Reishi mushroom – Ganoderma lucidum

What is Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma lucidum, or Reishi, is a tree mushroom that grows on dead deciduous trees. It is known for its bitter taste and has a long history in traditional medicine. The mushroom contains a number of bioactive compounds, such as triterpenes, polysaccharides, and proteins, which are believed to have health-promoting properties.

Ganoderma lucidum, often called the reishi mushroom, has for centuries been used in traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen the immune system and combat various diseases, including cancer.

Bioactive substances in Reishi and their effects

Polysaccharides

These complex sugar molecules are believed to be the primary active substances in Ganoderma lucidum. They can stimulate the immune system by increasing the production of immune cells and cytokines, which are signaling substances that coordinate the immune response. In addition, polysaccharides can directly inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Triterpenes

These compounds have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They can also induce apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells and inhibit the formation of new blood vessels that cancer tumors need to grow.

Proteins

Proteins in Ganoderma lucidum can have immune-modulating and anti-tumor effects.

Clinical trials and limitations

Positive results

Several studies have shown that Ganoderma lucidum can improve the quality of life in cancer patients by reducing side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

In addition, some studies have indicated that the mushroom can extend survival in certain patients.

Anti-tumor effect

Some studies suggest that substances in Ganoderma lucidum can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and promote cell death [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].

Strengthening of the immune system

Many believe that Ganoderma lucidum can strengthen the immune system and thus help the body fight cancer cells more effectively.

Antioxidant effect

The mushroom’s antioxidants can protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which can contribute to the development of cancer.

Note

As with other dietary supplements and medications, interactions with other medical treatments can occur.

Potential side effects

Ganoderma lucidum is generally considered safe, but some people may experience side effects such as:

Stomach pain
Itching
Dry mouth
Headache

Important considerations

Always talk to your healthcare provider

Before you start any form of alternative treatment, it is crucial to consult with your competent advisor.

Choose quality product

Make sure to buy Ganoderma lucidum from a reliable manufacturer that can document the product’s quality and purity.

Be patient

It can take time to see results from a treatment with Ganoderma lucidum.

Combine with other treatment

Ganoderma lucidum should be seen as a supplement to, and not a replacement for, other relevant cancer treatment.

Scientific evidence

Although there are promising results from animal studies and cell cultures, the scientific evidence for Ganoderma lucidum’s effect on cancer in humans is still limited. Several clinical trials have shown positive results.

However, most of these studies are relatively small and have methodological limitations. It is therefore difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the mushroom’s effectiveness and safety, from a Western perspective where there is a great preference for scientific evidence over experiential success (which is also a form of evidence). In addition, there is great variation in the dosages used and extraction methods, which makes it difficult to compare the results of different studies [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].

Future research

There is a need for further research to clarify the precise mechanism by which Ganoderma lucidum works against cancer. Larger and better-designed clinical trials are needed to establish the mushroom’s effectiveness and safety.

In addition, research should be done into how Ganoderma lucidum can be combined with other cancer treatments to achieve a synergistic effect.

Conclusion

Ganoderma lucidum has great potential as a natural supplement to cancer treatment, but there are still many unanswered questions. It is important to talk to a competent advisor before starting to use it.

If you want to use Ganoderma lucidum, it is important to choose a high-quality product from a reliable manufacturer.

Overview of medicinal mushrooms and cannabis

This overview compares the effect and safety of the most used medicinal mushrooms. Cannabis is also included in the overview, despite biologically being a plant and not a mushroom. But it is often used in the same context when natural symptom relief is desired for cancer patients.

Worth knowing:

Choice of mushroom: If the goal is to get through chemo safely with the fewest side effects, Turkey Tail is often the first choice, as it has the fewest contraindications.

Neuropathy: If chemo causes numb fingers or nerve damage, Lion’s Mane is the only mushroom with specific documentation for being able to help with nerve regeneration.

Stop before surgery: A good rule of thumb is to stop all mushrooms, especially Reishi, Chaga, and Cordyceps, as well as fish oil two weeks before planned surgeries due to the risk of bleeding.

