Can reishi mushrooms prolong life and cure diseases
Miscellaneous / / June 22, 2023
Prices for them reach tens of thousands of rubles.
What are reishi mushrooms
Reishi mushroom (ling-zhi, mannetek, varnished tinder fungus) is a fungus that destroys wood. In Latin, it is called Ganoderma lucidum and grows on deciduous, rarely coniferous trees. It is believed that since ancient times it has been used in oriental medicine as an adaptogen, that is, a tool that increases the body's resistance.
Some scientists considerthat the right reishi mushroom is not Ganoderma lucidum, A Ganoderma lingzhi, which belongs to a different species. But in this case, this is not so important, because the very idea of \u200b\u200bmiraculous properties is greatly exaggerated.
What Reishi Mushroom Fans Expect
As in other myths about herbal remedies from all diseases, the claimed properties of reishi are half-truths. Really There is studies, especially in vitro ("in vitro"), that the active compounds in this mushroom can protect the kidneys and liver from damage, kill cancer cells and fight infections.
But in a living organism, everything is more complicated.
Do reishi help health
Research that would confirmedthat reishi has claimed health benefits are limited. Many of them were conducted on a small number of people and do not meet the requirements of evidence-based medicine. In addition, the conclusions of scientists often contradict other experiments.
In 2016, scientists from the most authoritative Cochrane studied five randomized controlled trials and published a systematic review of the effectiveness of reishi for cancer treatment. The analysis showed that in patients who were given mushrooms in combination with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, tumors decreased better than those who were treated only by standard methods. And the quality of life was higher. Using only reishi did not show any benefit, and the number of deaths did not decrease either. So at the moment there is not enough reason to believe that reishi can cure cancer.
Some research also showedthat mushrooms reduce pain, promote the healing of foci of herpes zoster in the elderly, reduce fatigue, improve quality of life in people with breast cancer, and may relieve symptoms in men with enlarged prostate. But these experiments do not meet the requirements of evidence-based medicine. So they can't be taken seriously.
What are the dangers of eating reishi mushrooms?
Reishi Mushroom Supplementation Maybe lead to nausea, insomnia and liver problems.
Several cases of serious complications after their use have also been documented:
- 2 cases of damage liver fatal;
- 1 - the appearance of nodules in the liver and an increase in the level of eosinophils - blood cells that are responsible for fighting foreign proteins and parasites;
- 1 - a disease that mimics liver damage by a fluke Clonorchis;
- 1 - chronic diarrhea.
In addition, these mushrooms may interact with medications and call side effects:
Preparations | Effect in combination with Reishi |
Anticoagulants, antiaggregants | Increase the risk of bleeding |
Immunosuppressants | Enhance immune response |
Chemotherapeutic drugs | Increase or decrease the effectiveness of a drug |
Substrates of cytochrome P450 (these are different drugs that are excreted by the liver) | Affect the excretion of these drugs, the clinical effect is difficult to predict |
pressure medication | Reduce pressure too much |
Reishi Supplements contraindicated pregnant, lactating and those who constantly take some kind of medication, due to the unpredictability of the effect.
Should You Take Reishi Mushroom Supplements?
No. supplements with them considered safe. But this is not a sufficient basis for acceptance. There are still no high-quality trials that will allow you to understand what dosage is right for you and whether it will improve the condition at all. Mushrooms are not certified, so, apart from the producers, no one knows what is actually in the package. The spread of prices also makes one doubt: from 200–300 rubles to several tens of thousands.
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