Selecting the Best Reishi Extract

by Dr. Markho Rafael

For two millennia, medicinal mushrooms have been mainstream
in Asia. Now, America is taking notice and interest is
rapidly "mushrooming." With the sprouting of this new
industry follows issues of ethical quality claims between
competing brands.

This information applies to all species of medicinal
mushrooms. For practical purposes, this article will focus
on the most popular medicinal mushroom species, red reishi
(Ganoderma lucidum), over which the most intense battle of
conflicting claims is being fought.

First off, stay clear of cheap, mass-produced medicinal
mushrooms. If they are just dried and pulverized, then the
medicinal compounds are still inaccessible behind the
mushrooms' cell-walls. You'll be wasting your money on inert
matter.

There are many real therapeutic brands on the market,
though. But even among them, there are significant
differences. They all claim to be the best, naturally,
because they all want to sell their particular brand. So
let's sift the data, get the facts straight, and clear up
misleading information that is out there.

Following are the three primary ways of creating reishi
extracts. Each method yields different medicinal compounds,
all of which are shown in scientific studies to have
important properties.

1. Water Extraction, Hot (polysaccharides and more)

2. Alcohol/Ethanol Extraction (triterpenoids, etc.)

3. Fermenting (arabinoxylanes, etc.)

The most important hot water extracted compounds are the
polysaccharides. Studies have shown them to possess strong
anti-tumor properties, help boost immune system and be
powerful antioxidants. [1]

Triterpenoids include a large number of related medicinal
compounds whose proven effects include stabilization of
blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood clotting. But most
importantly, the triterpenoids are the anti-inflammatory
compounds of reishi. [1] Inflammation is a serious component
in asthma, allergies, arthritis and many more conditions.

And then there are the new and unique medicinal compounds
that get created when reishi is fermented. These "secondary
metabolites" have their own therapeutic properties,
different from the first two groups, including anti-tumor,
immune support and blood-sugar balance. [2]

Since this article is not intended to elevate any one brand
over another, no brand names will be mentioned.
Nevertheless, the author does know of two highly reputed
brands (American and Japanese) that claim only hot water
extracted red reishi is of any value and that alcohol
extracts are useless.

Of course they do that to promote their own brand. In
reality both hot water extract and alcohol extract contain
unique medicinal compounds that are all very important.

To find the best red reishi products, look for those brands
that use at least the first two extraction methods in
combination: Hot Water Extraction and Alcohol Extraction.
Better yet would be brands that incorporate all three
extraction methods, including Fermentation.

Last but not least, remember to look at the form the reishi
comes in. If the reishi is able to dissolve completely in
water-based drinks like coffee, it's a safe bet that it only
contains the water-soluble polysaccharides. An excellent
choice as far as coffee goes but an incomplete reishi
supplement because it does not include the anti-inflammatory
triterpenoid compounds.

Surprisingly, though, alcohol tinctures may include both hot
water extract and alcohol extract. You will know if the
alcohol tincture contains polysaccharides because when the
alcohol and hot water extracts are blended, the
polysaccharides fall out of solution and the tincture
becomes cloudy. (Just shake it before you take it.) A cloudy
medicinal mushroom tincture is an indication of high
polysaccharide content. Capsules and tablets may be either
hot water extract or alcohol extract or both.

[1] Boh B, Berovic M, Zhang J, Zhi-Bin L. "Ganoderma lucidum
and its pharmaceutically active compounds." Biotechnol Annu
Rev. 2007;13:265-301.

[2] Tang YJ, Zhang W, Zhong JJ. "Performance analyses of a
pH-shift and DOT-shift integrated fed-batch fermentation
process for the production of ganoderic acid and Ganoderma
polysaccharides by medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum."
Bioresource Technology 2009 Mar;100(5):1852-9.

Dr. Markho Rafael has worked with natural health since
the'90's, recently focusing on medicinal mushrooms. He
partners with Cordyceps Reishi Extracts, LLC on
(http://tinyurl.com/p7g2n7) premium reishi extract and
cordyceps extract plus the increasingly popular
(http://tinyurl.com/ntldqu) mesima mushroom and more.