of Reishi on chronic conditions such as arthritis and certain types of cancer. Reishi also has hypolipidaemic activity (metabolic disorders), as well as effects on allergies and asthma by inhibiting the release of histamine and other chemical mediators from mast cells, neutrophils and macrophages. Some of the triterpenes from G. lucidum have been successfully studied for their effectiveness against hypertension. Reishi is also considered antithrombotic, and is used against heart problems, anxiety, insomnia and stress due to its calming effects on the nervous system.
