The God of Fungi, also known as Reishi mushrooms, boasts a abundance of nutrient-rich compounds and takes up an incredibly limited amount of space to grow. Reishi mushrooms are also known for their possible natural healing powers. In a SHTF situation, when calling 911 is not feasible, you or anyone you love will benefit from the God of Fungi until the supply of conventional medicine dries up.
This particular form of fungus houses three different molecules that may be the reason Reishi are foraged and cultivated for alternative medicines: triterpenoids, polysaccharides and peptidoglycans. While this fungus can be eaten raw just after being freshly selected, it is much more common for Reishi to be made into an extract and then powdered for natural healing remedies.
1. Natural Cancer Fighter
Such tasty mushrooms contain beta-glucans, a collection of complex sugars. According to a Memorial Sloane Kettering report, these particular sugar compounds may help stop the spread and growth of cancer cells.
2. Stress Reliever, Depression, and Fatigue
Reishi mushrooms aren’t sedative, but can help users relieve stress and anxiety. Many people who eat the god of fungi regularly establish safe sleeping habits.
While research is still in the early stages, Reishi mushrooms may help counter both depression and fatigue. One research on the subject showed that, after just 8 weeks of taking Reishi mushroom supplements, fatigue reduction and overall health improved in the 132 test patients. A related research showed the 48 breast cancer survivors taking part in the project decreased exhaustion in just four weeks.
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3. Arthritis
To help prevent inflammation that is so often associated with arthritis, eating a host of fresh mushrooms can help – particularly if they are Reishi mushrooms. The natural antioxidant I-ergothioneine contains high levels of this type of fungus. When exposed to heat, this antioxidant doesn’t break down so cooking the mushrooms in soups, stews, and casseroles is a great way to absorb them into your system. The beta-glucans, a type of carbohydrate, also act as an anti-inflammatory agent in Reishi mushrooms and other varieties to help reduce arthritis swelling and various injuries.
4. Diabetes
Some studies have shown that the fungi are capable of lowering blood sugar levels in animals. But, the results are mixed when some larger human studies reveal no noticeable improvement in blood sugar levels in the fasting process. For certain cases, after meal intake Reishi mushrooms were able to reduce blood sugar.
5. Alzheimer’s
Reishi mushrooms are one of several kinds of fungi which can help enhance brain function. Some of the naturally occurring bioactive compounds in mushrooms can stimulate nerve development within the brain and thereby provide defense against neurotoxic stimuli and swelling that can pave the way for Alzheimer’s, dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Specifically, Reishi mushrooms and lion mane mushrooms possess a nerve growth factor molecule, which is part of the regulatory production, performance, and maintenance of nerve cells.
6. Immune System Booster
These mushroom species can help strengthen the immune system and help the body avoid respiratory infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, liver disease , asthma, kidney disease, avian flu, and swine flu. Reishi mushrooms can have antihistaminic effects, too.
7. Composting
The decomposition of organic matter is one of the principal functions of the fungi. Breakdown of this natural material is necessary to enable the decomposition of cellulose, which is critical for natural nutrient cycling.
8. Hardiness
Mushrooms can withstand temperatures ranging from 40 degrees to approximately 100 degrees. This wide range of temperature tolerance means Reishi mushrooms and it is possible to grow all its peers virtually anywhere on the planet.
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9. Heart Health
In some preliminary studies, the consumption of Reishi mushrooms may cause an increase in “good” HDL cholesterol, while triglycerides may be reduced in heart patients. But, this fungus’ reaction and effects on heart patients are inconsistent, with some major studies showing no substantial change after supplements are taken.
10. Weight Loss
Reishi mushrooms may not necessarily be able to help you lose weight, but by altering digestive system bacteria, they may be able to slow down the piling on extra pounds. If the slow weight gain rate observed in animal studies translates in humans likewise would require more extensive research and likely clinical trials.
Reishi Mushroom Dosage
How much Reishi should be taken is dependent on the shape of the fungi used: fresh or powdered. The average dose recommended for an adult when using fresh Reishi mushrooms in a natural healing procedure is about 25 to 100 grams.