Medicinal mushroom and Cannabis

Name	Primary Effect	Use in Cancer	Name	Important Caution
Agaricus blazei	Very powerful immune activation. High content of Beta-1,3/1,6-glucans.	Aggressive support. Used to significantly boost NK-cell activity.	Agaricus blazei	May affect liver enzymes. Should be used with caution in liver disease or heavy liver-taxing chemo.
Cannabis: CBD	Anxiolytic and muscle relaxant. Anti-inflammatory.	Quality of life. Relieves restlessness, anxiety, muscle tension, and sleep problems without a high.	Cannabis: CBD	Interaction with medication. Can inhibit the liver’s breakdown of chemotherapy (CYP450).
Cannabigerol (CBG)	Neuroprotective and appetite stimulant. Blocks TRPM8 channels (growth signals) in cells.	Antitumour support. Targeted use for growth in colon and brain, and against loss of weight and muscle mass.	Cannabigerol (CBG)	Interaction with liver enzymes (CYP450). May affect the concentration of blood thinners and certain types of epilepsy medication.
Cannabis: THC	Antiemetic and appetite stimulant. Psychoactive (euphoric).	Acute relief. Against severe nausea, vomiting, and weight loss.	Cannabis: THC	Driving ban. Psychoactive side effects. Sedative effect.
Chaga	Powerful antioxidant (SOD). Contains Betulin and Betulinic acid. Protects against oxidative stress.	Restorative. Used for general strengthening of the body under pressure.	Chaga	High oxalate content (risk of kidney stones). Blood-thinning. Interacts with insulin (lowers blood sugar).
Cordyceps	Energizing. Increases oxygen uptake (ATP) and kidney function.	Lung function. Counteracts shortness of breath and cancer-related fatigue.	Cordyceps	May over-activate the immune system in autoimmune diseases. Blood-thinning.
Lion’s Mane	Nerve regenerating. Stimulates growth of nerve cells (NGF).	Neuropathy. Counteracts sensory disturbances in fingers/feet and memory difficulties (chemo brain).	Lion’s Mane	May lower blood sugar. Mild blood-thinning effect.
Maitake	Immune-activating (D-fraction). Strong stimulation of macrophages.	Immune boost. Often used to activate the body’s own defense against cancer cells.	Maitake	May lower blood sugar. Can enhance the effect of blood-thinning medication.
Pau D’Arco	Potent antifungal and anti-inflammatory. Contains Lapachol.	Micro-environment. Used to purify the blood and combat fungal infections (Candida), which are often seen with a weakened immune system.	Pau D’Arco	Blood-thinning. Must not be combined with blood-thinning medication or used prior to surgical procedures.
Pao Pereira	Inhibits replication of abnormal cells. Penetrates the blood-brain barrier.	Targeted cell division. Often used for prostate cancer and cancers of the central nervous system (brain).	Pao Pereira	Generally well-tolerated, but should be taken under guidance to ensure correct dosage relative to conventional treatment.
Poria cocos	Diuretic and calming. Supports spleen and kidney function. Contains Pachyman.	Fluid retention. Helps against edema and mucus. Calms restlessness and racing thoughts.	Poria cocos	Acts as a diuretic. Be mindful of electrolyte balance if taking other diuretic medication.
Reishi	Calming and immune-strengthening. Acts as an adaptogen (stress-reducing) and sleep-promoting.	Sleep and stress. Good for finding peace in the body and supporting the immune system between treatments.	Reishi	Blood-thinning. Must not be used with low platelets or before surgery.
Shiitake	Immune-stimulating. Source of Lentinan and AHCC.	Standard support. Lentinan is used medically to prolong survival in certain types of cancer.	Shiitake	May in rare cases cause skin rash (Shiitake dermatitis). Contains purines (caution in gout).
Turkey Tail	Immune-modulating. Supports the immune system (NK cells) without overstimulating. Contains PSK.	Chemo support. Often used alongside chemo to counteract immune suppression.	Turkey Tail	Generally considered safe. Few known interactions (approved drug in Japan as PSK).