Red Reishi, also known as Lingzhi, is the fruiting body of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. of the Polyporaceae family and is produced in most regions of the country. This product has the effects of tonifying qi, calming the mind, relieving coughs, and alleviating wheezing. It is primarily used to treat restlessness, insomnia, palpitations, coughing and wheezing due to lung deficiency, shortness of breath caused by debility, and loss of appetite.
Red Reishi
Red Reishi, also known as Lingzhi, is the fruiting body of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. of the Polyporaceae family and is produced in most regions of the country. This product has the effects of tonifying qi, calming the mind, relieving coughs, and alleviating wheezing. It is primarily used to treat restlessness, insomnia, palpitations, coughing and wheezing due to lung deficiency, shortness of breath caused by debility, and loss of appetite.
Chinese Name : 赤灵芝
Aliases : Red Reishi, Lingzhi, Dan Zhi, Rosy Reishi
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Sweet in taste, neutral in nature; enters the Heart, Lung, Liver, and Kidney meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Red Lingzhi has the effects of tonifying qi, calming the mind, relieving cough, and alleviating wheezing.
Indications
Red Lingzhi is primarily used to treat restlessness, insomnia, palpitations, cough and wheezing due to lung deficiency, shortness of breath caused by debility, and loss of appetite.
Usage and Dosage
Oral use: Decocted; the usual dosage is 6–12 g.
Precautions
1. Red Reishi is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation; therefore, it should be used with caution by individuals with hemorrhagic diseases or a tendency to bleed. 2. If other medications need to be taken concurrently while using Red Reishi, patients should consult a doctor or pharmacist promptly to prevent drug interactions that may affect efficacy or cause adverse reactions.
Chemical Constituents
Red Reishi contains triterpenoids such as Ganoderic acids A, B, C1, C2, and D1; Ganoderic acids A, B, C, and D1; and Lingchi acid; polysaccharides such as Ganoderan polysaccharides; and other components including ergosterol, nucleosides, amino acids, and proteins.
Pharmacological Actions
This product possesses pharmacological effects including sedation, antiepileptic action, protection of brain tissue, immune enhancement, antitumor activity, liver protection, blood glucose reduction and inhibition of diabetic complications, anti-aging, lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects, and kidney protection.
Relevant Discussions
1. *The Classic of Herbal Medicine*: “Red Reishi treats chest congestion, benefits heart qi, tonifies the middle jiao, enhances wisdom and memory retention. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and prolongs life to the level of immortals.”
2. *The Newly Revised Materia Medica*: “Red Reishi calms the mind and spirit.”
3. *Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians*: “Red Reishi grows on Mount Huo.”
4. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Treats consumptive diseases.”
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. To treat restlessness, insomnia, and palpitations, it may be used alone by grinding into a powder and swallowing, or combined with Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, Ziziphus jujuba seeds, Platycladus orientalis seeds, and longan flesh.
2. To treat phlegm-fluid retention syndrome, manifested as aversion to cold, cough, copious phlegm, and shortness of breath; it is particularly effective for phlegm-dampness or deficiency-cold patterns.It may be used alone or in combination with herbs that tonify qi, consolidate the lungs, warm yang, and transform fluid retention, such as Codonopsis, Schisandra, Dried Ginger, and Pinellia.
3. To treat deficiency-related shortness of breath, loss of appetite, cold hands and feet, or restlessness and dry mouth, it is often combined with tonifying herbs such as Cornus officinalis, Ginseng, and Rehmannia, as in the Purple Reishi Pill (from *Shengji Zonglu*)
Related Compatibility
1. Red Reishi Mushroom Combined with Jujube Seed: Red Reishi Mushroom tonifies qi and calms the mind; Jujube Seed nourishes blood and calms the mind. When used together, they tonify qi, nourish blood, and calm the mind, treating insomnia and frequent dreaming caused by deficiency of qi and blood and inadequate nourishment of the mind.
2. Red Reishi Mushroom Combined with Ginseng: Red Reishi Mushroom nourishes qi and blood; Ginseng greatly tonifies original qi. This combination is used to treat various symptoms of deficiency-related debility.
Medicinal Identification
Red Reishi and Yunzhi: Both herbs have a sweet, neutral nature and enter the Heart, Liver, and Kidney meridians. However, Red Reishi also enters the Lung meridian, where it tonifies qi, calms the mind, and relieves coughing and wheezing; it is used for restlessness, insomnia, palpitations, lung-deficiency cough and wheezing, consumptive disease with shortness of breath, and loss of appetite.Yunzhi also enters the Spleen meridian, where it strengthens the spleen, drains dampness, clears heat, and detoxifies; it is used for damp-heat jaundice, costal pain, poor appetite, and fatigue.
Related Medicines
Huoxin Pills, Yixin Ningshen Tablets.
Medicinal Diet Therapy
1. Red Reishi Wine: 30 g of red reishi, 500 ml of white liquor. Soak the reishi until the liquor turns reddish-brown; an appropriate amount of rock sugar or honey may also be added. Drink 10 ml after each meal, 1–2 times daily. This wine is suitable for neurasthenia, indigestion, coughing, and shortness of breath.
