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Using Ganoderma Lucidum Tea As An Alternative Medicine

By Antoinette Quinn


Ganoderma lucidum tea has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years in China. It is derived from a mushroom that grows mainly in tropical areas. Because the fungus is uncommon in the wild it is usually grown by professional farmers.

The ganoderma mushroom is soft and flat. There are several different types of this mushroom but the red one is most sought out for its use as an alternative medicine. Also known as Reishi or Lingzhi, it is difficult to find in the wild so is generally cultivated as a cash crop.

The Reishi has been studied by both eastern and western medicine. They have identified more than 200 elements. Some of these elements are known to fight cancer and an extract of the ganoderma is included in some commercially produced medicines because it blocks cancer cells. It also boosts the immune system and works as an antiviral so it could be useful for people that are HIV positive. Some of the other uses for this fungus are controlling blood pressure, working as an anti-inflammatory for people that are in pain, and as a way to control blood sugar.

The Lingzhi grows in tropical and moist areas of the world. It feeds off of tree leaves and seems to particularly be attracted to Maple trees. Because it only grows on about 2 of every 10,000 trees the mushroom is usually produced from cultivated crops.

Used as a medicine in China for several thousand years, this mushroom even has a prominent place in Chinese literature. Doctors in the east have used it to treat illnesses including heart problems and even used it to increase longevity. Many in the east refer to it as the magical mushroom.

People in the west have been skeptical of many alternative medicines. Even at that, the Reishi has been taken seriously and many people are buying it in health food stores. The tablet form is often preferred in the west because the tea has a bitter taste. To make a tea you should soak the mushroom in cold water for two to three hours and then boil it. Once it boils then you should let it simmer for about 45 minutes then strain it before drinking the tea. It will be bitter though, so be prepared for that.

There are some dangers associated with the ganoderma. One of the ingredients thins the blood and could prevent your blood from clotting. It can also give you headaches, dizziness, and low blood pressure. Many people complain that it causes nausea and diarrhea, or even stomach pain. Rarely, but more seriously, it can cause serious liver damage.

Ganoderma lucidum tea is used in China to boost the immune system and many people swear by it. Lingzhi has spread into the west where people sometimes prefer to take it in pill form because of the bitter taste of the tea. There are some side effects that could be serious though so you should discuss this with your doctor before adding it to your regiment.




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