Ganoderma tsugae - Hemlock Varnish Reishi Spagyric Extract
Ganoderma tsugae – Hemlock Varnish Reishi
Immune Response
Reishi has shown extensive all-reaching immuno-modulating effects derived from its polysaccharides. Reishi modulates the function of antigen-presenting cells (APC), mononuclear phygocyte system, humoral immunity, and cellular immunity (15). Reishi enhances the natural killer cell and macrophage responses of the innate immunity and even promote the function and maturation of dendritic cells. This is significant because the lymphocyte response and other immune-modulatory effects don’t just stimulate the immune responses, but moderate and regulate them. It supports the natural intelligence of the body by guiding the immunology to either promote and/or inhibit the production of certain immune responses (i.e. the three immune cells outlined earlier, macrophages, lymphocytes, and neutrophils). (15)
Brief Immortal History
Reishi has long been associated with attainment of immortality, especially among the Taoists for up to some 2000 years ago. To them it was a sacred fungus which when processed alchemically, would luminesce and promote immortality. Throughout the millinea, multitudinous recipes for elixir of immortality have involved the Ganoderma genus among many other mushrooms. Mushrooms themselves imply immortality in the alcheimcal tradition. Though many who have consumed these ancient elixirs have in fact died (only to witness the eternality of their spiritual self), many, many more have lived on to immortalize its reputation as a superior enlivening, anti-aging, longevity enhancing youth retaining medicine (16).
Extraction Notes
Extraction was guided based on the tek written out by the author JD found in the library section of this website, and on the work of Chunliang Xie and Wang J published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms (16)(17)(18)(19).
Using 1:5 w/w mushroom/water solvent ratio, mushroom was first boiled in water and temperature maintained around 100 degrees Celsius to maintain the highest amount of bioactive principles (19). Two fractions were created. A soxhlet extraction and a decoction extracted fraction. Sources
(16) Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 9. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
(17) Comparative Study on Bioactivities from Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes), Gives an Insight into the Fermentation Broth Showing Greater Antioxidative Activities Volume 22, Issue 7, 2020, pp. 627-639 DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2020035042
(19) Effects of Extraction Temperature on Efficacy of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes), Aqueous Extract against Oxidative Stress International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms Volume 22, Issue 6, 2020, pp. 547-558 DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2020035074
Sang, T., Guo, C., Guo, D., Wu, J., Wang, Y., Wang, Y., Chen, J., Chen, C., Wu, K., Na, K., Li, K., Fang, L., Guo, C., & Wang, X. (2021). Suppression of obesity and inflammation by polysaccharide from sporoderm-broken spore of Ganoderma lucidum via gut microbiota regulation. Carbohydrate polymers, 256, 117594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117594
