hand holding reishi mushroom

Reishi Mushroom: Benefits List, Cultivation, and More

Human beings have a millennia-long relationship with the "mushroom of immortality."

WORKING IN PSYCHEDELICS SUMMIT
🌅 Explore The Opportunities & Ethics 🍄
Learn more ⏰:
DoubleBlind Mag

//
Updated December 20, 2022

DoubleBlind Mag is devoted to fair, rigorous reporting by leading experts and journalists in the field of psychedelics. Read more about our editorial process and fact-checking here.

There are few mushrooms as well-regarded as reishi. The medicinal mushroom is beginning to catch the attention of the English-speaking wellness world—but they’re certainly nothing new. Reishi mushrooms have a long and rich cultural history, starting in Asia over 2000 years ago. In this article, we’ll consider the basics of all-things reishi, from its history, potential reishi mushroom benefits, how to find reishi in the wild, and even tips on how to grow your own.

What is Reishi (Ganoderma)?

Reishi is the common name given to a number of mushrooms in the genus Ganoderma, a word that describes the polypore’s shiny cap. The Ganoderma genus contains around 80 known mushroom species worldwide. Yet, despite their widespread habitats, the use of reishi mushrooms in natural medicine originated in Eastern Asia, where they feature a long history of human use. English speakers tend to borrow the Japanese word to describe these mushrooms—reishi—but the word is originally adapted from the Chinese word lingzhi (meaning “spirit mushroom”). 

The official Chinese compendium of drugs, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, recognizes only Ganoderma lucidum (chizhi or red reishi) and Ganoderma sinense (zizhi or black reishi), but around 20 species are used commercially in China alone. Additionally, reishi is not limited to red and black coloration: The fungus’ coloration can vary between species and under different growing conditions. Some Ganoderma species—G. curtisii—feature orange and yellow coloration. Yet, “real reishi” often refers to G. lucidum and G. sinense alone

reishi mushroom
Adobe Stock

Distinguishing one Ganoderma from another is not always the easiest of tasks. While your average home mushroom grower or wellness enthusiast might not be expected to have a detailed understanding of reishi’s complicated taxonomy, even commercial mushroom producers don’t always get it right either. An investigation into both mushroom grow kits and herbal supplement products found that reishi mislabelling is a common occurrence.

Reishi Mushroom History

Reishi is one of the most commonly depicted mushrooms across Eastern Asia: The mushroom was used as a herbal remedy for over 2000 years in China, Japan, and Korea. The fungus appears in books, paintings, carvings, and furniture. In some traditions, reishi mushrooms were hung above doorways to keep bad spirits from entering. Depictions of what have been interpreted as reishi proliferated in Taoist art of the 15th century, where the mushrooms were featured in portraits of Chinese high society and religious depictions. 

Tao Yuanming holding Lingzhi mushroom
Tao Yuanming holding Lingzhi mushroom by Chen Hungshou (1598-1652) | Wikimedia Commons

Historians have also found reishi referenced in Chinese pharmaceutical texts from as early as 200-250 CE, where reishi’s reputation as a herbal remedy may have been enhanced by its association with privileged members of Chinese society.  The Bencao Gangmu—written during the Ming dynasty—claims that ancients ate reishi to achieve immortality. Author Robert Rogers writes that in traditional Chinese medicine, “reishi is considered warming, astringent, nourishing, detoxifying, and of course, tonifying.” 

🍄 👁 🌈 ✨

How to Grow Shrooms Bundle

Take Both of Our Courses and Save $90!

Reishi Mushroom Benefits

Reishi is perhaps among the most well-known medicinal mushrooms in human society. Its history of medicinal use is well-documented in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is widely used by TCM and conventional medical practitioners in China. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia states that reishi acts to replenish vital force, ease the mind, and relieve coughs and asthmatic symptoms. As such is recommended for treating dizziness, insomnia, palpitation, and shortness of breath. 

Yet, although the mushroom has a millennia-long history in human medical practice, modern scientific research on reishi mushroom benefits is still ambiguous. Reishi mushrooms are perhaps most commonly touted for their potential effects on the human immune system. Medicinal mushrooms like reishi contain beta-glucan and triterpenes, compounds that may have therapeutic or nutritional potential. Glucans are fibers that help provide structure to cell walls in bacteria and fungi. Fungal glucans—specifically beta-glucans—are currently being studied for their immuno-modulating properties, qualities which make them compounds of interest as dietary additions in cancer care. 

