MushroomsSubscription −15%
Reishi
Ganoderma lucidum
Capsules · LONGEVITY129 zł
Reishi(Ganoderma lucidum)
Below the products: Reishi guideChoose your Reishi format
Below you will find every available product for this species. Each tile opens the product page with the selected format and line preselected.
Reishi guide
Version 3.0 · Updated: 24 August 2026 · Subject-matter reviewer: Mateusz Rosa, founder of Aloha Fungi, TCM therapist, Doctor of Acupuncture (WFAS).
Reishi in 60 seconds
- Reishi is a Japanese and lingzhi a Chinese cultural name for lacquered mushrooms in the genus Ganoderma. The name Ganoderma lucidum is common in commerce, but taxonomic research distinguishes European G. lucidum sensu stricto from East Asian G. lingzhi. A product name alone therefore does not establish its species identity.
- The literature describes polysaccharides, including β-glucans, triterpenoids called ganoderic acids, sterols and other compounds. Their profile depends on the species, strain, mushroom part, cultivation, extraction and specific batch.
- The Cui 2012 and Chu 2007 sleep studies used rats and mice. They were not human trials of Reishi for sleep and do not justify a promise of easier sleep onset after a product.
- Tang 2005 reported one RCT of the specific Ganopoly extract. The study enrolled 132 people and analysed 123. Its percentages described changes from baseline, not a simple product-versus-placebo difference.
- The Jafari 2025 meta-analysis included 17 RCTs and 971 participants. The authors rated certainty as very low across all outcomes and found no significant results for many of the analysed measures.
- Check the current label of the specific Aloha Fungi variant for the raw-material name, form, ingredients and serving. A laboratory document should match the batch number on the package.
What Reishi is and what the name Lingzhi means
Reishi and lingzhi are cultural names used for lacquered mushrooms in the genus Ganoderma. Ganoderma lucidum remains common in publications and commerce, but not every sample carrying this name represents the same species.
Morphological and molecular studies distinguish G. lucidum sensu stricto, originally described in Europe, from East Asian G. lingzhi. Reliable identification therefore requires supplier information and, where a species is declared, appropriate documentation.
Ganoderma fruiting bodies commonly have a firm structure and lacquered surface. Appearance helps description, but colour or a photograph alone cannot establish species identity.
Tradition of use
Lingzhi appears in traditional Chinese sources, including the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, within the shang yao class. The Japanese name Reishi and Chinese name Lingzhi also function today as product-category names.
Historical descriptions of longevity, Qi and Shen belong to a traditional framework. They are not clinical evidence of an outcome after taking a modern supplement.
Compounds described in research
Research materials from the genus Ganoderma have been analysed for polysaccharides, triterpenoids, sterols, nucleosides, proteins and peptides. A compound-group name does not state its amount in a specific product.
Ganoderic acids are triterpenoids studied in Ganoderma materials. Their profile can differ between species and preparations, as comparisons of G. lucidum and G. lingzhi show.
β-glucans are polysaccharides found in many mushrooms. Research on receptors and immune cells is mainly mechanistic and does not automatically describe a clinical result from a supplement.
A fruiting body, pure mycelium, spores and mycelium grown on a substrate are different materials. When comparing products, check the raw-material name, mushroom part, carriers, extraction method, declared standardisation and documentation for the specific batch.
What has been studied in Reishi? Three areas
Area 1. Sleep in animal models
Cui 2012 examined a fruiting-body extract in freely moving rats and measured EEG parameters. Chu 2007 examined animals receiving pentobarbital and the involvement of a GABAergic pathway. Both publications are preclinical.
A result in a rat or mouse cannot set timing, an expected outcome or product efficacy in a human. An adequately sized, controlled human study of Reishi for sleep is lacking.
Area 2. Polysaccharides and mechanistic models
Laboratory studies describe relationships between fungal polysaccharides, receptors such as Dectin-1 and cytokine measurements. These tools generate biological hypotheses and do not confirm a defined product outcome.
