Reishi is one of the most versatile plant medicines. Well known for its ability to help your body handle stress better & for its support for overall vitality.
Over 400 physiologically active compounds have been isolated from reishi mushrooms. Polysaccharides & triterpenes are two of the major groups of constituents with a broad spectrum of actions.
Broad spectrum actions of reishi include:
- Antibacterial
- Anti Tumor/anticancer
- Immunomodulatory
- Hypoglycemic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Analgesic
- Antioxidative
- Radio protective
- Antihistamine
- Adaptogenic
Reishi helps moderate the body’s response to stress & cortisol. That means that it helps bring us back into balance & helps us handle cortisol better, essentially making us more resilient to stress. In Asian cultures, reishi is considered a fountain of youth. Because it cuts down on the stress response which cuts down on mineral & nutrient depletion, while supporting detox pathways including the liver… it is naturally anti-aging! It also heals the skin barrier, promotes elasticity & evens out skin tone, restoring a youthful glow. Because of its impact on the central nervous system & cortisol, reishi has traditionally been used to treat insomnia & restlessness and to restore quality sleep. Taken during pregnancy, it has been known to produce “reishi babies” that are calm, wise & chill.
As an immunomodulator, reishi will assist in up-regulating your immune system when necessary & down-regulating it when necessary, making it helpful for even those with autoimmunity. Reishi has an affinity for the lungs & heart, restoring damaged tissue. It is also often used to replenish following a depleting illness.
Tinctures are shelf stable & have a general shelf life of 5 years. Alcohol extracts the widest range of constituents, but Properly tincturing mushrooms requires a multi-step process. Mushrooms also need to be heated to be at full potency & combined carefully to preserve polysaccharide integrity. My tinctures always utilize REAL mushrooms and are extracted in an alcohol based blend for 6 weeks (along with a palm based O glycerine & raw local honey. They are then slowly simmered in water to release their polysaccharide goodness, then carefully combined to preserve all the medicinal properties. I studied this method under the guidance of seasoned herbalists.
