Witnessed by: TCM · Western
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), of the Ganodermataceae family. Woody bracket fungus with a lacquered kidney-shaped cap; native range: temperate forests of East Asia, on dead and dying hardwoods. Globally recognized as ling zhi (靈芝) in Chinese, and lingzhi, varnished conk, mushroom of immortality in English. The part used is fruiting body (and mycelium). Hard corky reddish cap with a varnished shine and a concentric-zoned surface; woody and inedible tough, markedly bitter in decoction.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
REISHI
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Reishi
- Scientific name
- Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.
- Family
- Ganodermataceae
Form
- Part used
- fruiting body (and mycelium)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet · bitter
- Western
- bitter · sweet
Temperature
TCM: neutral
Western: neutral
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses treat it as a mild, balanced tonic
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Heart · Liver · Lung · Spleen · Kidney
- Western
- immune · nervous system · heart · lungs
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- tonifies qi and nourishes the blood, calms the shen (settles the spirit), stops cough and wheezing, augments Heart and Liver
- Western
- adaptogen, immunomodulant, nervine and mild cardiotonic; hepatoprotective and antioxidant
Cautions
Contraindications: caution before surgery and with bleeding tendency; excess-heat repletion without deficiency
Toxicity: very low; occasional dryness of mouth, nausea or rash on prolonged use
Interactions
- Western
- anticoagulants: additive antiplatelet effect increasing bleeding risk · immunosuppressants: immune stimulation may oppose immunosuppressive therapy
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