Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is a bitter-tasting fungus with no proven health benefits. It is thought to have some effects on the immune system.

Reishi mushroom is used for Alzheimer disease, cancer, diabetes, cold sores, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

The effectiveness ratings for REISHI MUSHROOM are as follows:

Possibly ineffective for…

• High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Taking reishi mushroom by mouth doesn’t seem to lower cholesterol levels in people with diabetes or high cholesterol.

There is interest in using reishi mushroom for a number of other purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

When taken by mouth: Reishi mushroom extract is possibly safe when used for up to one year. Powdered whole reishi mushroom is possibly safe when used for up to 16 weeks. Reishi mushroom can cause dizziness, dry mouth, itching, nausea, stomach upset, and rash.

Special precautions & warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if reishi mushroom is safe to use when pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Bleeding disorders: High doses of reishi mushroom might increase the risk of bleeding in some people with certain bleeding disorders.

Surgery: High doses of reishi mushroom might increase the risk of bleeding in some people if used before or during surgery. Stop using reishi mushroom at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Moderate

Be cautious with this combination.

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)

Reishi mushroom might lower blood sugar levels. Taking reishi mushroom along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)

Reishi mushroom might lower blood pressure. Taking reishi mushroom along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)

Reishi mushroom might slow blood clotting. Taking reishi mushroom along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure

Reishi mushroom might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.

Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar

Reishi mushroom might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.

Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting

Reishi mushroom might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.

There are no known interactions with foods.

Reishi mushroom has most often been used by adults in doses of 1400-5400 mg by mouth daily, usually in divided doses. Reishi mushroom extracts have also been used in lower doses. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

Basidiomycetes Mushroom, Champignon Basidiomycète, Champignon d’Immortalité, Champignon Reishi, Champignons Reishi, Ganoderma, Ganoderma lucidum, Hongo Reishi, Ling Chih, Ling Zhi, Lingzhi, Mannentake, Mushroom, Mushroom of Immortality, Mushroom of Spiritual Potency, Red Reishi, Reishi, Reishi Antler Mushroom, Reishi Rouge, Rei-Shi, Spirit Plant.

To learn more about how this article was written, please see the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database methodology.

