(NaturalHealth365)  Like a reliable wake-up call, Reishi mushrooms activate the disease-fighting cells of your immune system, pushing them to aggressively combat cancer and other diseases.  It’s little wonder these medicinal mushrooms have been prized by Eastern medicine for centuries.

Scientific studies have shown Reishi mushroom extracts to effectively combat tumor growth, prevent cancer, and prolong life.  But its immune-boosting advantages aren’t limited to cancer.  Research indicates that Reishi’s cellular and molecular activities also protect a long list of deadly microorganisms – including those causing human immunodeficiency (HIV) and hepatitis B (HBV), among others.

Catalyst for stimulating the immune system against deadly diseases

The secret to Reishi’s powerful punch is its broad array of bioactive molecules, including alkaloids, sterols, polysaccharides, and triterpenoids.  Each has a different mode of action when interacting with the varied components of the immune system and spurring them to action.

It is known that over time, the immune system ages and becomes less effective, one of the biggest factors behind an increase in disease later in life.  But Reishi extracts bring more youthful patterns back to circulating white blood cells, promoting protective cell types – like those producing antibodies – while squelching activities of cells causing inflammation and other effects of aging.

Reishi is also known to have the ability to stimulate energy production and transfer at the cellular level.  This is particularly critical given the frenzied metabolic needs of active immune cells.

Protection against cancer and life-threatening microorganisms

Research has shown Reishi mushroom extracts could be instrumental in preventing cancer through their interaction with cells that are able to attack abnormal cancerous tissue before it can grow into a full-blown tumor.  The spleen and the thymus, both of which are sources of aggressive cancer-killing cells, are likely the primary locations of interaction.  In laboratory tests, the advantages of Reishi in fighting cancer occurred even in subjects where cancerous tumors had already been discovered.

Numerous laboratory and animal studies have shown that Reishi extract can also directly affect a broad array of other deadly microorganisms that are particularly known to threaten health during aging.

Among them:

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):  Reishi may offer a less-toxic approach to HIV.  Reishi extracts have been shown to produce a substantial drop in the number of active virus particles in primates infected with simian acquired immune deficiency, or SAIDS, a model of human HIV/AIDS.  Active compounds found in Reishi mushrooms can inhibit HIV enzymes.
• Influenza:  Too often, attempting to halt the flu with a flu vaccine results in contracting the virus itself.  A better choice?  The trace elements found in Reishi mushroom extracts are known to be effective combatants against influenza viruses.  If already infected, those suffering from a flu virus can expect Reishi mushroom to reduce the severity of the illness and its complications.
• Herpes Simplex, Herpes Zoster:  Reishi mushroom extract has been shown in studies to halt the spread of both the Herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores and genital herpes, as well as the Herpes zoster virus, which is known to cause shingles infections.  Reishi serves as a catalyst for activating the production of natural “killer” cells in the immune system.
• Postherpetic Neuralgia:  Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia know well the pain of this infection, which is often resistant to conventional pain management.  But Reishi extracts have been shown to diminish the painful effects of this viral outbreak.  It should be administered before a herpes outbreak for greatest effectiveness.
• Hepatitis B Virus (HBV):  This dangerous virus is a major culprit behind liver disease around the globe.  Reishi mushroom extracts have been shown in studies to stop HBV replication, diminishing the virus’s ability to gain a stronghold in liver cells.
• Epstein-Barr Virus:  While you may not have heard of this virus, Epstein-Barr virus is known not only to cause mononucleosis in young people but several types of very aggressive lymphomas in adults.

Unleash the magic: Creative ways to infuse Reishi mushrooms into your diet

Incorporating Reishi mushrooms into your diet is an excellent way to harness their potential health benefits.  You can brew Reishi mushroom tea by steeping dried slices of the mushroom in hot water, creating a soothing and nutritious beverage.  Alternatively, you can find Reishi mushroom powder and add it to smoothies and soups or even sprinkle it over oatmeal or yogurt for an extra boost of nutrition.

Another option is to include Reishi mushrooms in your cooking by slicing and sautéing them as a flavorful addition to various dishes.  Whether enjoyed in tea, powder, or cooked form, these medicinal mushrooms offer a versatile and delicious way to support your well-being.

Sources for this article:

NIH.gov
Lifeextension.com