Reishi mushroom, also known as Ganoderma mushroom, is a type of rare mushroom that grows in hot or high-humidity places in Asia. It has been used in alternative medicine for thousands of years, especially in East Asian countries and Chinese medicine.

Reishi mushrooms have a woody texture and a bitter taste, so they are often used as a fine powder or as a supplement, but some people still prefer eating them fresh. Many scientific studies that were applied to animals and even some research that took place in laboratories found amazing benefits for it, along with some side effects and harms, which we will learn about in the following article.

Benefits of feather mushrooms

Among the most prominent health benefits are:

1. Strengthening the immune system

One of the most well-known benefits of reishi mushroom is its effectiveness in boosting and strengthening the immune system. It can affect the genes of white blood cells, which are an important component of the immune system.

Some research conducted on cancer patients found that some molecules in feather mushrooms can increase the activity of white blood cells in fighting inflammatory and cancerous cells. It also helps improve the work of lymphocytes, which also fight cancer cells.

2. Cancer prevention

In a study of 4,000 breast cancer survivors, they found that more than half of the survivors used reishi mushrooms in their diet. In addition to many scientific studies that have proven its ability to combat some other types of cancer such as prostate cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer.

3. Fight depression

Some scientific research has found benefits in reishi mushrooms for depression by reducing fatigue and loneliness. Researchers have found that taking nutritional supplements from reishi mushrooms significantly contributes to improving health and reducing feelings of anxiety and depression.

4. Improve heart health

Some studies have shown benefits of reishi mushroom in controlling the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Besides reducing the risk of heart disease.

5. Control your blood sugar level

The reishi mushroom has benefits in its ability to control blood sugar levels due to some of the molecules in the mushroom. This has also been proven by some studies conducted on animals, as well as similar studies conducted on humans.

6. Rich in antioxidants

Basically, the role of antioxidants is to protect your body from cell damage. Dietary supplements and foods that contain antioxidants are very important to human health. Scientific studies have shown that it contains many antioxidants.

7. Enhance fertility

The benefits of feather mushrooms for infertility are one of its most prominent benefits. Mushroom antioxidants improve endocrine function and promote fertility and reproductive health.

8. Other benefits

• Improve kidney function.
• Treating some respiratory diseases, such as asthma.
• Promote liver health.

How to use reishi mushrooms

Its intake depends on several factors to determine the appropriate doses, and among these factors are the following:

• person’s age.
• his state of health.
• The reason behind taking it.

Pictures of eating feathery mushrooms vary between eating them in their fresh natural form, eating them dried, eating them in the form of powder, or taking them in the form of a nutritional supplement or capsules.

Reishi mushroom damage

Despite its many benefits, there are studies conducted on a group of people that found some side effects and harm to it, especially if it was taken for more than four consecutive months. Among these damages are:

• Dryness of the mouth and throat.
• delirium or dizziness;
• feeling itchy
• Headache.
• Stomach disorders.
• diarrhea.
• nausea.
• insomnia.
• nosebleeds

There are some health conditions in which the patient should not take it, including:

• People with low blood pressure.
• Diabetics.
• Those with immune system disorders.
• Pregnant and lactating women.

Reishi mushroom interaction with drugs

It may also interact with some medications, such as:

• aspirin.
• Painkillers.
• warfarin;
• heparin;
• blood pressure medications
• Medicines that slow blood clotting.
• Diabetic medicines: Because one of its benefits is lowering blood sugar levels, taking it alongside diabetes medicines, which in turn help lower blood sugar levels, may also lead to a decrease in blood sugar levels more than required.
• Immunosuppressant drugs: also because of its benefits in strengthening the immune system. Taking it with immunosuppressive drugs may reduce their effectiveness.

Important notice

Although there are many benefits of reishi mushroom or Ganoderma, such as strengthening the immune system and fighting cancer cells, scientific research is still continuing to discover and apply it to a larger percentage of people, despite its use in alternative medicine for more than 2000 years now.

However, scientific evidence proving its efficacy and safety in humans is still limited. Indeed, its use may be harmful in some people. Especially those who suffer from bleeding, pregnant women, and those who take some of the previously mentioned medications.

Before eating reishi mushrooms, you must determine the reason for eating it, and it is better to go to a medical consultation first, to determine the quantity and method in which you will eat mushrooms under the supervision of a specialist doctor in order to avoid its risks.