Also known as Ganoderma lucidum, Lingzhi
Polypore fungus containing triterpenes and beta-glucans studied for immunomodulatory and calming effects; used traditionally in East Asian medicine to support sleep and reduce stress.
Be careful if: some medical situations, pregnant
Suspect a side effect? Report it to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme ↗
We link to relevant studies and leave interpretation to you and your healthcare professional.
The large figures are what the studies reported for each thing they measured. Open a card for every result.
Colour keyReported a benefitNo clear benefitUnclearPossible harmAmber is for highlights, such as where the most research is. It never means a result was good.
Nothing measured this condition directly. These were measured:
Also measured alongside: Antioxidant and immune markers (no clear benefit); Blood fats (lipids) (unclear); Insulin resistance (reported a benefit).
Every resultWhat sources report about side effects, who should be careful, and medicines to ask about first.
| Reported effect | How often | Basis | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rare published case reports (from China, Japan, Thailand and India) of clinically apparent liver injury with a hepatocellular pattern attributed to reishi/lingzhi products; onset typically 1-2 months after starting (range a few days to 6 months), presenting with fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, poor appetite, dark urine and jaundice. In published cases recovery followed within 1-3 months of stopping the product. One reported case involved co-ingestion with alcohol | unknown | Listed by Other (name it in the source label) (PubMed 37885515) | LiverTox [Internet]. Lingzhi, Reishi chapter. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH; 2012- (retrieved 2026-10-16)Guedikian R, et al. Ganoderma lingzhi (Reishi Mushroom)-Induced Acute Liver Injury in the Setting of Alcohol Use: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Cureus 2023;15(9):e45953 (PMID 37885515) |
LiverTox [Internet]. Lingzhi, Reishi chapter. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH; 2012- (retrieved 2026-10-16)Guedikian R, et al. Ganoderma lingzhi (Reishi Mushroom)-Induced Acute Liver Injury in the Setting of Alcohol Use: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Cureus 2023;15(9):e45953 (PMID 37885515)
Audited published research for Reishi Mushroom by condition. Drill into a pair page for the full breakdown.
What this means: Bars count reported findings, not treatment effectiveness or certainty.
One study may report several findings or appear in more than one pairing. Counts do not show the size of an effect. Comparable numerical estimates are not established for this summary.
| Compound and condition | Findings (count) | Studies (count) | Reported results (finding counts) | How sure? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stress | 4 | 1 | Benefit: 1; no benefit: 2; harm: 0; unclear: 1; not recorded / unrecognised: 0 | Not formally graded |
Where people report using it and what trials suggest
Common claims the trials do not support
'Mushroom of immortality' with immune-biomarker effects but little human endpoint evidence and real safety caveats for extracts.
Evidence grades reflect study quality and consistency, not marketing claims.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Potential Bioactive Function of Microbial Metabolites as Inhibitors of Tyrosinase: A Systematic ReviewBarcenas-Giraldo S, et al. · International journal of molecular sciences · 2026PMID 41596661 ↗02Mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides in the mangement of diabetes and its complicationsXin Y, et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026PMID 42147328 ↗03Edible and Medicinal Fungi as Candidate Natural Antidepressants: Mechanisms and Nutritional ImplicationsGong P, et al. · Molecular nutrition & food research · 2025PMID 40289452 ↗04Associated Targets of the Antioxidant Cardioprotection of Ganoderma lucidum in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Using Open Targets Platform: A Systematic ReviewShaher F, et al. · BioMed research international · 2020PMID 32775437 ↗05Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatmentJin X, et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016PMID 27045603 ↗06Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatmentJin X, et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2012PMID 22696372 ↗Reported results grouped by condition. Values and units are preserved as recorded; missing information is not estimated.
How to read this table
Reported direction, numerical results and study design are separate. Certainty has not been formally graded in this table.
| What was measured | Reported findings | Result and units | Reported sample and duration | Study / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant and immune markers | Ganoderma did not significantly change antioxidant status or lymphocyte subsets compared to placebo.No clear benefit | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): twenty-three Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2012 Study detailsStudy of potential cardioprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi): results of a controlled human intervention trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Blood lipids | Ganoderma improved triglycerides and HDL compared to placebo in the first period, but carry-over effects prevented complete analysis.Unclear | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): twenty-three Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2012 Study detailsStudy of potential cardioprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi): results of a controlled human intervention trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| BMI and blood pressure | Ganoderma did not change BMI or blood pressure compared to placebo.No clear benefit | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): twenty-three Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2012 Study detailsStudy of potential cardioprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi): results of a controlled human intervention trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Insulin resistance | Ganoderma lowered insulin and insulin resistance compared to placebo; the abstract gives no effect size.Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): twenty-three Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2012 Study detailsStudy of potential cardioprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi): results of a controlled human intervention trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
Associated conditions and community-reported outcomes, wrapped together on one page. Aggregates appear only once enough reports arrive.
How this compound is sold in the UK, and where our readers typically find it.
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