Despite its rapidly growing popularity in the international wellness industry, many reishi health claims—including reishi mushrooms’ effectiveness in cancer—are still poorly supported in modern-day scientific studies. Though some health claims have been supported in studies with cells grown in the lab or in animal testing, experiments in human populations have been less conclusive and often small in size. Additionally, understanding any of the benefits of reishi mushrooms becomes even more difficult when we consider all the different species that may be marketed under the name “reishi.”

So why does all this matter? One important reason is that only about a third to a half of studies on the effects of potential new medicines in animals have successfully been replicated in humans. This is why it’s important to take claims made by proponents of medicinal mushrooms with a certain degree of skepticism, if their evidence comes only from test tubes or lab rats.

While beneficial claims made about psilocybin are the result of many rigorous clinical trials in hundreds of human patients, research into other compounds found in mushrooms has a long way to go to garner similarly eager support.

Reishi Mushroom Benefits List

With all that said, let’s take a look at some of the science behind reishi’s health claims, and see which ones stand up to scrutiny. As “reishi” is the common name given to a number of mushrooms in the genus Ganoderma, we’ll focus on Ganoderma lucidum in this article as it’s the most well-studied.

Reishi Mushroom for Immunity

Immunity is a complex medical concept, but can generally be described as our body’s ability to recognize and remove harmful cells that may cause harm. As well as fighting viruses and bacteria, our immune system is also involved in fighting cancer. 

Studies of reishi extracts on immune function have been conducted, mostly looking at their anti-tumor effects. Studies in cell cultures and animals have found some positive effects of reishi in supporting immune function, but it’s not certain if such effects carry through to human beings. An independent review of over 300 studies of reishi’s effect on cancer patients found no evidence for reishi’s use as a primary treatment for cancer. The same researchers found some evidence to suggest reishi may be of benefit as a complementary therapy to conventional cancer treatment, though more research is needed to say for sure.

Reishi Mushroom for Sleep

Sleep studies in rats have been conducted, with some research suggesting reishi might interact with the gut microbiome to promote sleep. However, the best evidence we have for reishi’s sleep-promoting activity comes from a 2005 double-blind placebo-controlled trial of fruiting body extract on 123 patients suffering from fatigue. After an eight-week treatment regimen of 5.4 grams of powdered mushroom extract each day, patients showed reduced symptoms of fatigue and improved well-being compared to the placebo group.

Reishi Mushroom for Anxiety

Studies of reishi’s efficacy in treating anxiety are fairly limited. A small pilot study of 48 breast cancer patients published in 2011 found that those receiving three grams of reishi spore powder per day for four weeks scored lower on ratings of anxiety than those treated with a placebo. However, the limited number of patients calls for more research in a broader patient population.

It’s worth noting that a study published in American Family Physician in 2007 specifically lists reishi as having “No Clinical Trial Evidence of Effectiveness in Anxiety Disorders,” instead recommending short-term use of kava plant (Piper methysticum) for those experiencing mild to moderate anxiety.

Reishi Mushroom Benefits for Skin

Though some studies have found reishi extracts may protect against ultraviolet radiation and improve skin structure, this research has only been carried out in cell cultures or lab animals, with few human studies available. Although reishi skincare products are currently available commercially, some studies have reported skin allergies caused by reishi spores and fruiting body extracts, so it’s worth proceeding with caution with such cosmetics, especially if you think you might be particularly sensitive.

Reishi Mushroom for Weight Loss

Despite a number of commercial reishi products being sold to aid weight loss, the evidence for such claims comes mostly from studies in mice, some of which have suggested that reishi supplements may act as a prebiotic to enhance gut microflora. Compared to mice, our human microbiome tends to vary more between different individuals, so more studies are needed to see if weight loss effects can be reproduced in people.

Reishi Mushroom for Kidneys

Animal and cell culture studies have identified a number of compounds in reishi that show the potential to both treat and prevent a range of kidney diseases. However, studies in humans are limited, usually in small groups of patients with specific conditions. A study in 2004 found 14 people receiving conventional treatment for a kidney disease had relief from their symptoms when reishi was included in their treatment. However, it’s not clear if their other medications played some role in this finding. Another 2003 study of 14 patients who had eaten poisonous mushrooms found that kidney damage caused by the accident was better relieved by reishi tea, compared to 11 patients receiving more conventional treatment in the previous year.

