Reishi
Reishi (Ganoderma) is studied for immune and sleep-related outcomes. Human evidence remains limited and mixed.
Overview
What is reishi?
Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is a mushroom frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Dosage
A typical dose of reishi is 600 mg per day.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
23 conditions for , and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
Database Snapshot
Most reishi research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Cardiovascular health accounts for 4 of 39 studies (10%).
- High blood pressure accounts for 4 of 39 studies (10%).
- Immunity accounts for 4 of 39 studies (10%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), Cancer, Diabetes.
Safety
Insufficient reliable information available.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources28 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Immunity
4 references1.SupplementDEX Database: Immunity — Safety and tolerability of Ganoderma lucidum in healthy subjects: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial2007
In 16 healthy adults over 10 days, Ganoderma lucidum 4 g/day was well tolerated with no significant changes in blood tests, ECG, or immune markers versus placebo.
2.SupplementDEX Database: Immunity — Effect of Ganoderma lucidum capsules on T lymphocyte subsets in football players on "living high-training low"2007
In football players on a 28-day live-high train-low protocol, Ganoderma lucidum capsules modulated T lymphocyte subsets but performance effects were not clearly reported.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Immunity — Monitoring of immune responses to a herbal immuno-modulator in patients with advanced colorectal cancer2005
In 47 advanced colorectal cancer patients over 12 weeks, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides 5.4 g/day increased select immune cell counts and cytokine activity.
4.SupplementDEX Database: Immunity — Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients2003
In 30 advanced cancer patients over 12 weeks, Ganopoly polysaccharide extract 1,800 mg/day modulated immune markers including increased natural killer cell activity.
SupplementDEX Database · Breast cancer
1 reference5.SupplementDEX Database: Breast cancer — Spore Powder of Ganoderma lucidum Improves Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Pilot Clinical Trial2012
In breast cancer patients on endocrine therapy over 4 weeks, Ganoderma lucidum spore powder 3 g/day reduced cancer-related fatigue versus control in this pilot trial.
SupplementDEX Database · Cancer
1 reference6.SupplementDEX Database: Cancer — Coriolus Versicolor and Ganoderma Lucidum Related Natural Products as an Adjunct Therapy for Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials2019
A systematic review and meta-analysis found Coriolus versicolor and Ganoderma lucidum products may improve survival and quality of life as adjunct cancer therapy, though evidence varied by cancer type.
SupplementDEX Database · Cardiovascular health
4 references7.SupplementDEX Database: Cardiovascular health — Ganoderma lucidum mushroom for the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors2015
A meta-analysis of 5 RCTs (398 adults) found Ganoderma lucidum 1.4–3 g/day for 12–16 weeks did not significantly improve blood glucose, blood pressure, or lipids versus control.
8.SupplementDEX Database: Cardiovascular health — Study of potential cardioprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi): results of a controlled human intervention trial2012
In 26 adults with borderline hypertension or hyperlipidemia over 12 weeks, Lingzhi 1.44 g/day did not significantly improve blood pressure, lipids, glucose, or antioxidant markers versus placebo.
9.SupplementDEX Database: Cardiovascular health — A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the platelet and global hemostatic effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Ling-Zhi) in healthy volunteers2005
In 20 healthy adults over 4 weeks, Ganoderma lucidum 1.5 g/day did not significantly alter coagulation, platelet function, or thrombelastography versus placebo.
10.SupplementDEX Database: Cardiovascular health — Ganoderma lucidum suppresses endothelial cell cytotoxicity and proteinuria in persistent proteinuric focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) nephrosis2004
In 14 focal segmental glomerulosclerosis patients with persistent proteinuria, Ganoderma lucidum reduced endothelial cytotoxicity and proteinuria versus prior failed standard therapy.
SupplementDEX Database · High blood pressure
2 references12.SupplementDEX Database: High blood pressure — [Studies on Ganoderma lucidum. I. Efficacy against hypertension and side effects]1985
An early Chinese study of Ganoderma lucidum for hypertension reported efficacy and side effects; the available abstract provides no further quantitative details.
