“Reshi,” is Japanese for “divine,” or “spiritual mushroom” The Chinese call it the “tree of life mushroom,” and it is also known as the “10,000 year mushroom” or “the mushroom of immortality.” Typically showing a preference for warmer climates, it grows on numerous hardwoods such as oaks, elms, beech, birch, alder, and maple, and is though to live upon dead or dying Picea.

Similar to a conk or kidney shape, the cap of this woody textured mushroom measures 5-20 cm in diameter and has a shiny surface that appears lacquered when moist, dulling when dried. The cap can be a dull red to to reddish brown, sometimes nearly black and with whitish pores on the underside.

This mushroom is common in the Gulf States region of the south-eastern United States and throughout the Midwest primarily on hardwoods. In South America and some Asian countries, Reishi mushrooms behaves parasitically toward palm and tea treas. Reishi is believed to be a saprophyte, which means it is a facultative parasite acting as an opportunistic infection, only springing into action when the host tree is stressed or diseased from other causes.

Despite being classified as an antimicrobial, according to most studies, Reishi mushrooms do act directly as a tumoricidal against cancers as much as other mushroom species. Reishi primarily functions as a biological response modifier, stimulating production of macrophages, activating the host’s production of natural killer cells, T cells, and tumor-necrosis factors. More than 100 polysaccharides and 119 triterpenoids from this species have been isolated, many demonstrating immunomodulatory properties. Triterpenoids are synthesis, allergenic response, and histamine release. These compounds are thought to be more concentrated in this species’ fruit bodies more than in the mycelium, which is important when choosing medicinal mushroom extracts for relief from bronchitis, asthma, and allergies. Germinating or fracture spores produce more anti-tumor agents.

Reishi Mushrooms have been known to aid  in inhibiting breast cancer cell adhesion, reducing motility and migration of highly metastasized cancer cells. It has been known to aid in the restoration of the T-cell function in the spleen and has significantly inhibited the growth of leukemia. Reishi also inhibits hydroxyl radicals and prevents oxidative damage from the effects of cancer chemotherapies. Reishi mushrooms have also shown to be used as an anti-inflammatory in the treatment of arthritis. It may also prove useful for treating inflammation of the brain, prostate, and liver. Eating reishi helps respiration by enhancing the oxygen absorbing capacity of the alveoli in the lungs and increasing stamina. This mushroom also shows promise fighting chronic fatigue syndrome. This mushroom has anti-tumor properties that fight against breast, liver, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers as well as anti-diabetic and antiviral properties.