Ganoderma Side effects

Generally, reishi is thought to be relatively non-toxic and safe, though some negative side effects have been reported. Besides skin allergies mentioned above, other reported effects include nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, and liver damage

Organizations such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center only recommend reishi as a complementary supplement to more established treatments and not as a replacement. As with all herbal supplements, reishi should be obtained from reputable sources—or grown yourself. 

🍄 👁 🌈 ✨

How to Grow Shrooms Bundle

Take Both of Our Courses and Save $90!

While those extolling the virtues of medicinal mushrooms may do so on the basis of limited evidence, it seems fairly clear that there may be many compounds of interest that may form the basis of more convincing evidence in human trials in the future.

Despite the promise of medicinal mushrooms, overzealous marketing from “big mushroom” isn’t doing much to credibly support those with real and difficult-to-treat illnesses, who might justifiably feel let down by big pharma. The bottom line is that you should always have a conversation with your physician if you’re considering using reishi or any other herbal supplement to aid the treatment of a diagnosed medical condition, especially if you’re already taking other medication.

Reishi Mushroom Dosage

Human beings have been eating reishi for thousands of years—but how much should you really take? Reishi extracts and powders can be more concentrated than fresh reishi, dried reishi, and reishi teas. Similarly, beta-glucan and triterpene content varies in different Ganoderma species—and even varies between each individual mushroom. As such, consistently dosing reishi is not the easiest task. 

reishi mushroom capsules
Adobe Stock

How Many Mg of Reishi Mushroom Should I Take?

The answer to this question is a difficult one: There is currently no scientific evidence on either the effective or safe dose of any of the Ganoderma species that fall under the name reishi. What we do know about typical dosages comes from Chinese herbal remedy texts. For this reason, it’s always recommended to follow package directions for reishi products or talk with your medical provider to gain insight into how much reishi you should take. 

Read: Our Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms

How Much Reishi per Day?

It’s always best to follow package directions and your medical practitioner’s advice. For those of you who might have grown or foraged your own reishi, the typical dosages in traditional Chinese medicine reishi range from 1.5 to 9 grams per day. A sensible starting dose might begin at around 300-500 milligrams (0.3-0.5 grams) per day for a few weeks to see how you feel, keeping in mind that “more” doesn’t always equate to “better.” Dosage will also depend on whether you’re taking extracts or capsules.

Reishi Extract Dosage

Reishi extracts are usually prepared by adding ground dried mushrooms (or mycelium) to hot water or alcohol. It’s important to note that extracts may vary in strength, in which case you might need to adjust your dosage accordingly. As no high-quality scientific data exists for any reishi preparation, we recommend following the advice above for daily intake.

Reishi Capsules Dosage

Though hot water extracts are a more traditional preparation, reishi capsules are becoming much more common. These capsules may simply contain dried mushroom powder, dried mycelium, spores, or even dried extract. In all of these different preparations, the combination of chemical compounds may vary widely, but general daily dosage advice should apply here as well.

How To Identify Reishi Mushrooms

Though reishi as a group are easily identified, getting down to the exact species can be difficult even for the most experienced mushroom hunters. Here we’ll cover some common reishi features, as well as those mushrooms that look similar but fall outside the group.   

Reddish-brown reishi mushrooms are commonly found growing in fan, hoof, or kidney shapes on both living and dead trees. Reishi can be found at any time of year, as the mushrooms form woody brackets or “conks” that don’t easily rot away. 

The word for the genus that reishi represents comes from the Greek words ganos (shining) and derma (skin), so use this feature to aid in your identification. The shiny (laccate) caps and stems of reishi can often be hidden by a thick layer of brown spores that tend to cover mature mushrooms.

Pay Attention to the Reishi Underside

Reishi belong to a group of fungi called polypores, so-called due to the many small holes (pores) on the underside and edge of the mushroom, from which the spores emerge. In most species this surface can be white, cream or gray in color, which may turn brown as the mushroom matures. 

underside of polypore mushroom
Underside of Polypore mushroom | Adobe Stock

In species like the artist’s conk (G. applanatum) and southern bracket (G. australe), this light-colored surface bruises brown, allowing those of a more creative inclination to draw pictures across their surface.

