I recently found out about a species of red mushroom the Chinese call
lingzhi (Japanese
reishi, the King of Herbs). Now if you know the Chinese at all, you know they don’t play when it comes to herbal medicine. So when I heard of
ganoderma lucidum, the herb crowned king, my interest was piqued. In the olden days, this herb was reserved only for the Chinese royal family, and I wanted to find out what made it so special.
I became even more curious – and more sceptical – when I heard several stories of how this herb had brought health and vitality to many people, correcting ailments from insomnia and constipation, to hormonal imbalance and ulcer. I couldn’t help recalling those people who peddle suspicious-looking medicines in
danfo buses, claiming that their one medicine heals ten different ailments. Yeah, right!
I decided to take time out and research
ganoderma lucidum, and what I found was astonishing. I wondered, why isn’t everyone talking about this? You may have to Google it yourself, but here are just a few benefits I found in the course of my research:
- Immune system regulation
- Stress reduction
- Blood pressure regulation
- Good sleep
- Libido improvement
- Hormonal balance
- Liver protection and regeneration
- Male and female fertility booster
- Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) relief
- Cholesterol regulation
- Heart protection
- Storehouse of a whopping 400 nutrients
How come this one herb does all this, and more? It maximises your body’s natural ability to heal and rejuvenate itself, simple.
Whatever part of your body isn’t functioning optimally, whatever organ is sleeping on the job,
ganoderma lucidum wakes it up and helps it function as it was created to function. I picture it going around the body clapping, “Okay everybody, wake up and do your work!” It finally made sense why it does one thing for one person, and another thing for another person. I finally understood the point of 2000 years of documented use in herbal medicine.
Thanks to advancement in science, this herb can now be found in capsule form as a supplement. However, I’m not one for swallowing pills. I prefer drinking a tea or other beverage infused with
ganoderma lucidum – brilliant idea, by the way – since I usually have a hot cup of something or the other every day anyway.
I’m totally in awe of the Creator and the wonderful things He made, just for our well being. The earth is truly God’s, and the fullness thereof. He uses the least likely to do the most mighty. How else could a little mushroom be king?