11.Treatment of hypertension by Linzhi combined with hypotensor and its effects on arterial, arteriolar and capillary pressure and microcirculation. See external sourceExternal source
SupplementDEX Database · Metabolic health
1 reference13.SupplementDEX Database: Metabolic health — Ganoderma lucidum ("Lingzhi"), a Chinese medicinal mushroom: biomarker responses in a controlled human supplementation study2004
In a crossover study of healthy adults, 4 weeks of Lingzhi 1.44 g/day did not significantly change antioxidant status or CHD biomarkers versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Neurasthenia
1 reference14.SupplementDEX Database: Neurasthenia — A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia2005
In 132 Chinese patients with neurasthenia over 8 weeks, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract improved fatigue and clinical symptoms versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Alzheimer's disease
1 reference15.SupplementDEX Database: Alzheimer's disease — Spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum for the treatment of Alzheimer disease: A pilot study2018
In 42 Alzheimer disease patients over 6 weeks, Ganoderma lucidum spore powder did not significantly improve ADAS-cog scores versus placebo in this pilot RCT.
16.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Efficacy of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) Supplementation on Psychological Stress and Selective Fitness Profile Parameters in Female College Students in West Bengal, India2024
In 26 sedentary female college students over 30 days, Ganoderma lucidum 500–1000 mg/day improved select fitness and psychophysiological parameters versus placebo.
17.SupplementDEX Database: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — Effect of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized and dose-ranging study2008
In men ≥50 with lower urinary tract symptoms, dose-ranging Ganoderma lucidum extract (0.6–60 mg/day) did not clearly improve IPSS scores versus placebo in this small trial.
18.SupplementDEX Database: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — Randomized clinical trial of an ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms2008
In 88 men over 49 with lower urinary tract symptoms over 12 weeks, Ganoderma lucidum extract 6 mg/day did not significantly improve IPSS scores versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Cold sores
1 reference19.SupplementDEX Database: Cold sores — Herbal mixtures containing the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum improve recovery time in patients with herpes genitalis and labialis2007
In 28 patients with recurrent herpes simplex, an herbal mix including Ganoderma lucidum shortened symptom resolution time compared with prior unsuccessful conventional treatment.
SupplementDEX Database · Colorectal adenoma
1 reference20.SupplementDEX Database: Colorectal adenoma — A water-soluble extract from culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia suppresses the development of colorectal adenomas2010
In 123 adults with colorectal adenomas over 12 months, Ganoderma lucidum mycelia extract 1.5 g/day reduced adenoma recurrence versus no-treatment controls.
Coronary heart disease
1 reference21.A Phase I/II Study of Ling Zhi Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt.:Fr.) Lloyd (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Extract in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease. See external sourceExternal source
Diabetes
1 reference22.A Phase I/II Study of Ling Zhi Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt.:Fr.)Lloyd (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Extract in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus. See external sourceExternal source
SupplementDEX Database · Fibromyalgia
2 references23.SupplementDEX Database: Fibromyalgia — Effects of Ganoderma lucidum and Ceratonia siliqua on blood glucose, lipid profile, and body composition in women with fibromyalgia2021
In women with fibromyalgia over 6 weeks, 6 g/day Ganoderma lucidum or Ceratonia siliqua did not show clear metabolic benefits in this pilot RCT.
24.SupplementDEX Database: Fibromyalgia — Ganoderma lucidum Effects on Mood and Health-Related Quality of Life in Women with Fibromyalgia2020
In 70 women with fibromyalgia over 6 weeks, Ganoderma lucidum 6 g/day improved mood, quality of life, and fibromyalgia symptoms versus baseline.
Hepatitis B
1 reference25.A Phase I/II Study of a Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. (Ling Zhi, Reishi Mushroom) Extract in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis ?. See external sourceExternal source
26.SupplementDEX Database: Human papillomavirus (HPV) — Control of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) by medicinal mushrooms, Trametes versicolor and Ganoderma lucidum: a preliminary clinical trial2014
In a preliminary oral HPV trial, Ganoderma lucidum plus Trametes versicolor cleared oral HPV in 88% of treated patients versus 5% with Laetiporus sulphureus alone.
SupplementDEX Database · Lung cancer
1 reference27.SupplementDEX Database: Lung cancer — Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatment2012
A Cochrane review found insufficient randomized evidence that Ganoderma lucidum improves survival or tumor response in cancer patients.
28.SupplementDEX Database: Rheumatoid arthritis — Safety and efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi) and San Miao San supplementation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial2007
In 65 rheumatoid arthritis patients over 24 weeks, Ganoderma lucidum plus San Miao San did not significantly increase ACR20 response versus placebo.