Reishi Look-alikes

Other polypore mushrooms can sometimes be mistaken for reishi, but fledgling foragers will be pleased to know that there are no poisonous look-alikes. Reishi may sometimes be confused with other polypore fungi, in particular the red-belted polypore in the genus Fomitopsis. One of the easiest ways to distinguish this species from reishi is with a spore print. Red-belted polypore has white spores, compared to those of reishi which are always brown.

red-banded polypore
Fomitopsis pinicola (red-belted polypore) | Wikimedia Commons

Reishi Mushroom Cultivation

In the study mentioned earlier, over half of mycelium cultures sold as red reishi (G. lucidum) actually contained other Ganoderma species that were non-native to the United States. Introducing non-native species to an area can have negative effects on native ecosystems, and non-native southern bracket (G. adspersum) has been documented to infect Californian almond trees more aggressively than native species, damaging trees and harming overall crop yield. 

If you’re considering an outdoor grow, try to find native species—either from reputable vendors or by cloning wild species nearby. Not only will you have a better chance of growing a species that is used to your local climate, but you’ll also be safe in the knowledge that you’re not accidentally introducing potentially harmful alien species into the wild.

Read: Why You Should Grow Your Own Mushrooms

How Long Does Reishi Take To Grow?

In the wild, these mushrooms tend to grow slowly, due to seasonal environmental changes. For those wanting to grow reishi at home, the quickest method is to inoculate substrate bags and fruit them indoors, which will yield mushrooms in about three months.

Another option is to grow reishi outdoors on logs or from substrate blocks buried in the ground. Buried blocks can fruit as quickly as indoor cultivated reishi if conditions are perfect, but logs can take up to a year or two of care before producing mushrooms.

reishi
Deer Horn Shape Reishi | Wikimedia Commons

Reishi Fruiting Conditions

Reishi tolerates a range of temperatures, though they grow most quickly around 70-80°F (21-27°C). A slight drop in temperature 65-75°F (18-24°C) may encourage pinning in some species. As with most mushroom species a high humidity is essential for fruiting, though more mature mushrooms can tolerate periods of 90 percent humidity or less/

Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are a crucial factor in encouraging different forms of growth. Reishi’s antler form is caused by high CO2 levels, whereas the more natural fan-shaped form of reishi is caused by lower CO2. Some skilled growers are able to create beautiful varied growth forms by adjusting fresh air levels in their growing chambers at various stages of the process.

Best Reishi Substrate

Like many other fungi, reishi mycelium will happily grow on grains like rye millet or wheat. To produce mushrooms woody bulk substrates (chips, sawdust, or whole logs) are essential. The reishi mushroom benefits from supplementary bulk oat, wheat, or rice bran substrate bags, which can be used to improve yield. It is not recommended to use more than around 15 percent for best results.   

When To Harvest Reishi Antlers

Reishi can be harvested at any stage of their growth—one of the benefits of reishi as a cultivated mushroom. So, feel free to experiment with different harvesting times. However, keep in mind that reishi’s high spore production (up to 30 billion spores per day in some species) can be a particular problem when growing these mushrooms indoors. Mushroom spores have been associated with breathing difficulties—so keep a close eye on your indoor grows and try to harvest before spores are released.  

DoubleBlind Magazine does not encourage or condone any illegal activities, including but not limited to the use of illegal substances. We do not provide mental health, clinical, or medical services. We are not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric diagnosis, treatment, or advice. If you are in a crisis or if you or any other person may be in danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency resources. If you are considering suicide, please call 988 to connect with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Interested in having a psychedelic experience, but don't know where to start? Get our definitive guide on trusted legal retreat centers, clinical trials, therapists, and more.

We have a small favor to ask. Last year, more than five million readers like you visited DoubleBlind’s website. Many of them are suffering and simply seeking trusted information on how to use psychedelics to heal.

We started DoubleBlind two years ago at a time when even the largest magazines and media companies were cutting staff and going out of business. At the time we made a commitment: we will never have a paywall, we will never rely on advertisers we don’t believe in to fund our reporting, and we will always be accessible via email and social media to support people for free on their journeys with plant medicines.

To help us do this, if you feel called and can afford it, we ask you to consider becoming a monthly member and supporting our work. In exchange, you'll receive a subscription to our print magazine, monthly calls with leading psychedelic experts, access to our psychedelic community, and much more.
share
hand holding mushrooms
How to Take Shrooms

How Much Shrooms Should a Beginner Take?

Preparing for your first mushroom trip? We've got you.
COLUMNS

Trauma is the New Buzzword, but Does Everyone Really Have It?

Just as the definition of trauma can at times be nebulous, so too what we mean when we talk about treating it—with or without psychedelics.
right to try psilocybin protest
Politics

Psychedelics Activists Arrested at DEA Headquarters Amid Protest Over Psilocybin Access for Terminal Patients

Protest called attention to DEA’s obstruction of Right to Try statutes.