Full Spectrum Reishi Mushroom-A Treasure for 2,000 years!
Reishi contains more than 100 substances many of which are known for their ability to support our immune defenses.  Planetary Formulas Full Spectrum Reishi Mushroom combines a highly concentrated extract of the fruiting body with the mycelia biomass, to ensure that every bit of reishi activity is present and easily assimilable.

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Reishi Supplement Facts:
Proprietary Blend:  920 mg
    Reishi Mycelia Biomass, Mature Reishi Mushroom Extract.

Mind Power Rx with Reishi - Formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Regression of gastric large B-Cell lymphoma accompanied by a florid lymphoma-like T-cell reaction: immunomodulatory effect of Ganoderma lucidum Reishi?
Int J Surg Pathol. 2007 Apr;15(2):180-6. Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Wylie Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Complete regression of high-grade lymphoma is extremely rare. We report 1 such case that might have been conceivably mediated by reishi. A 47-year-old man presented with epigastric pain. Endoscopy revealed a large gastric ulcer, which on biopsy was diagnostic of large B-cell lymphoma. At gastrectomy 11 days later, no evidence was found of large B-cell lymphoma despite thorough sampling. Instead, there was a dense and permeative infiltrate of CD3(+) CD8(+) cytotoxic small T lymphocytes spanning the whole thickness of the gastric wall. In situ reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for T-cell receptor beta-chain family did not detect a monoclonal T-cell population. We postulate that the cytotoxic T cells may represent an active host-immune response against the large B-cell lymphoma that resulted in a complete regression. On questioning, the patient had taken megadoses of reishi, which might have triggered the successful immune reaction.

Anti cancer effects of Ganoderma lucidum: a review of scientific evidence.
Nutr Cancer. 2005;53(1):11-7. Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, SAR, China.
Reishi a popular medicinal mushroom, has been used in China for longevity and health promotion since ancient times. Investigations into the anti cancer activity of reishi have been performed in both in vitro and in vivo studies, supporting its application for cancer treatment and prevention. The proposed anti cancer activity of reishi has prompted its usage by cancer patients. It remains debatable as to whether reishi is a food supplement for health maintenance or actually a therapeutic "drug" for medical proposes. Thus far there has been no report of human trials using reishi as a direct anti cancer agent, despite some evidence showing the usage of reishi as a potential supplement to cancer patients. Cellular immune responses and mitogenic reactivity of cancer patients have been enhanced by reshi, as reported in two randomized and one nonrandomized trials, and the quality of life of 65% of lung cancer patients improved in one study. The direct cytotoxic and anti-angiogenesis mechanisms of reishi have been established by in vitro studies; however, clinical studies should not be neglected to define the applicable dosage in vivo. At present, reishi is a health food supplement to support cancer patients, yet the evidence supporting the potential of direct in vivo anti cancer effects should not be underestimated.

Reishi and Neurasthenia
Neurasthenia does not have a good definition, but mostly involves lack of vitality, fatigue, and lack of sense of wellbeing.

A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia.
J Med Food. 2005 Spring;8(1):53-8. New Zealand Institute of Natural Medicine Research, Auckland, New Zealand.
Reishi has been widely used to treat various diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and neurasthenia in many Asian countries. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a polysaccharide extract of Reishi (Ganopoly) in Chinese patients with neurasthenia. One hundred thirty-two patients with neurasthenia according to the diagnosis criteria of the 10th International Classification of Diseases were included in this study. Ganopoly was well tolerated in the study patients. These findings indicated that Ganopoly was significantly superior to placebo with respect to the clinical improvement of symptoms in neurasthenia.

Additional benefits of reishi mushroom
Animal studies indicate reishi has the ability to lower cholesterol levels.

Reishi toxicity
Giving reishi to human volunteers for a period of 4 weeks did not lead to any toxicity.

Availability of Reishi
Reishi is sold in various forms, including tablets, reishi coffee or tea, and reishi extract.

Reishi Research Update
Anti-androgenic activities of Ganoderma lucidum - Reishi.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct 31;102(1):107-12.
Department of Forest and Forest Products Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka
The inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 19 edible and medicinal mushrooms on 5alpha-reductase activity were examined. The extract of Ganoderma lucidum Fr. Krast ( Ganodermataceae-  Reishi ) showed the strongest 5alpha-reductase inhibitory activity. The treatment of the fruit body of reishi or the extract prepared from it significantly inhibited the testosterone-induced growth of the ventral prostate in castrated rats. These results showed that reishi might be a useful ingredient for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the platelet and global hemostatic effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Ling-Zhi - reishi ) in healthy volunteers.
Anesth Analg. 2005 Aug;101(2):423-6
Reishi is a Chinese herbal medicine popular with cancer patients. Previous in vitro studies suggested that reishi might impair hemostasis. In this prospective, randomized double-blind study, healthy volunteers received orally reishi capsules 1.5 g (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) daily for 4 wk. We monitored subjects before drug administration and at 4 and 8 wk thereafter by routine coagulation screen, fibrinogen concentration, von Willebrand ristocetin cofactor activity, platelet function analyzer PFA-100, and thrombelastography. There were no significant between-group differences and all measurements remained within the normal range. Reishi ingestion over 4 wk was not associated with impairment of hemostasis.