1. Kogure T, Koiwai A, Fukushi D, et al. Hypereosinophilia with hepatic nodule formation caused by Ganoderma lucidum. Intern Med 2021;60:3897-3903. View abstract.
2. Younger J, Donovan EK, Hodgin KS, Ness TJ. A placebo-controlled, pseudo-randomized, crossover trial of botanical agents for Gulf war illness: Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), and Epimedium (Epimedium sagittatum). Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18:3671. View abstract.
3. Pazzi F, Adsuar JC, Domínguez-Muñoz FJ, García-Gordillo MÁ, Gusi N, Collado-Mateo D. Effects of Ganoderma lucidum and Ceratonia siliqua on blood glucose, lipid profile, and body composition in women with fibromyalgia. Nutr Hosp 2021;38:139-145. View abstract.
4. Pazzi F, Adsuar JC, Domínguez-Muñoz FJ, García-Gordillo MA, Gusi N, Collado-Mateo D. Ganoderma lucidum effects on mood and health-related quality of life in women with fibromyalgia. Healthcare (Basel) 2020;8:520. View abstract.
5. Zhong L, Yan P, Lam WC, et al. Coriolus versicolor and Ganoderma lucidum related natural products as an adjunct therapy for cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Pharmacol 2019;10:703. View abstract.
6. Wang GH, Wang LH, Wang C, Qin LH. Spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum for the treatment of Alzheimer disease: A pilot study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 May;97:e0636. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000010636. View abstract.
7. Wu DT, Deng Y, Chen LX. Evaluation on quality consistency of Ganoderma lucidum dietary supplements collected in the United States. Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 10;7:7792. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-06336-3. View abstract.
8. Ríos JL, Andújar I, Recio MC, Giner RM. Lanostanoids from fungi: a group of potential anticancer compounds. J Nat Prod. 2012 Nov 26;75:2016-44. View abstract.
9. Hennicke F, Cheikh-Ali Z, Liebisch T, Maciá-Vicente JG, Bode HB, Piepenbring M. Distinguishing commercially grown Ganoderma lucidum from Ganoderma lingzhi from Europe and East Asia on the basis of morphology, molecular phylogeny, and triterpenic acid profiles. Phytochemistry. 2016 Jul;127:29-37. View abstract.
10. Zhao H, Zhang Q, Zhao L, Huang X, Wang J, Kang X. Spore Powder of Ganoderma lucidum Improves Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Pilot Clinical Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:809614. View abstract.
11. Noguchi M, Kakuma T, Tomiyasu K, Yamada A, Itoh K, Konishi F, Kumamoto S, Shimizu K, Kondo R, Matsuoka K. Randomized clinical trial of an ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Asian J Androl. 2008 Sep;10:777-85. View abstract.
12. Noguchi M, Kakuma T, Tomiyasu K, Kurita Y, Kukihara H, Konishi F, Kumamoto S, Shimizu K, Kondo R, Matsuoka K. Effect of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized and dose-ranging study. Asian J Androl. 2008 Jul;10:651-8. View abstract.
13. Klupp NL, Chang D, Hawke F, Kiat H, Cao H, Grant SJ, Bensoussan A. Ganoderma lucidum mushroom for the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Feb 17;2:CD007259. View abstract.
14. Hijikata Y, Yamada S, Yasuhara A. Herbal mixtures containing the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum improve recovery time in patients with herpes genitalis and labialis. J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Nov;13:985-7. View abstract.
15. Donatini B. Control of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) by medicinal mushrooms, Trametes versicolor and Ganoderma lucidum: a preliminary clinical trial. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2014;16:497-8. View abstract.
16. Mizuno, T. Bioactive biomolecules of mushrooms: food function and medicinal effect of mushroom fungi. Fd Rev Internat 1995;11:7-21.
17. Jin H, Zhang G, Cao X, and et al. Treatment of hypertension by linzhi combined with hypotensor and its effects on arterial, arteriolar and capillary pressure and microcirculation. In: Niimi H, Xiu RJ, Sawada T, and et al. Microcirculatory Approach to Asian Traditional Medicine. New York: Elsevier Science;1996.
18. Gao, Y., Lan, J., Dai, X., Ye, J., and Zhou, S. A Phase I/II Study of Ling Zhi Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum(W.Curt: Fr.) Lloyd (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Extract in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 2004;6.
19. Gao, Y., Chen, G., Dai, X., Ye, J., and Zhou, S. A Phase I/II Study of Ling Zhi Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum(W.Curt: Fr.) Lloyd (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Extract in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 2004.
20. Gao, Y., Zhou, S., Chen, G., Dai, X., Ye, J., and Gao, H. A Phase I/II Study of a Ganoderma lucidum(Curt.:Fr.) P. Karst. (Ling Zhi, Reishi Mushroom) Extract in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis BÂ. InternationalJournal ofMedicinalMushrooms 2002;4:2321-7.
21. Gao, Y., Zhou, S., Chen, G., Dai, X., and Ye, J. A Phase I/II Study of a
22. Gao, Y., Dai, X., Chen, G., Ye, J., and Zhou, S. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study of Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt: Fr.) Lloyd (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Polysaccharides (Ganopoly®) in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 2003;5.
23. Zhang X, Jia Y Li Q Niu S Zhu S Shen C. Clinical curative effect investigation of Lingzhi tablet on lung cancer. Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2000;22:486-488.
24. Yan B, Wei Y Li Y. Effect of Laojunxian Lingzhi oral liquid combined with chemotherapy on non-parvicellular lung cancer at stage II and III. Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology 1998;9:78-80.
25. Leng K, LuM. Investigation of ZhengQing Lingzhi liquid as adjuvant treatment on patients with colon cancer. Journal of Guiyang Medical College 2003;28:1.
