What is the history of reishi mushroom?

Lingzhi has been recognized as a medicinal mushroom for more than 2000 years, and its powerful effects have been documented in ancient scriptures (Wasser 200). The images of Lucidum in art began in 1400 A.D., and are associated with Taoism (McMeekin, 200). The reishi mushroom was first discovered by Chinese healers more than 2000 years ago in the Changbai Mountains. This northern mountain range, which translates as “perpetual white mountainous region”, is widely known for its icy conditions, but the base of the mountain is home to a large temperate hardwood forest where the rare reishi mushroom flourishes.

The reishi mushroom is one of the best known and best studied medicinal mushrooms. Called lingzhi (the divine mushroom) in China and manetake (the mushroom of immortality) in Japan, Reishi has long been prized for its powerful medicinal properties. Doctors across Asia continue to use the reishi mushroom to treat a wide range of diseases and health problems, and its use among Western doctors and healers is increasing. Reishi mushrooms are rich in compounds called triterpenes, which improve oxygen utilization and the functioning of vital organs.

The reishi mushroom remains a traditional medicine commonly used in modern Asia, and its use in Western cultures is increasing dramatically. Nicknamed the “mushroom of the soul” or the “king of mushrooms”, the reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) has a long history of medicinal use. The reishi mushroom grows at the base of deciduous trees in tropical and temperate regions of Asia, and is exceptionally rare in its wild form. Healers believed that the reishi mushroom had potent anti-aging properties and has long been used as a talisman for luck, healing and well-being in Chinese culture.

Traditional Chinese healers began using the reishi mushroom more than 2000 years ago during the Han Dynasty. You can also boil the reishi mushroom to produce a bitter reishi-infused liquid that can be used to cook rice and other foods. Reishi mushrooms are included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2000) and are promoted to balance Qi, relax the mind and support respiratory health (. Originally found in China, Japan and Korea, reishi is a type of shelf mushroom that grows on hardwood trees in tropical and subtropical climates around the world.