The Lingzhi mushroom (having the binomial name Ganoderma lucidum) is one of the most famous and utilised medicinal mushrooms that has been employed for therapeutic purposes for over two thousand years in Traditional Oriental Medicines. The ancient peoples called it the mushroom of immortality. The Lingzhi (a.k.a. Ganoderma Lucidum or more commonly, Reishi) is the most rare and precious remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. Legend describes it as a spiritual essence with the miraculous power to bring the dead back to life. It is the best-known fungus in mycotherapy and likely that subject to the highest number of studies, now also coming to interest Western medicines for its many potential uses. Whilst best known by its Japanese name of Reishi, the Chinese name is Ling Zhi or Ling Chi. It has long been considered amongst the 10 most powerful and effective natural therapeutic substances of all major Traditional Oriental Medicines. Reishi or Ganoderma Lucidum has been used in folk medicine throughout China and Japan, especially to treat liver disease, chronic hepatitis, nephritis, hypertension, arthritis, neurasthenia, insomnia, bronchitis, asthma and gastric ulcers. In China, it has been used for over 4,000 years as a tonic and adaptogen, as well as a cardiotonic with very interesting immune-stimulating and immunomodulating effects. Some 4,000 bioactive compounds have been isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma Lucidum, including around 140 triterpenes/terpenoids, over 200 types of polysaccharides and glycoproteins, nucleotides, cerebrosides, ergosterols, fatty acids, proteins with specific activities, peptides and trace elements. Amongst the minerals, the presence of high quantities of germanium is of note, explaining many of its effects on health. It also contains a very high concentration of bioactive substances, including: Mineral salts: Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, Germanium Vitamin B, in particular folic acid 17 amino acids including all the essentials Polysaccharides consisting of: glucose, galactose, mannose with traces of xylose and fucose Beta-glucans and alpha-glucans Sterol hormonal precursors Substances with antihistamine effects Adenosine Triterei Lucidenic acid Ganoderic acid Genolucid acid Each of these numerous bioactive elements then correspond to the specific therapeutic activities, which can be of a direct nature - such as functioning as a tonic, being immuno-stimulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antiviral and an antihistamine (mainly due to the presence of triterpenes) - and of an indirect nature - as with the
