Harmful when storing and using lingzhi wrongly

Most lingzhi mushrooms contain about 90% by weight of water. If not dried quickly and properly after harvest, it will be more susceptible to mold and growth. Aflatoxins are a carcinogenic toxin produced by certain types of molds that occur in certain foods.

Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Vinh Hoa said that Ganoderma is also called "immortal mushroom" . They have been used in traditional medicine to improve health and longevity for thousands of years, as well as in the treatment of neurasthenia, hypertension, liver disease and cancer.

Modern pharmacological testing has also demonstrated some important properties of this fungus such as immune adjustment, anti-allergy, anti-radiation, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties. . Some benefits for cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and metabolic systems have also been found.

Natural Ganoderma or wild genus are rarely found.(Photo: happyfit).

Natural Ganoderma or wild genus are rarely found. It thrives mainly on dead dead trees and rotting hardwood trees. Of the 10,000 old trees on the entire hill, maybe only 2 or 3 trees will have the Ganoderma growing on it so it's rare. In 1972, researchers in Japan successfully planted Ganoderma in the laboratory. Therefore, today's Ganoderma is widely grown for health care and beauty, although wild or wild types are still more popular.

According to Vinh Hoa pharmacist, Ganoderma should be well dried after picking and properly stored to prevent mold from occurring and affecting health.How to dry natural Ganoderma for good preservation:

• Day 1 : Immediately after harvesting, expose the lingzhi under the sun for 6-7 hours with the lower surface of cream or yellow cream facing the sun.
• Day 2 : Expose the limbs in the sun for another 3-4 hours with the red surface facing the sun. Then move them to a well-ventilated shade area with a fan.
• Day 3 : Expose to the sun for 4-6 hours with a creamy yellow underside facing the sun. Then move them to a well-ventilated shade area with a fan.
• Day 4 onwards : Keep the lint in the shade dry with a fan 24 hours a day until completely dry. Reishi needs to be protected from rain or water.

Method 2: If it rains, you can skip the sun and put the Ganoderma with the lower face of cream or golden cream, directly in a well-ventilated room. Fan 24 hours a day until the Ganoderma is completely dry.

It takes about 4kg of fresh Ganoderma to get 1kg of dried Ganoderma.

Note: after harvesting Ganoderma, do not store in a windless or plastic bag overnight. Drying should be done as soon as possible after picking. If it is not possible to dry the reishi outside due to rain, then it must be dried by an indoor fan to avoid mold. Expose direct sunlight when possible.

Proper use of lingzhi is highly effective

Ganoderma is grown in a laboratory.

Triterpenes and polysaccharides are the main pharmaceutical ingredients of Ganoderma. Triterpenes in lingzhi are difficult to dissolve in cold water but easily extracted in alcohol and hot water. These substances create the bitter taste of Ganoderma. In addition, water-soluble polysaccharides have a large molecular weight, reishi mushroom encapsulates chitin polysaccharide . Most chitin is difficult to digest by the human body and creates the hardness of fungi. Therefore, Ganoderma must be heated with water to extract the active ingredients.

For powdered or tablet products, mushrooms must be ground into a fine powder or made into powder form to ensure bioavailability. Traditionally, Ganoderma should be simmered for about 20-60 minutes before adding other herbal ingredients . If you only boil lingzhi for 5 minutes like tea, then the amount of active ingredients in lingzhi mushroom does not dissolve in the water, accidentally causing waste.

The amount of dry Ganoderma is recommended 3-15g daily.

Ling chi: Boiling 3-15 g finely or Ganoderma powder in about 2 liters of water. Heat slowly to 2/3 of the water. Lingzhi can be repeated 2-3 times until all ingredients in lingzhi are extracted.

Extraction by alcohol (traditional way): Soak 90g finely or lingzhi powder in 500ml rice wine for at least 10 days.