Herb module

Ling Zhi

Reishi MushroomGanoderma lucidum

A glossy, woody mushroom that Traditional Chinese Medicine has long used to strengthen the Heart and Lungs and settle the Spirit.

★ Chief herb in Longevity · The Zoi ★ Chief herb in Allergy Relief · Atsáli

Ling Zhi is the reishi mushroom, a tough, shiny fungus prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a deep tonic for Qi and Blood. It is traditionally used to steady the Heart, calm the Spirit, and support the Lungs. At Zoi it leads two formulas, Longevity | The Zoi™ and Allergy Relief | Atsáli™, where it serves as a foundation for the rest of the blend.

Best functions

Traditionally used to tonify Heart Qi, nourish Heart Blood, and calm the Spirit
Used to tonify Lung Qi and transform Phlegm to ease cough and wheezing
Tonifies Qi and nourishes Blood throughout the body
Traditionally used to support Wei Qi, the body's protective energy
Research has looked at how reishi supports both the innate and adaptive immune responses

Fascinating facts

Ling Zhi is listed first on the fact sheets for both Longevity | The Zoi™ and Allergy Relief | Atsáli™.
Reishi grows as a fan- or kidney-shaped shelf on decaying hardwood trees, and its reddish-brown cap looks as if it has been varnished.
The mushroom has been a symbol of long life in Chinese art for centuries, and its curling shape inspired the decorative ruyi scepter.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ling Zhi is a tonic herb with a sweet and bitter flavor. It is slightly warm in nature and enters the Heart, Liver, and Lung channels.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Longevity · The Zoi page

Biomedical deep dive

Ling Zhi Reishi Mushroom

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

Ling Zhi (Reishi Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum) is slightly warm, enters the HT, LIV, and LU meridians; tonifies Heart Qi, nourishes Heart Blood and calms the Spirit, tonifies Lung Qi, transforms phlegm to stop cough and wheezing, tonifies Qi and nourishes Blood. Longevity | The Zoi · Allergy Relief | Atsáli sheets

Key active constituents

The fact sheets don’t name constituents for this herb.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

Reishi has strong anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating (immune-balancing) activities.
Reishi has been shown to enhance both the adaptive (learned) and innate (first-line) immune responses.
With cordyceps, reishi has broad anti-microbial activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
Triterpenoids (key compounds) inhibit histamine release from mast cells (allergy cells). Noa’s notes
Beta-glucans help balance T-helper immune cells (Th1/Th2). Noa’s notes
Cardioprotective (heart-protecting). Noa’s notes

What the research says

Reishi has been shown to modulate allergic asthma symptoms through anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects (Li et al., Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2022).
Reishi enhanced both adaptive and innate immune responses in research reviewed in Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects (Benzie & Wachtel-Galor, CRC Press 2011).

Safety, interactions and cautions

Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
No major contraindications noted; use caution with anticoagulants, case by case. Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

★ Longevity | The Zoi (#1 on the fact sheet)
★ Allergy Relief | Atsáli (#1 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.