- Adds energy and strengthens vitality
- Improves the body's immunity
- Reduces the effects of stress
- Has anti-cancer properties
- Exhibits adaptogenic effects
- Supports liver function
- Has antioxidant potential
Swanson Reishi Mushroom is a dietary supplement in capsules containing 500 mg of Reishi mushroom pericarp extract, standardized to 10% polysaccharide content. In modern Far Eastern medicine, Reishi mushrooms are used as a vitality booster, modulating the body's immune system and showing beneficial effects in cases of cancer.
Mushrooms Reishi naturally grow in Japan and China in mountainous, abundantly forested areas with high humidity and low sunlight. Due to their harsh growing conditions, for hundreds of years they were an incredibly rare and hard-to-reach species, and due to their medicinal qualities, they were valued higher than gold. Scientific and clinical research, would help confirm their medicinal properties.
In traditional Eastern medicine, the Reishi mushroom is included in the group of adaptogens, strengthening agents and natural equivalents of immunotherapeutic drugs. It is believed to have blood pressure-lowering, anti-cough, expectorant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-tumor and anti-allergic properties.
Such a broad spectrum of uses capable of preventing and alleviating many diseases and helping to extend overall life expectancy has been well known and highly valued in Far Eastern countries for many years. Very often they have been treated as a last resort in the fight against incurable and severe diseases, mainly cancer.
To date, more than 300 reports have already been published talking about the chemical constituents present in Reishi mushrooms and related species. The pericarp and spores of these mushrooms contain about 400 different bioactive compounds, which include triterpenoids, polysaccharides, nucleotides, sterols, steroids, fatty acids, proteins, peptides and trace elements.
The most important pharmacologically active compounds found in Reishi mushrooms are polysaccharides. These polysaccharides exhibit immunostimulatory and anti-cancer properties. The second group of substances that have been isolated from Reishi mushrooms, important because of their medicinal qualities, are triterpenoids, particularly ganoderic acids. Studies show that they have adaptogenic, analgesic effects, offset high blood pressure, inhibit cholesterol synthesis, protect against liver poisoning and are responsible for anti-allergic effects. The triterpenoids have also been found to exhibit anticancer and cytotoxic effects.
Reishi mushrooms have traditionally been recommended by Chinese and Japanese herbalists for insomnia as a "sleep-promoting agent" and during psychiatric and neurological ailments, including muscle disease, lack of appetite and weakness after long illnesses. Dried mycelium from Reishi is proving to be a highly effective tool in treating neuroses caused by environmental stress. An 8-month study on Alzheimer's patients showed that patients taking Reishi significantly improved their health.
Reishi contain high concentrations of organic germanium, polysaccharides and triterpenes. These active ingredients have been shown to strengthen our immune cells and improve the function of our immune system. Reishi mushrooms exhibit antiviral and antimicrobial activity. They prove effective against influenza viruses, as well as pneumococci, streptococci, staphylococci, Escherichia coli, dysentery-causing bacteria and Pseudomonas bacteria.
Polysaccharides present in Reishi show beneficial effects among people infected with Epstein-Barr virus, which is responsible for mononucleosis. Ganoderic acids show activity against HIV, and their small doses can reduce the replication of this virus by up to 50%. Stimulation of the immune system is mainly done on increasing the feeding activity of macrophages.
The active anti-cancer component contained in Reishi mushrooms is betaglucans. These polysaccharides are giant molecules composed of smaller subunits of simple carbohydrates linked to amino acids. They are able to stimulate and modulate the immune system through activation of immune cells (macrophages, helper T cells) and enhanced response to foreign cells (bacteria, viruses, cancer cells) by increasing levels of immunoglobulins.
The Japanese government has officially recognized Reishi as a medicinal plant to support cancer therapy, and the scientific evidence collected to date allows us to recommend the use of Reishi mushroom extracts in the following areas of cancer conditions:
-beneficial effects on reducing negative side effects such as weakness, loss of appetite and hair loss during radio and chemotherapy,
-as a means of reducing the risk of occurrence, recurrence or metastasis in cancer,
-as a supplement to improve the quality and length of life of cancer patients.
A great many adaptogens, and Reishi mushrooms in particular, show their effects due to their extremely high content of organic germanium compounds. This increases the body's uptake and efficiency of oxygen utilization, and this translates into protection against the harmful effects of oxygen free radicals.
The main components of Reishi mushrooms responsible for their adaptogenic effects are ganoderic acids, 1,3-beta-glucans, organic germanium compounds, adenosine and gamma-aminobutyric acid. Adenosine has a relaxing effect on skeletal muscles, a calming effect on the central nervous system, and counteracts the stimulating effects of caffeine.
In conclusion, Swanson Reishi Mushroom is a dietary supplement that is recommended for the prevention and support of cancer treatment and the improvement of the body's overall immunity. The adaptogenic properties of the product can contribute to reducing the harmful effects of chronic physical and mental stress on the body. They also contribute to the regulation of the body's homeostasis, balance in the nervous system, improve health, well-being and physical performance.
