Sweet and slightly bitter in flavor, mild in nature, it is related to the channels of the heart, spleen, lung, liver and kidney.
Functions:
Nourishes and pacifies the mind, benefits qi and blood, arrests coughs and asthma.
Applications:
Lingzhi has extremely wide applications, bringing benefits to the entire body. According to Dr. Gilbert Ng, who has maintained a web page on lingzhi, research over the past 30 years has found that this plant can be used for the following ailments:
Immune system: cancer, common cold, influenza, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, lupus, stomatitis (canker sores), acts as an antioxidant against free radicals, and protects against the effects of radiation.
Respiratory system: cough, asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Endocrine system: menopause and irregular mentruation.
Nervous system: insomnia, neurasthenia, stress-induced tension, over-sleep, headache, toothache, cataracts, muscular dystrophy, and myasthenia gravis.
Circulatory system: hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure), coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, arrhythmia, stroke, reduction of cholesterol (LDL), anemia, cold extremities, hemorrhoid, and elevation sickness.
Digestive system: gastroenteritis, ulcer, hepatitis, liver necrosis, lingzhi regenerates the liver, obesity--lingzhi removes fat in the blood, underweight--lingzhi improves appetite, diabetes, constipation, diarrhea, and gallstones.
Skin: aging of the skin, pigment spots on the skin, acne, hair loss, and dermatitis.
Excretory system: nephritis.
Reproductive system: erectile dysfunction, lack of sexual desire, and dysmenorrhea (mentrual cramps).
1. Effect on hepatitis B.
Lingzhi has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hepatitis B resulting in the lowering of SGPT and SCOT levels to normal, and the sero-conversion of HBs antigen to HE, antibody. Extract of lingzhi when administered concurrently with glutathione against liver damage by carbon tetrachloride, proved to be beneficial against hepatic necrosis and hepatitis. It was also discovered that extract of lingzhi could probably augment the rate of toxin transformation and subsequent bile excretion, thereby acting as a liver detoxicant and protectant.
2. Effect on diabetes.
Extract of lingzhi has also been found to be effective in reducing the blood glucose level after two months of treatments. Ganoderan B was considered to enhance glucose utilization because it increased the plasma insulin level in normal and glucose loaded mice, but did not affect the insulin binding to isolated adipocytes. The hypoglycaemic activity of lingzhi is thus due to an increase of the plasma insulin level and an acceleration of glucose metabolism occurring not only in the peripheral tissues but also in the liver.
3. Effect on hypertension.
Lingzhi is also effective in lowering hypertensive blood pressure. This is due to the presence of lanostane derivatives especially ganoderic acids B, D, F, H, K, S and Y which exert their hypotensive activities.
4. Effect on acute myeloblastic leukaemia.
Acute myeloblastic leukemia patients were treated with high doses of lingzhi (6 capsules 3 times a day) prior to chemotherapy and continued for a period of three months. The chemotherapy regimen consisting of cytarabine and daunorubicin was given on a monthly basis in order to induce remission. CNS prophylaxis was given with cranial irradiation. All the patients had a subjective response when lingzhi was included in their treatment regimen. Changes in their NBC, hemoglobin and platelet counts were either significant or very significant after 3 months of treatment. Despite the remission for the past 3 years, the long term prognosis seems encouraging.
5. Effect on nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Five patients with stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were given 6 capsules of lingzhi 3 times a day for 1 week before radio-and chemotherapy and continued for a course of 8 months while they were given a complete course of irradiation lasting for 6 weeks. The chemotherapy regimen consisting of cyclophosphomide, lomustine, dannorubicin and vincristine was administered every month for a period of 4 months. Objective response occurred in all the NPC patients with very significant tumor shrinkage after 40 days of treatment with lingzhi in concurrence with radio- and chemotherapy. The tumors were completely regressed after 90 days of combined treatment and were in remission for the last three and a half years. It is conceivable that lingzhi plays an adjuvant role in combination with radio- and chemotherapy, there by rendering the complete regression of the tumors. Since both polysaccharides' and organic germanium derived from lingzhi are not cytotoxic to tumor cells, the antitumor effect is attributable to induced immunopotentiation. As an immunopotentiator, lingzhi accelerates the production of interlukin-2 from helper T cells and potentiates the induction of different types of anti-tumor cells, such as NK cells and cytotoxic macrophages, in addition to the induction of interferon production. The patients felt more energetic, and had a better appetite and slept better. Nausea and vomiting were mild whereas stomatitis and sore throat were transient. Their pain was alleviated, and no other side effects were observed.
6. Effect on wound healing.
Three patients with diabetic wounds were healed between 15 to 22 days. This might be due to the glucan from the cell walls of lingzhi that could activate the fibroblast migration in order to achieve wound healing and tissue proliferation.
(Applications 1 to 6 is based on a paper by Teow Sun-Soo of the Department of Microbiology & Biochemistry, School of Applied Sciences, MARA Institute of Technology, Malaysia)
Dosage and Administration:
1.5-9 g, decoction. The preferred administration method. Put a combination of 2 to 3 pieces each of the crown and the root sections of the plant into a pot and add 8 cups of water. Bring it to a boil and simmer it in low heat for 15 minutes. Drink the decoction twice a day before meal for as long as one likes. Substantial change for the better of one's looks and feeling would result after about one year's consumption. 1-1.5 g, grinded in powder for consumption. Lingzhi can also be made into herbal liquor, capsule, tablet and used in injection.
Cautions on Use:
Some people may experience vertigo reaction when they first take lingzhi. During the first week, they may experience slight swelling of the head or dizziness. Arthritis patient may experience a temporary increase in the pain level. This is a cleansing reaction, often called a "healing crisis". Continue to take lingzhi and the symptoms will be alleviated within a week.
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