2. Red Reishi Tea: Cut the red reishi into small pieces, place them in a teacup, pour boiling water over them, and drink as you steep. You may also decoct it 2–3 times, pour the resulting tea into a thermos, and savor it slowly. This tea helps refresh the mind and relieve fatigue.
3. Red Reishi Stewed Pigeon: 5g of red reishi slices, 1 pigeon. First, pluck the pigeon, remove the innards, and wash it thoroughly. Place it in a steaming bowl, add an appropriate amount of water, then add the red reishi slices, Shaoxing wine, ginger slices, and salt. Steam in a steamer until tender.This dish has the effects of tonifying the middle qi, warming the kidneys to consolidate the root, and nourishing yin and blood. It is used as a tonic for children and the elderly, and can also be used for conditions such as bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, and leukopenia.
4. Night-Calming Syrup: 50 g of red reishi, 105 g each of Albizia bark, Polygonum multiflorum vine, and Ligustrum fruit, 75 g of red dates, 30 g of licorice, and 300 g of floating wheat. Simmer with an appropriate amount of white sugar until thickened. Take 40 ml per dose, twice daily. This remedy calms the mind and nourishes the heart, and is used for neurasthenia, dizziness, insomnia, and frequent dreaming.
5. Red Reishi Powder: Grind red reishi into powder; take 2–3g three times daily. It helps calm and nourish the mind.
6. Red Reishi Broken-Wall Spore Powder: Take 0.9g twice daily. It enhances immune function and aids in the treatment of cancer.
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with traditional Chinese medicine should first consult a licensed TCM hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional pattern differentiation and issue a prescription.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest year-round; remove impurities; trim off the lower portion of the stem attached to rotten wood, mud, sand, or culture medium; air-dry or dry in an oven at 40°C–50°C.
Processing Methods
Remove impurities, sort by size, moisten thoroughly, trim off the stipe, slice, and dry.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry place to prevent mold and insect infestation.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The mushroom is umbrella-shaped, with a kidney-shaped, semicircular, or nearly circular cap, 10–18 cm in diameter and 1–2 cm thick. The cap is hard, yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, glossy, with annular ridges and radial wrinkles; the margin is thin, flat, and often slightly inrolled. The flesh is white to pale brown.The stem is cylindrical, lateral, rarely off-center, 7–15 cm long, 1–3.5 cm in diameter, reddish-brown to purplish-brown, and glossy. The spores are minute and yellowish-brown. It has a faintly fragrant odor and a bitter, astringent taste.
Properties of Processed Slices
This product consists of irregular slices; the cross-section of the cap comprises the cuticle, flesh, and numerous tubes, and is off-white or pale brown.The cap is covered with a cuticle on the upper surface or on both surfaces; the cuticle on the underside often peels off. The cuticle is hard, reddish-brown, yellowish-brown, or purplish-brown, glossy, and wrinkled; its outer surface is often covered with a large amount of powdery, yellowish-brown spores. The flesh is pale brown, light brown, or rust-brown.The stem is round or irregular in shape, with a reddish-brown or purplish-brown, glossy surface; the cross-section is pale brown to rusty brown, and some specimens have annular markings. It has a faintly fragrant aroma and a bitter, astringent taste.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Red Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), a fungus of the Polyporaceae family.
Morphological Characteristics
A saprophytic fungus with a stipe and a cork-like fruiting body. The cap is semicircular or kidney-shaped, 10–20 cm in diameter, with a flesh thickness of 1.5–2 cm. The cap surface is brownish-yellow or reddish-brown, gradually fading to pale yellow toward the margin; it features concentric rings, is slightly wrinkled or smooth, has a glossy lacquer-like sheen, and has a slightly blunt margin. The flesh is milky white, turning pale brown near the gills.The gills are up to 1 cm long, with 4–5 gills per 1 mm. The gill mouths are nearly circular, initially white, later turning pale yellow or yellowish-brown. The stem is cylindrical, lateral or off-center, and occasionally central.It measures 10–19 cm in length and 1.5–4 cm in diameter, with a color similar to that of the cap. The hyphae in the cortical layer are club-shaped with swollen tips. The hyphal system is tritypic: reproductive hyphae are transparent and thin-walled; skeletal hyphae are yellowish-brown, thick-walled, and nearly solid; and entangling hyphae are colorless, thick-walled, curved, and evenly branched.Spores are ovoid, double-walled, with a flat-truncated apex; the outer wall is transparent, and the inner wall is pale brown with small spines; size: (9–11) μm × (6–7) μm. Basidiocarps mostly mature in the fall, though in southern and southwestern China, maturation may extend into winter.
Distribution Area
It is widely distributed in China, but is more common south of the Yangtze River.
Growth Habits
Ganoderma lucidum is a saprotrophic fungus; however, since it can parasitize living trees, it is also known as a facultative parasite. It grows at temperatures ranging from 3–40°C, with 26–28°C being optimal. It thrives under conditions where the substrate moisture content is close to 200%, relative humidity is 90%, and the pH is 5–6. As an aerobic fungus, Ganoderma lucidum requires ample oxygen and diffused light during fruiting body cultivation.