Different extracts can have different compositions. A result for Ganopoly, an isolated compound or cell material should not be transferred to every Reishi extract.
Area 3. Research involving humans
Tang 2005 examined the specific Ganopoly polysaccharide extract among people diagnosed with neurasthenia. It reported fatigue, wellbeing and CGI scale results, but a single study needs independent replication and did not examine an Aloha Fungi product.
Klupp 2016 found no difference in primary or secondary endpoints for the studied preparation compared with placebo. Jafari 2025 combined different preparations and populations and rated certainty across every assessed outcome as very low.
What Reishi does not do
Reishi is not a medicine for insomnia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes or cancer. Animal sleep research does not establish clinical efficacy in humans. A single RCT of a specific extract cannot promise an outcome from every product. Reishi does not replace pharmacotherapy or medical care.
How to use Reishi
Serving and usage are on the label
The serving, time of day and preparation come from the label of the specific variant, because different forms carry different instructions.
Questions about usage and combining with other mushrooms live on the product page, together with customer reviews. Reishi in the store: how to use, reviews, variants
How does TCM describe Reishi?
Traditional accounts place Reishi in the shang yao class and associate it with Heart Qi, Shen, the Liver, Lungs and Spleen. These are historical categories within a traditional system.
This is a cultural framework, not a medical diagnosis or evidence of product efficacy. Concepts such as Qi, Shen or meridian do not correspond one to one with Western anatomy or physiology.
| Taste | bitter (苦, kǔ), slightly sweet (甘, gān) |
| Nature | neutral (平, píng) |
| Meridians | Heart, Liver, Lung, Spleen |
| Traditional description | Heart Qi, Shen, Liver Yin and Lung |
Contraindications and interactions
Groups requiring particular care
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and age below 18. Adequate clinical safety data are lacking for these groups.
Status after an organ transplant, active immunosuppression or active autoimmune disease. Do not start a supplement without approval from the treating doctor and do not change pharmacotherapy.
Medicines and procedures requiring consultation
If you take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines or have a planned procedure, ask a doctor about safety and when to stop. Do not set a date from this page.
With diabetes, hypoglycaemia or medicines affecting blood glucose, discuss the supplement with a doctor or pharmacist. Do not change the medicine dose or monitoring plan.
With active liver disease or abnormal liver tests, discuss use with a doctor. LiverTox describes extremely rare single cases of acute liver injury, while noting that causality was often poorly documented.
Unwanted symptoms
Information on common adverse effects is limited. Small, short trials generally reported few events, but this does not rule out an individual reaction or contamination risk.
For rash, breathing difficulty, severe stomach symptoms, dark urine, jaundice or another concerning symptom, stop use and contact a doctor. Sudden breathing difficulty requires urgent medical help.
Evidence verdict
Honest about what is known
We also show what is not proven. This is a dietary supplement, not a medicine.
0
Strong evidence
confirmed composition
5
Preliminary
in vitro and animal studies
2
Not proven
no human studies
Reviewed by
Mateusz Rosa · Doctor of Acupuncture (WFAS)
Version 3.0 · Updated: 24 August 2026 · Subject-matter reviewer: Mateusz Rosa, founder of Aloha Fungi, TCM therapist, Doctor of Acupuncture (WFAS).
