Reischi mushroom, commonly referred to as the Mushroom of Immortality, has long been recognized for its longevity-promoting qualities and is revered in Traditional Chinese Medicine as an aid to immune function and cell health. This ancient fungus provides protection from illness while encouraging cell division for healthy cell growth.

These mushrooms contain compounds that increase white blood cell activity and can aid in fighting infections and cancer, while also helping reduce cholesterol, triglycerides and controlling blood sugar.

Ingredients

Reishi mushrooms have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to promote long-term health and longevity. These large, shiny-looking mushrooms are known for being rich in nutrients, and can be enjoyed either fresh, as nutritional powder, dietary supplement, or tea. Reishi mushroom tea has many soothing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant benefits including helping lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Reishi Mushroom joins cinnamon and licorice root for an herbal treat you can take anytime of day!

To create Reishi mushroom tea, first decoct your mushrooms by boiling them in water for up to two hours – this should ideally be done a few days in advance or on the day you intend on making your tea as long simmered mushrooms will result in stronger tea!

Once the mushrooms are decocted, drain and save their liquid before adding it back into the mix and boiling again for 30 minutes. Allow it to cool, strain once more before enjoying your reishi mushroom tea!

Reishi mushrooms should be avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to studies showing they can increase bleeding in some individuals and could even interact with some medications, posing a possible threat of harm. Reishi can cause stomach upset as well as interaction issues with certain drugs.

Reishi has long been used to boost immunity in cancer and other serious disease patients. It increases white blood cell activity and helps destroy cancerous cells, as well as beta-glucans which may slow tumor growth while simultaneously decreasing triglyceride levels in your blood, decreasing your risk for heart disease.

Reishi can help reduce chronic fatigue and depression while improving overall quality of life. Studies have discovered it increases “good” HDL cholesterol and decreases triglycerides associated with cardiovascular disease; and could increase activity of natural killer cells that target cancerous cells as well.

Preparation

Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum and other species) are unique fungi that harden dramatically as they dry due to chitin in their cell walls, becoming difficult to cut or break apart than fresh counterparts yet providing essential structural integrity while being cooked in water. This hardness also ensures they retain their shape while infusing.

Reishi mushroom tea is a traditional method for taking advantage of this medicinal polypore. Made at home using dried reishi powder, this decoction serves as an invaluable tonic to improve health, helping balance immune systems and relieve insomnia symptoms.

Tea can be easily prepared by boiling together water and dried reishi in a pot with a lid, simmering them together for approximately 30 minutes before straining off and saving some of the boiling water; later on this water will be added back into the mushrooms during another boil cycle.

At this step, the tea will need to simmer for at least 2 hours. At that point, it must be strained out and any pieces of reishi removed from its container before being ready to drink.

Storage

Reishi mushroom has long been revered in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a symbol of longevity and vitality, said to provide protection from aging while strengthening immunity. Reishi is an antioxidant which aids the body against infections and diseases while simultaneously helping reduce anxiety, depression and improve sleep quality. Reishi can even be combined with cinnamon and rooibos for an exciting aromatic tea that will stimulate mind, body and spirit!

This tincture is created using the double extraction process, which extracts both water- and alcohol-soluble constituents from dried reishi to create the most potency form available. You can take it solo, mix it into your herbal tea blend of choice or even try adding Reishi Ginger Tea as an evening treat!

If you don’t own a dehydrator, it is still possible to dry reishi mushrooms in the oven. Simply lay the pieces out on a baking sheet in an even layer before heating to 170 degrees F (76.7 C). Check them frequently during baking to ensure even drying; store dried pieces in glass jars with desiccant packs in cool, dry locations away from direct sunlight for best results.

Reishi mushrooms are polypore fungi and, while soft when fresh, dry quite hard due to the presence of chitin (a carbohydrate found in most fungal cell walls). As one of China’s most widely used herbal medicines, Reishi are among the toughest medicinal mushrooms, most often seen on hardwood trees east of the Rocky Mountains (Hemlock varnish shelf or Ganoderma tsugae), maple trees, conifers or rare artist’s conk (Ganoderma applanatum).

Reishi is generally safe for most healthy adults; however, it may cause stomach ache for some and should be avoided by those with liver or kidney issues, blood thinner users taking blood thinners, those having surgery or receiving chemotherapy as well as people who use immune-suppressant drugs to treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.

Flavor

Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) have long been held in high regard in Eastern societies, evidenced by their widespread appearances in art and folklore. Commonly depicted as symbols of spiritual power and health in Chinese folktale, these revered mushrooms serve as an embodiment of spiritual potency while providing health benefits like increased immunity or decreased blood pressure. Reishi mushroom treatment continues today!

Reishi can come in various forms, including whole dried slices, powdered form, tea bags or liquid extract. Sliced reishi is traditionally preferred as its quality can be more easily checked, offering full flavor of its complex constituents and fuller aroma. Powdered form may be more convenient; however its greater surface area means other ingredients could potentially absorb into it and reduce effectiveness. For the optimal reishi mushroom tea experience opt for double extraction tincture which contains both water- and alcohol-soluble components.

Reishi mushroom tea offers a mild, earthy, slightly bitter flavor that some enjoy directly while others add honey or ginger for added sweetness and to increase healing properties. It is best to prepare small batches every day to maximize benefits; though this will vary from person to person.

Reishi mushrooms are packed with more than 400 different beneficial compounds, from beta-glucans to triterpenoids, that work to lower blood sugar levels, improve sleep quality, reduce stress levels and adaptogen effects that help the body cope with daily stresses while adapting to changing environmental conditions. As such, Reishi has become an immensely popular natural remedy and supplement around the world due to their many therapeutic benefits, which range from immunity booster to energy tonic and cholesterol balancing abilities as well as overall cardiovascular support – making Reishi an invaluable addition for any healthy lifestyle!