text: The Benefits of Lingzhi | Healthy Eating | SF Gate
  By Rebecca Howard Updated December 17, 2018
  Also known as reishi mushroom, lingzhi is a wild mushroom that grows in wood stumps of deciduous trees in dense forests. It is also commercially cultivated in most parts of the world, including in United States. This mushroom has a woody texture and a shiny exterior and is widely used in herbal medicine to treat various ailments such as high blood pressure. It may consumed in several forms: tea, coffee, pills or a powder.
  Lingzhi stimulates your immune system, making you less susceptible to allergies, infections and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes. It works by promoting the activity of various immune system cells such as antigen-presenting cells, macrophages and other white blood cells such as lymphocytes, neutrophils and basophils. For example, it stimulates B-lymphocyte to release antibodies to kill viruses and other harmful microorganisms in your blood.
  Controls Cancer Growth
  Research suggests that lingzhi may possibly slow down the proliferation of cancer cells. A study by scientists at New York Medical College published in "International Journal of Molecular Medicine" in December 2011 found that lingzhi suppresses the growth of ovarian cancer cells. It does so by hindering cell growth and stimulating detoxification and antioxidative activities in human ovarian cells. As a result, the researchers suggested that it had potential to become a part of cancer therapy for ovarian cancer.
  Your body's cells obtain their energy from glucose, the absorption of which is controlled by the hormone insulin. Diabetes arises when there are deficiencies of insulin secretion by the pancreas or when cells become resistant to insulin. This condition has no cure, though it can be managed by using synthetic insulin. Taking lingzhi prevents the gradual death of pancreatic cells responsible for the production of insulin. This lowers your risk of developing diabetes. A study by Peking University Health Service Center published in the September 2003 issue of "Life Sciences" found out that lingzhi prevents the pancreatic cells, also known as pancreatic islets, from being damaged by free radicals.
  Blood pressure refers to the pressure that pumped blood exerts against the walls of blood vessels. The presence of LDL cholesterol or "bad" cholesterol in the blood, the accumulation of fat on arterial walls and aggregation of platelets in blood vessels increases blood pressure. This is because these things make the heart work harder to pump blood through the vessels. Lingzhi suppresses the clumping of platelets, lowers cholesterol and, hence, reduces blood pressure.
  American-Eurasian Journal of Botany: The Sacred Mushroom "Reishi"-A Review
  Rebecca Howard has been a professional writer since 2001, with articles appearing in publications such as the "Canadian Journal of Diabetes." She is also a registered member of the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management. Howard holds a B.S. in nutrition from Ryerson University and an M.S in applied human nutrition from the University of Guelph.