Anti-tumor and immunoregulatory activities of Ganoderma lucidum and its possible mechanisms.
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004 Nov;25(11):1387-95.
Ganoderma lucidum ( reishi ) is a medicinal fungus with a variety of biological activities. Reishi has long been used as a folk remedy for promotion of health and longevity in China and other oriental countries. The most attractive character of this kind of medicinal fungus is its effect on the immune system and anti-tumor activities. Large numbers of studies have shown that reishi modulates many components of the immune system such as the antigen-presenting cells, NK cells, T and B lymphocytes. The water extract and the polysaccharides fraction of reishi exhibited significant anti-tumor effect in several tumor-bearing animals mainly through its immune system enhancing activity. Recent studies also showed that the alcohol extract or the triterpene fraction of reishi possessed anti-tumor effect, which seemed to be related to the cytotoxic activity against tumor cells directly. Preliminary study indicated that antiangiogenic effect may be involved antitumor activity of reishi.

Antitumor and anti-angiogenic activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides peptide.
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004 Jun;25(6):833-8.
AIM: To investigate the antitumor and anti-angiogenic activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides peptide (Reishi). CONCLUSION: GLPP has antitumor and anti-angiogenic activity. The anti-angiogenesis of reishi may be a new mechanism underlying its anti-tumor effects.

Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells PC-3.
Int J Oncol. 2004 May;24(5):1093-9.
Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), an oriental medical mushroom, has been widely used in Asian countries for centuries to prevent or treat different diseases, including cancer. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for the effects of reishi on cancer cells remain to be elucidated. Our data demonstrate that reishi  inhibits cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner by the down-regulation of expression of cyclin B and Cdc2 and by the up-regulation of p21 expression. Furthermore, reishi induced apoptosis of PC-3 cells with a slight decrease in the expression of NF-kappaB-regulated Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. Reishi  exerts its effect on cancer cells by multiple mechanisms and may have potential therapeutic use for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Hypoglycemic effect of Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) polysaccharides.
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004 Feb;25(2):191-5.
AIM: To investigate the hypoglycemic effect of reishi polysaccharides in the normal fasted mice and its possible mechanism. Normal fasted mice were given a single dose of reishi 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg by i.p. and the serum glucose was measured at 0, 3, and 6 h after administration. Reishi 100 mg/kg were also given by i.p. and the serum glucose and insulin levels were measured at 0 min, 30 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h. Pancreatic islets were isolated and incubated with glucose and different concentration of reishi, the insulin content of islets and insulin release were examined. Verapamil and egtazic acid were used to testify whether the insulin-releasing effect of reishi was mediated by its ability to raise the Ca2+ influx. Reishi dose-dependently lowered the serum glucose levels at 3 h and 6 h after administration. Reishi 100 mg/kg raised the circulating insulin levels at 1 h after administration. In vitro, reishi had no effect on islets insulin content, but it stimulated the insulin release after incubation with glucose 5.6 mmol/L. Confocal microscope showed that reishi 100 mg/L had the capacity to raise the [Ca2+]i. The insulin-releasing effect of reishi was inhibited by verapamil/egtazic acid. Reishi possesses the hypoglycemic effect on normal mice; one mechanism is through its insulin-releasing activity due to a facilitation of Ca2+ inflow to the pancreatic beta cells.

Ganoderma lucidum (reishi), a Chinese medicinal mushroom: biomarker responses in a controlled human supplementation study.
Br J Nutr. 2004 Feb;91(2):263-9.
Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum, reishi) is a woody mushroom highly regarded in traditional medicine and is widely consumed in the belief that it promotes health and longevity, lowers the risk of cancer and heart disease and boosts the immune system. However, objective scientific validation of the putative health benefits of reishi in human subjects is lacking, and issues of possible toxicity must be addressed. The present double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over intervention study investigated the effects of 4 weeks reishi supplementation on a range of biomarkers for antioxidant status, CHD risk, DNA damage, immune status, and inflammation, as well as markers of liver and renal toxicity. It was performed as a follow-up to a study that showed that antioxidant power in plasma increased after reishi ingestion, and that 10 d supplementation was associated with a trend towards an improved CHD biomarker profile. In the present study, fasting blood and urine from healthy, consenting adults (n 18; aged 22-52 years) was collected before and after 4 weeks supplementation with a commercially available encapsulated reishi preparation (1.44 g reishi/d; equivalent to 13.2 g fresh mushroom/d) or placebo. No significant change in any of the variables was found, although a slight trend toward lower lipids was again seen, and antioxidant capacity in urine increased. The results showed no evidence of liver, renal or DNA toxicity with reishi intake, and this is reassuring. The present study of the effects in healthy, well-nourished subjects provides useful, new scientific data that will support controlled intervention trials using at-risk subjects in order to assess the therapeutic effect of reishi in the promotion of healthy ageing.

Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) in cancer treatment.
Integr Cancer Ther. 2003 Dec;2(4):358-64.
The popular edible mushroom Reishi has been widely used for the general promotion of health and longevity in Asian countries. The dried powder of reishi was popular as a cancer chemotherapy agent in ancient China. The authors recently demonstrated that reishi inhibits constitutively active transcription factors nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and AP-1, which resulted in the inhibition of expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor uPAR. Reishi also suppressed cell adhesion and cell migration of highly invasive breast and prostate cancer cells, suggesting its potency to reduce tumor invasiveness. Thus, reishi clearly demonstrates anticancer activity in experiments with cancer cells and has possible therapeutic potential as a dietary supplement for an alternative therapy for breast and prostate cancer. However, because of the availability of reishi from different sources, it is advisable to test its biologic activity.

Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients.
Immunol Invest. 2003 Aug;32(3):201-15.
Preclinical studies have established that the Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (reishi) fractions have potent anti-tumor activity, which has been associated with the immuno-stimulating effects of reishi. However, it is unclear whether reishi has immuno-modulating effects in humans in vivo. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ganopoly, the polysaccharides fractions extracted from reishi, on the immune function of advanced-stage cancer patients. Thirty-four advance-stage cancer patients were entered onto this study, and treated with 1800 mg Ganopoly (reishi), three times daily orally before meals for 12 weeks. Immune parameters (cytokines, T cell subsets, and natural killer activity) were compared between baseline and after 12-week treatment. Thirty patients are assessable for their immune functions. Treatment of reishi for 12 weeks resulted in a significant increase in the mean plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL-2), IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-gamma, whereas the levels of IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) were significantly decreased. A marked variability among patients with advanced-stage cancer was observed in the numbers of each lymphocyte subset at baseline. The mean absolute number of CD56+ cells was significantly increased after 12-week treatment of reishi, whereas the numbers of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ were just marginally increased compared to baseline levels, with the CD4:CD8 T cell ratios unchanged. In addition, reishi treatment resulted in a significant increase in the mean NK activity compared to baselines. The present study indicates that Ganopoly enhanced the immune responses in patients with advanced-stage cancer. Clinical evaluations of response and toxicity are ongoing.

Mechanism of the antiulcerogenic effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (reishi) on indomethacin-induced lesions in the rat.
Life Sci. 2002 Dec 27;72(6):731-45.
Many cytokines, in particular tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha have been known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal lesions caused by various factors such as drugs and Helicobacter pylori infection. Our previous studies have shown that the polysaccharide fractions isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) prevented indomethacin- and acetic acid-induced gastric mucosal lesions in the rat. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether reishi had a direct mucosal healing effect in the indomethacin-treated rat, and to explore the possible mechanisms by determining the gastric mucosal mRNA and protein levels of TNF-alpha and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. These findings indicated that reishi produced a mucosal healing effect in the rat model, perhaps due partly to the suppression of TNF-alpha.

Reishi Questions
Q. Does taking reishi capsules interfere with the warfarin (coumadin)? I take warfarin 5mg a day.
   A. We checked Medline for the keywords reishi in association with warfarin, bleeding, platelet, clotting, coumadin, and could not find any research. Therefore, we don't have any information at this time to say if there is any interaction between coumadin and reishi.

Q. Can children take reishi mushroom?
   A. We have not seen much research with reishi mushroom and children, therefore it is difficult to make any suggestions.

Q. I want to thank you for web pages on supplements. Your site is so informative. Thanks for being there. I was on reishi mushroom caplets for a few years and decided to take COQ10 this past couple months, so not knowing if I could take both I went off the reishi. I love the energy COQ10 provides me but I miss the mental clarity benefits of the reishi. I am always mentally tired it seems. Can I take these two together? Is there any "drug interactions" between these two?
   A. We are not aware of any studies that have combined reishi mushroom supplements and CoQ10. As a general rule, most supplements can be combined if their dosages are kept low. However, each person reacts differently, so no general statements can be made that would apply to everyone.

Q. My father has a brain tumor astrocytoma grade 2 in basal. He is 60 years old. His doctor recommended 6 weeks radiation, and he just finished. Surgery is not possible. One of my Chinese friends recommended reishi, but I have no idea about this product. Is it helpful for his brain tumor? How much does he have to take ( reishi dosage )?
   A.  Reishi has show some benefit in cancer treatment in laboratory and animal studies. However, as of December 2007, extensive human studies are not available to make any firm conclusions regarding the dosage and safety of reishi mushroom or reishi extract in terms of human cancer treatment.

Reishi Mushroom Extract 6% Polysaccharides / Triterpenoids