26. He W, Yi J. Study of clinical efficacy of Lingzhi spore capsule on tumour patients with chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Clinical Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1997;9:292-293.
27. Park, E. J., Ko, G., Kim, J., and Sohn, D. H. Antifibrotic effects of a polysaccharide extracted from Ganoderma lucidum, glycyrrhizin, and pentoxifylline in rats with cirrhosis induced by biliary obstruction. Biol Pharm Bull. 1997;20:417-420. View abstract.
28. Kawagishi, H., Mitsunaga, S., Yamawaki, M., Ido, M., Shimada, A., Kinoshita, T., Murata, T., Usui, T., Kimura, A., and Chiba, S. A lectin from mycelia of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. Phytochemistry 1997;44:7-10. View abstract.
29. van der Hem, L. G., van der Vliet, J. A., Bocken, C. F., Kino, K., Hoitsma, A. J., and Tax, W. J. Prolongation of allograft survival with Ling Zhi-8, a new immunosuppressive drug. Transplant.Proc. 1994;26:746. View abstract.
30. Kanmatsuse, K., Kajiwara, N., Hayashi, K., Shimogaichi, S., Fukinbara, I., Ishikawa, H., and Tamura, T. [Studies on Ganoderma lucidum. I. Efficacy against hypertension and side effects]. Yakugaku Zasshi 1985;105:942-947. View abstract.
31. Shimizu, A., Yano, T., Saito, Y., and Inada, Y. Isolation of an inhibitor of platelet aggregation from a fungus, Ganoderma lucidum. Chem Pharm Bull.(Tokyo) 1985;33:3012-3015. View abstract.
32. Kabir, Y., Kimura, S., and Tamura, T. Dietary effect of Ganoderma lucidum mushroom on blood pressure and lipid levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). J Nutr Sci Vitaminol.(Tokyo) 1988;34:433-438. View abstract.
33. Morigiwa, A., Kitabatake, K., Fujimoto, Y., and Ikekawa, N. Angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitory triterpenes from Ganoderma lucidum. Chem Pharm Bull.(Tokyo) 1986;34:3025-3028. View abstract.
34. Hikino, H. and Mizuno, T. Hypoglycemic actions of some heteroglycans of Ganoderma lucidum fruit bodies. Planta Med 1989;55:385. View abstract.
35. Jin, X., Ruiz, Beguerie J., Sze, D. M., and Chan, G. C. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatment. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2012;6:CD007731. View abstract.
36. Chu, T. T., Benzie, I. F., Lam, C. W., Fok, B. S., Lee, K. K., and Tomlinson, B. Study of potential cardioprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi): results of a controlled human intervention trial. Br.J.Nutr. 2012;107:1017-1027. View abstract.
37. Oka, S., Tanaka, S., Yoshida, S., Hiyama, T., Ueno, Y., Ito, M., Kitadai, Y., Yoshihara, M., and Chayama, K. A water-soluble extract from culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia suppresses the development of colorectal adenomas. Hiroshima J.Med.Sci. 2010;59:1-6. View abstract.
38. Liu, J., Shiono, J., Shimizu, K., Kukita, A., Kukita, T., and Kondo, R. Ganoderic acid DM: anti-androgenic osteoclastogenesis inhibitor. Bioorg.Med.Chem.Lett. 4-15-2009;19:2154-2157. View abstract.
39. Zhuang, S. R., Chen, S. L., Tsai, J. H., Huang, C. C., Wu, T. C., Liu, W. S., Tseng, H. C., Lee, H. S., Huang, M. C., Shane, G. T., Yang, C. H., Shen, Y. C., Yan, Y. Y., and Wang, C. K. Effect of citronellol and the Chinese medical herb complex on cellular immunity of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Phytother.Res. 2009;23:785-790. View abstract.
40. Seto, S. W., Lam, T. Y., Tam, H. L., Au, A. L., Chan, S. W., Wu, J. H., Yu, P. H., Leung, G. P., Ngai, S. M., Yeung, J. H., Leung, P. S., Lee, S. M., and Kwan, Y. W. Novel hypoglycemic effects of Ganoderma lucidum water-extract in obese/diabetic (+db/+db) mice. Phytomedicine. 2009;16:426-436. View abstract.
41. Lin, C. N., Tome, W. P., and Won, S. J. Novel cytotoxic principles of Formosan Ganoderma lucidum. J Nat Prod 1991;54:998-1002. View abstract.
42. Li, E. K., Tam, L. S., Wong, C. K., Li, W. C., Lam, C. W., Wachtel-Galor, S., Benzie, I. F., Bao, Y. X., Leung, P. C., and Tomlinson, B. Safety and efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi) and San Miao San supplementation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial. Arthritis Rheum 10-15-2007;57:1143-1150. View abstract.
43. Wanmuang, H., Leopairut, J., Kositchaiwat, C., Wananukul, W., and Bunyaratvej, S. Fatal fulminant hepatitis associated with Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) mushroom powder. J Med Assoc Thai. 2007;90:179-181. View abstract.
44. Ni, T., Hu, Y., Sun, L., Chen, X., Zhong, J., Ma, H., and Lin, Z. Oral route of mini-proinsulin-expressing Ganoderma lucidum decreases blood glucose level in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Int.J.Mol.Med. 2007;20:45-51. View abstract.
45. Cheuk, W., Chan, J. K., Nuovo, G., Chan, M. K., and Fok, M. Regression of gastric large B-Cell lymphoma accompanied by a florid lymphoma-like T-cell reaction: immunomodulatory effect of Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi)? Int J Surg Pathol 2007;15:180-186. View abstract.
46. Chen, T. W., Wong, Y. K., and Lee, S. S. [In vitro cytotoxicity of Ganoderma lucidum on oral cancer cells]. Chung Hua I.Hsueh Tsa Chih (Taipei) 1991;48:54-58. View abstract.
47. Hsu, H. Y., Hua, K. F., Lin, C. C., Lin, C. H., Hsu, J., and Wong, C. H. Extract of Reishi polysaccharides induces cytokine expression via TLR4-modulated protein kinase signaling pathways. J.Immunol. 11-15-2004;173:5989-5999. View abstract.
48. Lu, Q. Y., Jin, Y. S., Zhang, Q., Zhang, Z., Heber, D., Go, V. L., Li, F. P., and Rao, J. Y. Ganoderma lucidum extracts inhibit growth and induce actin polymerization in bladder cancer cells in vitro. Cancer Lett. 12-8-2004;216:9-20. View abstract.
49. Hong, K. J., Dunn, D. M., Shen, C. L., and Pence, B. C. Effects of Ganoderma lucidum on apoptotic and anti-inflammatory function in HT-29 human colonic carcinoma cells. Phytother.Res. 2004;18:768-770.