Reishi Mushroom: A Guide to the 'Queen of Mushrooms'

A staple in eastern tradition, Reishi is known as the ‘Queen of mushrooms’ or ‘the mushroom of immortality’ — names it earned over centuries of traditional use. Today it is one of the most widely studied functional mushrooms, and scientific interest in it continues to grow.

Reishi mushrooms: background and traditional use

Also known as Ganoderma lucidum or G. lucidum in the scientific community, Reishi (or Lingzhi) has a long history of traditional use in Asia, where it has featured in traditional wellbeing practices for thousands of years.

Reishi mushrooms are typically ear- or kidney-shaped with a distinctive rust color (red, orange, and brown). Though they’re mostly grown commercially now, you would find them growing in the wild on hardwood trees like oak and maple. Reishi comes in various formats, from tea to tinctures, extract powders, capsules, and even food products. Most people prefer to take it as an extract or tea due to the mushroom’s woody texture and bitter taste.

Powdered forms or extracts are the formats most commonly used in traditional practice and have been used for thousands of years in Asia. Reishi is increasingly popular around the world today as a culinary and functional mushroom.

What researchers have studied in Reishi

Reishi is often described as an adaptogen — a term used traditionally for plants and fungi associated with helping the body cope with everyday demands. It has a long history of traditional use in this context.

Reishi has also been the subject of scientific study. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers investigated a polysaccharide extract from Reishi in a group of participants — one example of the clinical research that has explored the mushroom.

Much of the scientific interest in Reishi centres on its naturally occurring compounds, particularly triterpenoids and bioactive polysaccharides such as beta-glucans, which researchers have studied for their antioxidant activity. In a 2010 study, researchers examined Ganoderic acid T, a triterpene compound found in Reishi, in a laboratory setting.

Beta-glucans in Reishi mushrooms have been studied by researchers for their antioxidant properties. Both triterpenes and beta-glucans have been the subject of scientific investigation.

Reishi extract has also featured in clinical research, with study participants taking 750 mg per day of Reishi extract over a three-month period.

A closer look at Reishi’s compounds

Reishi has long been valued in traditional practice, and it remains a popular choice among people interested in functional mushrooms. It contains a range of naturally occurring compounds that researchers continue to explore.

Among the compounds that have attracted scientific attention are the polysaccharides and triterpenes found in Reishi, which have been examined in a number of studies. Further research has explored how Reishi compounds interact with cells in laboratory settings.

Reishi has also been the focus of scientific research examining its triterpene compounds. As with all of the studies above, this is background research into the mushroom rather than evidence of any health outcome.

The fungi of immortality?

Calling it “the mushroom of immortality” is, of course, a nod to its colourful traditional reputation rather than a literal claim. Reishi remains an actively studied mushroom, and research into it is ongoing. Try adding one teaspoon of Reishi extract to your tea or coffee — many people enjoy it as part of their daily routine.

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Written by Angela Totté, co-founder of Pure Fungi. Angela is a Holistic Nutrition Well-being Practitioner. Growing up in Japan, she developed a keen interest in health, leading to her passion for holistic well-being and nutrition. Angela has worked in the Nutritional Health and Wellness market for over ten years, from managing an independent health retailer in London to being a brand ambassador for a Japanese health company.