Based on 9 verified sources
See sources ↓Strength of evidence: an honest qualification of claims
| Claim | Type of evidence | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep parameters after a Reishi extract | rat and mouse models (Cui 2012, Chu 2007), without human confirmation | PRELIMINARY |
| Relationships between fungal polysaccharides, receptors and cytokines | mechanistic research without a clinical product outcome | PRELIMINARY |
| Fatigue, wellbeing and CGI scale results for Ganopoly | one RCT, 132 enrolled and 123 analysed (Tang 2005), needs replication | PRELIMINARY |
| No difference in endpoints in one metabolic study | RCT n=84 of a specific preparation (Klupp 2016) | PRELIMINARY |
| Multiple health measures across 17 RCTs | meta-analysis of 971 participants, very-low certainty (Jafari 2025) | PRELIMINARY |
| „Cures" insomnia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes or cancer | insufficient evidence and a claim prohibited by regulation | NONE |
| „Extends life" or delivers a measured anti-ageing effect in humans | historical traditional framing without a human longevity trial | NONE |
STRONG = solid evidence · PRELIMINARY = moderate or preliminary · NONE = unsupported or prohibited by regulation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Reishi the same as Lingzhi?
- Reishi and lingzhi are Japanese and Chinese cultural names used for Ganoderma mushrooms. They do not always mean one species. Modern taxonomy distinguishes European G. lucidum sensu stricto from East Asian G. lingzhi, even though the names are often used interchangeably in commerce.
- What does research say about Reishi and sleep?
- The frequently cited Cui 2012 and Chu 2007 experiments were conducted in animals. They do not establish a sleep outcome in humans or the efficacy of any Reishi product.
- How long before I notice a difference?
- There is no reliable universal timeline for a result. Studies used different preparations, populations and endpoints, so they do not justify promising a change after a set period.
- Reishi in the morning or evening?
- One time has not been established for every product and person. Follow the current label for the specific variant. If you take medicines or have concerns, ask a doctor or pharmacist.
- Can Reishi be combined with other mushrooms?
- The popularity of a pairing does not establish synergy. Check the ingredients, label and warnings for each product separately. Starting several supplements together makes tolerance harder to assess.
- How does a fruiting body differ from mycelium?
- A fruiting body, pure mycelium, spores and mycelium grown on a substrate are different materials. The part name alone does not determine quality. Compare species identification, carriers, extraction method, standardisation and documentation for the specific batch.
- What is the difference between Reishi PRIME and LONGEVITY?
- Do not choose a variant from the line name alone. Compare the current label, form, ingredients, recommended serving and batch documentation. If the differences are unclear, ask customer service for a factual comparison before buying.
- Is Reishi a medicine?
- No. The product is a food supplement and does not replace medicine, diagnosis or medical care. Do not change pharmacotherapy based on this page.
Scientific bibliography
- Tang W et al. (2005). A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia. J Med Food 8(1):53-58. PMID: 15857210.
- Cui XY et al. (2012). Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 139(3):796-800. PMID: 22207209.
- Chu QP et al. (2007). Extract of Ganoderma lucidum potentiates pentobarbital-induced sleep via a GABAergic mechanism. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 86(4):693-698. PMID: 17383716.
- Jafari A et al. (2025). The Nutritional Significance of Ganoderma lucidum on Human Health: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. Food Sci Nutr 13(6):e70423. PMID: 40510787.
- Klupp NL et al. (2016). A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of Ganoderma lucidum for cardiovascular risk factors of metabolic syndrome. Sci Rep 6:29540. PMID: 27511742.
- Hennicke F et al. (2016). Distinguishing commercially grown Ganoderma lucidum from Ganoderma lingzhi from Europe and East Asia. Phytochemistry 127:29-37. PMID: 27044336.
- Wachtel-Galor S et al. (2011). Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. NCBI Bookshelf NBK92757.
- Jin X et al. (2016). Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev:CD007731. PMID: 27045603.
- LiverTox (2024). Lingzhi, Reishi. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Record updated 5 October 2024.
The educational content on this page does not replace medical advice. A food supplement is not a medicine and should not replace a varied diet or medical consultation. Before starting supplementation, especially with chronic conditions, pregnancy, breastfeeding or when taking medication, consult a doctor. Aloha Fungi does not claim therapeutic efficacy for any product; the research described concerns specific preparations and models. All products are food supplements notified to the Polish Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS).
© 2026 Aloha Fungi™