Reishi

Reishi - History

Reishi mushrooms have been employed in traditional Chinese medicine since before 2,000 BC. [1] However, they remained relatively unknown in the west and are scarcely mentioned in western literature prior to 1900. The earliest mention of them I can find in English is from Yoshio Ichikawa' 1888 New Pocket Dictionary of the English and Japanese Languages which has the simple entry "Reishi, n. A species of hard mushroom; a fungus."

However, turning to their other Japanese name, man-nentake, we find this name appears in James Curtis Hepburn's 1867 Japanese and English dictionary. A good general description of Reishi occurs in Dai Nihon Nokai's 1895 Useful plants of Japan: described and illustrated, Volumes 1-3:

Reishi is seldom described in Western literature until the 1990's; when it suddenly gathers momentum, together with the wave of interest in Oriental herbalism that was reaching western shores at that time. Reishi is mentioned in R.O.B. Wijesekera's 1991 The Medicinal Plant Industry as having been one of the most important elixirs of the Orient - although it is described as having been scarce and until that time owing to the fact that cultivation had been difficult and had only recently been successfully achieved.

Indeed, Amy Rost's 2009 Natural Healing Wisdom and Know How: Useful Practices, Recipes, and Formulas states that prior to the 1970's, when it was successfully grown from spores in the laboratory, Reishi was extremely rare and expensive.

Turning to the 2000's, we find that all of a sudden, some marketing materials of the west have proliferated Reishi's reputation as an aphrodisiac. It's stated in some marketing documents [3] [4] that Reishi was traditionally believed to have aphrodisiac properties. However, the source of this legend is not stated. It is presumed that one or more of the many ancient Chinese Medicinal herbals is the source of these claims - however, in descriptions of Reishi's qualities, mention of Reishi as an aphrodisiac is very uncommon; it is much more often described as an adaptogen and immune support herb.

Is Reishi an Aphrodisiac?

Much investigation has been done into Reishi's medicinal qualities in the last 20 years. A search of Pubmed [5] revealed 796 entries for Ganoderma - and scientific studies have shown activity against some viruses and types of cancer. Reishi has been of great interest to herbalists researching herbs that boost the immune system, including AIDS research. Reishi's ability to fight cancer is accepted as fact in Japan, where it has been officially recognized as a cancer treatment by the Japanese government. Reishi is also believed to be beneficial for people suffering from chronic stress or anxiety [6] and has been said to promote calmness and inner balance. [4]

Despite all this research, it's said that not all of the active compounds in Reishi have been isolated. Like many plants, it is highly complex and comprised of a large number of substances. [6] Unfortunately, none of the studies listed on Pubmed investigates the aphrodisiac potential of the mushroom - and once again, we are left wondering whether the aphrodisiac claims are genuine, a "side-effect" of overall health restoration, or the creation of over-zealous marketing.

Perhaps it is only a consequence that such an elite herb, once described as the Taoist "Elixir of Life" and reserved for the emperor, might acquire such a reputation. Until further evidence surfaces, this report must end without firm conclusions.

Reishi safety

As with any fungus, extreme caution should be used if wild harvesting. Some species of fungus are deadly poisonous and as a general rule, fungi should only be harvested by a true expert who can identify species accurately.

Reishi has been considered safe when used within appropriate dosage limits, although I have read that there have been reports of side effects with prolonged use - dry mouth, digestive distress, nosebleed and bloody stools. This is not medical advice.

Reishi is listed in the AHPA's "Herbs of Commerce", p. 267. [7]

Tweet