Shiny looking, with a woody texture and reddish color, the Reishi is a mushroom native to Japan, China, and other Asian countries. Its scientific name is Ganoderma lucidum, and it has been used in Oriental medicine for millennia to treat various conditions, from hepatitis and leukopenia (low white blood cell count) to respiratory problems (1, 2).
Called the fruiting body, the above-ground part of the fungus is the most commonly used to make supplements. However, the mycelium – the part beneath the ground – also has medicinal properties. Reishi supplements are marketed in the form of powdered extract and capsules. In China, this mushroom is known as Ling Zhi (1).