Reishi mushrooms, or Ganoderma lingzhi, are fungi found at deciduous tree bases in various humid and hot locations, specifically in Asia. These mushrooms have been used in many traditional Eastern medicinal practices for over two thousand years, with some claiming to combat cancer, enhance your immune system, and alleviate the symptoms of different health conditions.
According to some sources, reishi mushrooms have triterpenoids, peptides, and polysaccharides, which are the compounds responsible for their reported benefits. They also contain amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber. While they can be eaten fresh, their extracts are often used to create supplements. It’s also not uncommon for them to be ground into powder for oral consumption as tea.
Many studies on reishi mushrooms have been conducted, mostly in labs and with animals. Some have produced promising results. However, some human studies haven’t been able to reproduce similar outcomes. Because of this, evidence remains insufficient and inconclusive regarding the benefits it offers. Moreover, they may come with adverse effects, including but not necessarily limited to stomach pain, insomnia, itchiness, chronic diarrhea, bloody stool, skin rashes, and liver damage. For this reason, it’s recommended to consult your doctor before taking any products based on it.
Lessens Anxiety and Stress
Stress refers to the demands placed on the physical body or brain. Often, scenarios or events that instill feelings of nervousness and frustration may trigger it. On the other hand, anxiety is experiencing unease, fear, or worry. While it may be caused by stress, it usually happens without any apparent triggers. While both are different, they share many identical symptoms, including trouble with sleeping, digestive problems, difficulty concentrating, breathlessness, muscle tension, and anger or irritability.
They can also produce a broad range of psychological and physical symptoms, such as dizziness, muscle tension, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sleeping problems, headaches, increased sweating, restlessness, appetite changes, elevated heart rate, numbness or tingling, and brain fog. It isn’t uncommon for both to occur in concurrence. They can also lead to health-related complications if unchecked, such as cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, keeping them at a low and manageable level is crucial to maintaining good physical and mental health.
A few ways to manage stress or anxiety are by limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, getting enough rest, regularly exercising, eating healthily, and practicing relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga. Reishi mushrooms also possess extraordinary abilities in managing stress and lessening anxiety by calming and nourishing the nervous systems.
