Also known as ganoderma, reishi mushrooms have been a staple in Chinese herbal medicine for at least 4,000 years. Their name in Chinese literally translates to “spiritual potency” and they are frequently referred to as the “herb of immortality.” Reishi are known to be antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, and anti-tumor. Reishi stabilizes blood pressure, protects the liver, and supports general immune resistance. This means that reishi is particularly useful for individuals with compromised immune systems – like chemotherapy and HIV patients. This type of mushroom is also beneficial for people with cardiovascular disease because it inhibits platelet aggregation.
