Reishi Ganoderma lucidum Inside our fruiting bags is the ‘mushroom of immortality’, the reishi mushroom. Reishi has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for its amazing healing properties. Reishi has compounds called triterpenes that help lower cortisol levels, reducing stress and helping the body’s defences. There is also a lot of research showing reishi can help with sleep quality. Reishi is a little too tough and bitter to eat, so the medicinal properties are usually extracted and put into a tincture or powder. This reishi strain is native to the UK and likes to grow on hardwood substrates. Reishi grows slowly, over a period of many months. You can already start to see some growth in one of the bags, so check back to the fungarium to see the progress!

Enclosed within these specialised filter bags are living specimens of the "mushroom of immortality" – the reishi mushroom. There are several different closely related but genetically distinct species of fungi in the Ganoderma genus that are referred to as reishi, however, G. lucidum is considered “true reishi” and is the subject of most scientific research studying its various bioactive compounds and their potential health benefits. Somewhat confusingly, the reishi found in China, long thought to be G. lucidum has since been reclassified as G. sichuanense, yet the name G. lucidum is still widely used in both scientific literature and commercial products. Used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine, reishi is prized for its powerful healing properties. Rich in bioactive compounds, reishi contains triterpenes, which are known to help lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress, thereby promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety. These compounds are believed to support the body's defenses by enhancing immune function, making reishi a popular choice for boosting overall health and vitality. Additionally, research has shown that reishi may improve sleep quality by helping regulate sleep patterns and promoting deeper, more restful sleep. Its combination of immune-boosting, stress-reducing, and sleep-enhancing properties has made reishi an important herbal remedy for centuries, with increasing scientific interest in its potential to support long-term health and well-being.Reishi is considered too tough and bitter to eat, however its medicinal compounds are typically extracted in the form of tinctures or teas.

This particular strain of G. lucidum is native to the UK (it was found growing on an ancient woodland (hornbeam) within the City of London and cloned)  and thrives on hardwood substrates. It grows slowly over several months, but you can already see early signs of growth in one of the bags. In an enclosed environment like these sealed filter bags, high CO2 levels cause the fruiting bodies to grow in an antler-like formation, resulting in thin, elongated structures as they reach for oxygen. Since reishi is phototrophic—meaning it grows toward light—these antlers can be directed to grow in different directions, creating spectacular displays. When exposed to higher oxygen levels, reishi grows wider and forms a conk, the shape it typically takes in the wild.Be sure to check back at The Fungi Room to follow the progress of our reishi as it grows over the next few months!