If the powdered variety of Reishi mushrooms is used, adults are advised to obtain around one and a half to nine grams a day.
Reishi Mushroom Warnings
Use either fresh or powdered Reishi mushrooms, when used for long periods of time, can cause liver damage. While recommendations from different studies vary, there is consensus that consumption is likely safe if used for several months at a time.
Eating Reishi mushrooms is advised for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, people with a blood condition, people with low blood pressure and anyone planning to undergo surgery. Reishi mushrooms may coagulate more slowly in the blood.
These mushrooms also contain sterols which can act as hormone precursors. Reishi also produces triterpenes which may have anti-allergy reactions but may also cause blood pressure to decrease. People who take blood thinning drugs or warfarin, if they eat Reishi mushrooms, may experience increased risk of bleeding.
This type of mushroom is not approved for use by patients with cancer, who undergo chemotherapy. It is possible that Reishi mushrooms may cause some prescribed drugs to become less effective during the chemotherapy process.
Since Reishi mushrooms can induce responses to the immune system, this form of fungus should also not be eaten by anyone taking immunosuppressant drugs. Reishi mushrooms are not licensed as a drug by the FDA. I am no medical practitioner of any sort. The information presented here is for the sole purposes of research and entertainment.
You should always talk to your doctor before you take any kind of natural remedy. The Reishi mushrooms may be able to interact negatively with some prescription or over counter medications.
Eating Reishi Mushrooms
These can also be eaten in a variety of different ways, in addition to the possible therapeutic benefits of consuming Reishi mushrooms.
Reishi Tea
Reishi mushroom tea has a great taste and can be made simply by steeping 1 teaspoon of the powdered mushroom into 1 cup of water. Whether lemon or ginger – or both, are usually additives to tea.
Reishi Soup
You can mix 1 tablespoon of powdered Reishi mushrooms into a soup bowl to infuse more nutrients into your diet – a major plus in a situation of survival where food is scarce, but the demands of manual labor prevail. Adding more than 1 tablespoon of powdered Reishi to a bowl of soup is not recommended because its slightly bitter taste can become overwhelming.
Reishi Stir Fry
Throw 1 cup of fresh Reishi mushrooms or about 1 tablespoon of powder into a skillet with olive oil, onions, and garlic to make a delicious stir-fry rich in nutrients.
There are about 1.5 million species of fungi in existence but only a small percentage have been identified and named. Reishi mushrooms have been used for decades in medicine in China, Korea, and Japan. All true fungi display the following unifying features:
- Heterotrophic
- Eukaryotic nuclei
- Absorptive nutrition
- Non-photosynthetic
- Chitin or chitosan cell wall
- Non-motile vegetative state
- Yeast growth
- Sexual reproductive spores
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Growing Mushrooms At Home
This mushroom species grows extensively in central Maine, as well as in many northeastern US regions. This shiny red mushroom is found most commonly to grow on either dead or dying hemlock trees. A Reishi mushroom tends to darken as it matures in color.
The Ganoderma lucidum and lingzhi-the Reishi mushroom AKA thrives in both hot and humid growing conditions. For decades, they have been at the core of east medicine.
Fungi cultivation is certainly not as easy or cheap as planting a row of corn in the garden. A mushroom farmer often has to buy pasteurizing equipment and create a climate-controlled environment for growing spores (fungi version of a seed). When the spores grow in their hot and humid climate, they form a cotton-like material called mycelium until it can be collected and mature.
Reishi chestnuts are a perfect cash crop. You only need about 200 square feet of space to produce around 800 pounds of this fungus. A harvest of this weight could gain you about $15,000, depending on market price fluctuation.
Once they reach the six-month mark, mushrooms begin to lose their potency to around 25%. Storing them in the freezer in an airtight container can increase their potency over time.
The easiest way to preserve Reishi mushrooms (or any mushroom) is to dry them. Dry the fungus in a dehydrator set at about 95 degrees – keeping the temperature low is important for creating a safe food and medicine source in the shelf.
