Lingzhi : Superhero of Healthy Body

Bought some Lingzhi some time ago. After being kept in storage for quite some time, finally I am going to make good use of it ;)

What is Lingzhi?



Língzhī
traditional Chinese: 靈芝
simplified Chinese: 灵芝
Japanese: reishi
Korean: yeongji, hangul: 영지

is the name for one form of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, and its close relative Ganoderma tsugae

The word lingzhi, in Chinese, means "herb of spiritual potency" and has also been described as "mushroom of immortality".^[1] Because of its presumed health benefits and apparent absence of side-effects, it has attained a reputation in the East as the ultimate herbal substance. Lingzhi has now been added to the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium.

According to The Chinese Herbal Materia Medica (本草綱目), lingzhi may be classified into six categories according to their shapes and colors, each of which is believed to nourish a different part of the body.

1. Red - heart
2. Purple - joints
3. Green - liver
4. White - lungs and skin
5. Yellow - spleen
6. Black - kidneys and brain

Preparation

Lingzhi is traditionally prepared by simmering in water. Thinly sliced or pulverized lingzhi (either fresh or dried) is added to a pot of boiling water, the water is then brought to a simmer, and the pot is covered; the lingzhi is then simmered for two hours. The resulting liquid should be fairly bitter in taste, with the more active red lingzhi more bitter than the black. The process may be repeated. Alternatively, it can be used as an ingredient in a formula decoction or used to make an extract (in liquid, capsule, or powder form). The more active red forms of lingzhi are far too bitter to be consumed in a soup, as long cooked shiitake mushrooms might be.

BENEFITS

anti-tumor

immunomodulatory activities

immunotherapeutic activities

adaptogenic

anti-allergenic

anti-hypertensive

anti-inflammatory

antiviral

anti-parasitic

anti-fungal

antidiabetic

anti-hypotensive

protective of the liver

inhibit platelet aggregation

lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar

blood pressure stabilizer

antioxidant

analgesic

a kidney and nerve tonic

bronchitis prevention

in cardiovascular treatment

And in the treatment of:

high blood pressure

hepatitis

allergies

chemotherapy support

HIV support

fatigue

altitude sickness.

Side effects

It has been shown in some studies that long term use of lingzhi (usually four months or so) can result in some mild side effects, including dryness of the nasal passages, mouth and throat, as well as stomach upset and nosebleed^{[citation needed]}. However, these effects were avoided by discontinuing use of the mushroom for one month after taking it for four months, and taking it again for four months, and so on.

Source : Wikipedia