Our immune system is our defence system against invading viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. When our immune system is working effectively, it also keeps surveillance internally to detect and kill pre-cancerous cells before they can develop into cancers or tumours. Unfortunately, with age but also accelerated by the constant barrage of exposure to environmental toxins we receive, our immune system can deteriorate and lose its function. This is where immunomodulating compounds such as Reishi can have a great benefit on our health; the term ‘immunomodulating’ being used to describe the ability of Reishi to optimise our immune system to the needs of our body.

One review study analysed several different scientific experiments and found that polysaccharides extracted from Reishi do have a potent immunomodulatory effect, with the ability to exert a significant, positive impact on our immune cells, including B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, NK cells, macrophages and dendritic cells¹³. Another, more recent study found that Reishi’s polysaccharides protected the spleen and thymus (the organs where we develop our immune cells) and led to an increase in the production of new white blood cells and lymphocytes (types of blood cells involved in our immune system)¹⁴. These studies have primarily been conducted in animals or cells and so the findings must be considered with a degree of caution, but the results do suggest that consuming Reishi certainly has the possibility to help enhance your immune system!

Our cardiovascular system includes our heart and blood vessels and unfortunately, cardiovascular diseases are one the major causes of morbidity and mortality around the world. However, Reishi has shown promise in its ability to maintain our cardiovascular system in optimal health! A review of the scientific research found that Reishi can have a positive effect on cholesterol (reducing total cholesterol and LDL, whilst increasing HDL), decrease blood pressure and prevent heart damage in a range of different disease models¹⁵.

Despite most studies being conducted on isolated cells or animals, there was an interesting experiment conducted on a group of 26 human patients with either mild hypertension (high blood pressure) or hyperlipidemia (excessive fats in the blood)¹⁶. This is very useful as both markers are often indicators of risk for developing heart disease later in life. The study found that Reishi might actually have a mild antidiabetic effect and that it also improved the hyperlipidemia (reducing total triglycerides and improving the ‘healthy’ HDL count). This is a really interesting study and shows that Reishi can have a direct impact on our health! It is worth bearing in mind too, that this study took place over a 12-week period and the patients were given 1.44g of a Reishi extract split between the morning and evening, so this would be the same dose as taking just 3 of our Organic Reishi Extract capsules a day.

The Reishi mushroom has been used traditionally to help liver function and there has been quite a wide range of scientific evidence suggesting that it could be effective in helping to protect the liver. When Reishi extracts were tested in different animal studies, scientists found that the Reishi helped protect against liver injury and had an anti-hepatitis B virus activity¹⁷.

Due to these promising results, Reishi was used in a controlled human clinical trial with patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B and showed a massive impact in reducing their hepatitis B burden over a 6-month period. The authors of the study concluded that Reishi was well tolerated and active against the hepatitis B virus¹⁸. Further support for the liver protective effects of Reishi come from a more recent study, which gave a group of 42 healthy, human participants either a 225mg capsule of Reishi extract (less than half the dose of one of our capsules) or a placebo each day for 6 months before swapping over. After taking the Reishi for 6 months, there was a significant increase in antioxidant activity in the liver, decreased liver stress and most impressively, a reversal from mild fatty liver conditions to normal conditions in some of the patient¹⁹. As you may know, the liver is a hugely important organ, with one of its main roles being to constantly detoxify harmful compounds so they don’t build up in our body. Keeping your liver as healthy as possible pays dividends for your overall health and along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, our Organic Reishi Extract capsules could be just the aid you need to ensure your liver stays working in 100% order!

Many people self-report one of the greatest benefits of Reishi is the sleep enhancement it gives them. Our team at Phytobalance has used Reishi for many years and also experienced the same improvements in sleep quality, however, as part of the Phytobalance ethos, we would only suggest a benefit if it was supported by scientific research and so set out the examine what had been found!

One study found that total sleep time and non-rapid eye movement sleep was significantly increased in rats after just 3 days of supplementation with a Reishi extract²⁰ whilst another very recent study also found that Reishi increased sleep time and also decreased sleep latency (time take to fall asleep) in mice²¹. They showed that this was likely due to an increase in levels of the sleep-promoting neurotransmitter 5-HTP in the brain which was dependant on the gut bacteria of the mice. An interesting example of the important synergy we have with our gut microbiome, potentially showing that Reishi is beneficial for them, which in turn, enables them to provide a greater benefit for us!

In addition to its benefits on sleep, there is the possibility that Reishi might be beneficial towards combatting stress and fatigue. One study found that in patients suffering from neurasthenia, over an 8-week period, daily supplementation with a 5.4g Reishi extract with 25% polysaccharide content (equivalent to 4-5 of our capsules) caused a significant reduction in fatigue and improvement in wellbeing²². Another study also found an improvement in physical wellbeing, decreased fatigue and less anxiety/depression, this time in a group of breast cancer patients suffering from cancer related fatigue²³. These studies highlight a real possibility of the benefits that Reishi can bring to mental wellbeing and reduced fatigue, however, it must be remembered that these studies were done with small groups of patients and there has also been conflicting evidence in other groups of patients.

Reishi was renowned in traditional medicines for enhancement of health and longevity and was even hailed as a key to immortality!

When testing the effect of different interventions, model organisms which share similar genes or characteristics with us are often used. One benefit of this is that the effect over the whole lifespan can be studied very quickly, rather than waiting 80+ years to see whether the effect in humans. The C. elegans nematode worm is one of these ‘model organisms’ and Reishi has been shown to extend their median lifespan substantially; from 17.3 days to 23.5 days²⁴! This study found that this lifespan extension was as a result of multiple biological pathways but significantly due to increased anti-oxidation. A second recent study also found a similar effect, this time Reishi increased median lifespan from 13 days to 18.5 days (actually more then the renowned lifespan extending drug Rapamycin)²⁵! This study found that this lifespan extension was due to increased stress resilience and autophagy in the worms, both of which are pathways we share as humans.

Now admittedly, we are very different from the C. elegans nematode and these studies must be considered with this in mind. However, health benefits seen in ‘model organisms’ in response to different interventions often translate to benefits for human (these similarities are why we use model organisms to test effects of interventions), so in light of Reishi’s ancient repute as a longevity tonic, it would definitely be worth considering it as an addition to your anti-aging protocol!