Ganoderma Lucidum

While ‘reishi’ is one of the more common names for this particular mushroom, its proper scientific name is Ganoderma Lucidum.

Despite growing in slightly different forms worldwide, the ganoderma lucidum is incredibly rare in the wild. In ancient China, massive expeditions would be sent out by the emperor to find this intriguing mushroom, without success. Medicine men of those times often claimed to know secret locations where the mushroom grew, though due to its extreme rarity, it is now known that such locations were unlikely to have ever existed.

In modern times, ganoderma lucidum is just as rare in the wild as it ever was. It can now be cultivated under careful conditions, however, to ensure that the most pristine of mushrooms are available for their medicinal benefits.

The ‘Red Reishi’

The “purple reishi” ganoderma sinsense was once thought to be the same species as the ‘red’ reishi, ganoderma lucidum.

In the past, records indicated that there were six different types of reishi: green, yellow, white, purple, black, and red. Some cultures believed that the different colors corresponded to increased health for specific organs or different regions of the body. The red version was the rarest reishi, and was considered to have the most health benefits.

Today, researches are certain that the red reishi is the only “true” reishi. Without the benefit of modern scientific analysis, ancient herbalists could not tell that the red ganoderma lucidum was a separate species of mushroom than the “purple reishi” ganoderma sinense. To add to the confusion of classification, ‘red’ ganoderma lucidum isn’t always red! As with most things in the plant, animal, and fungi kingdoms, these mushrooms do come in a small color range from pale yellow to a dark reddish-brown.

The color of ganoderma lucidum can be affected by air quality, age, and a number of other factors. Reishi that are cultivated under the same conditions will be of very similar color, and will provide the same health benefits. Though some factors will affect potency, for the most part the color difference of the reishi mushroom does not mean too much. If raised under the same conditions, there is no reason to believe that a more brown-hued reishi will have less benefits than a proper red-hued reishi.

With that said, consumers should beware of certain claims that advertisers may try to make. Some producers will try to claim that they sell white, green, purple, or other colors of ganoderma lucidum reishi. On the one hand, you could just be getting a particularly light or dark-colored reishi (likely at a higher price!). On the other hand, you may not be even buying a real ganoderma lucidum mushroom! In either case, if you’re not buying “red” ganoderma lucidum, you’re probably not buying the type of mushroom you think you’re buying – and you might want to reconsider your order!

Ganoderma lucidum naturally grows in a variety of colors.

Ganoderma Lucidum and Health

Because of its significance in Chinese culture, the ganoderma lucidum has received much attention from scientists in the East. The discoveries they made concerning the mushroom’s health benefits have been replicated in studies worldwide at a number of credible universities and institutions.

Most of the mushroom’s benefits come from the polysaccharide compounds, while others come from triterpenes (or ganodermic acids). Triterpenes are the source of the reishi’s incredibly bitter taste, with a directly proportional relationship between bitterness and potency. In other words, you wouldn’t want to taste a very effective reishi mushroom – you’d probably regret it!

Intriguingly, scientists are still trying to find the sources of some of ganoderma lucidum’s benefits. Though researchers have been able to identify the reishi mushrooms’s positive effects on health, they have not yet been able to pinpoint exactly what causes some of these effects.

As interest and recognition of the reishi mushroom’s health benefits grows, ganoderma lucidum will continue to stimulate scientific curiosity and create further advancements in natural medicine.

The Ingredients of Reishi Force™

Reishi Force™ is an all-natural supplement created with the spores and fruiting bodies of ganoderma lucidum. To provide further health benefits, the strength of the reishi mushroom have been combined with the power of fucoidan.

Fucoidan is compound that naturally occurs within the cell walls of different species of brown seaweed. Reishi Force™ uses fucoidan derived from Atlantic-grown undaria pinnatifida seaweed, which is more commonly known as wakame or mekabu. Wakame is the only brown seaweed that has antiviral properties, which provide the user of Reishi Force™ with additional health benefits.

Using only 100% natural ingredients (including vegetarian-friendly capsules!), Reishi Force™ creates a powerful immune boost that can provide both preventive protection and swift recovery.