How to Use Reishi Tinctures – Recipe & Dosage

Reishi tinctures are made from the reishi mushroom, which has long been used in traditional medicine practices throughout Asia.

Today reishi supplements come in a variety of forms, including tablets, teas, decoctions, powders and tinctures.

In particular, reishi tinctures and teas have been used for thousands of years to support good health and improve vitality.

Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) are polypore bracket fungi indigenous to Asian countries, including Laos, Vietnam, China and Japan. The mushroom is also known by its Chinese name lingzhi.

Reishi mushrooms grow either as parasitic or saprophytic organisms on living and/or fallen hardwood trees. Saprophytic organisms extract nutrients from decaying organic matter, which is why reishi mushrooms can be found on fallen trees. Over the course of its growth, the reishi mushroom will extract nutrients from the living or dead tree.

Once it reaches maturity it contains many phytochemicals (plant chemicals or nutrients), many of which are being investigated for their therapeutic value. Reishi mushroom tinctures contain high concentrations of these beneficial phytochemicals and are generally more convenient than dried powders.

Reishi Mushroom

Mushroom Supplement

Immune Booster

Heart Health

Longevity

How It Works:

• Traditional Chinese immune modulator
• Promotes healthy blood pressure & cholesterol
• Anti-oxidant used for anti-aging benefits

Dosage:

Between 400 - 1800 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

Top Reishi Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Liquid Reishi Tinctures

Reishi mushrooms contain many phytonutrients (plant nutrients) that are thought to have therapeutic benefit. Current research has focused on the use of reishi mushroom as an adjunct treatment for some cancers.

Although research is in the early stages, reishi extract tinctures have been observed to exhibit anticancer, antidiabetic, antiviral, antibacterial, chemopreventive, anticoagulant, immunomodulating, lipid metabolizing and cardiovascular enhancing effects.

Research into the therapeutic effects of reishi mushrooms is ongoing, but preliminary tests indicate reishi mushrooms may:

• Exhibit potent action against various cancer cell lines;
• Lower LDL and total cholesterol as well as triglyceride counts;
• Improve glucose use in the body;
• Lower blood pressure;
• Alleviate pain associated with shingles outbreaks;
• Moderate immune system function;
• Decrease risk factors associated with heart disease;
• Exhibit antiviral properties;

Reishi tinctures and supplements are used for a variety of health indications. However, there is insufficient clinical evidence for the FDA to approve this mushroom for any particular medicinal use or treatment. Similarly, there are no standardized dose guidelines available from the FDA.

How to Prepare a Reishi Tincture

Dehydrated reishi mushrooms can be quite hard on the exterior and difficult to cut with a common chef’s knife. A commercial-grade mixer or grinder is helpful to break the reishi up into small pieces, which will help extract nutrients from the fungus.

Alternately, you can purchase fresh reishi mushrooms, which are much more easily cut into small chunks to make a decoction or tincture.

Although the exact medicinal constituents of reishi have not been fully profiled, there are several compounds that are thought to provide therapeutic benefit, including ganoderic acid triterpenes and beta-glucan polysaccharides.

The ganoderic acids require alcohol tincturing because they are hydrophobic and will not mix with water. In contrast, the polysaccharides are best decocted with water.

To make the best reishi tincture recipe, a double extraction (tincture/decoction) process is used.

Step 1: Alcohol Tincturing

• Take small pieces of reishi mushroom and place them in a sealable jar. Fill the jar approximately half full.
• Add 100-proof vodka to cover the mushrooms.
• Seal the jar and store it in a cool, dark place for eight weeks, gently shaking it each day to churn its contents.
• Strain the mushrooms and set them aside for water decocting (step 2).
• Save the strained tincture mixture in a sealable jar of your choice. Make sure the jar is no more than half full from the alcohol tincture.

Step 2: Water Decoction Process

• Place the strained mushrooms (set aside from step 1) in a simmering pot or crock pot.
• Add water at a 2:1 ratio of water to mushrooms.
• Simmer without boiling for a minimum of two hours, until the liquid boils down to match the volume of reserved alcohol in the sealable jar.
• Strain the mushrooms and reserve the decoction.
• Set the liquid aside and allow it cool to room temperature.

Mix both the alcohol and water extractions together to create the final product. Store the mixture in a tightly sealed jar in a cool, dark place.

Reishi Tincture Dosages

There are no standards for reishi mushroom tincture supplementation. Doses of reishi tincture usually range from 3 to 9 milligrams per day. The optimal dose for any given individual will be dependent on a number of factors, including: age, current state of health and purpose for supplementation.

Also, different tincture products will contain different concentrations of bioactive compounds. This means that the dosage used with one brand of product may be different from another brand.

Reishi Tincture Side Effects

Reishi mushrooms have a long history of use and are not commonly associated with severe side effects. However, in extremely rare cases reishi powder has been associated with toxicity. Some users may experience mild and passing side effects that may include dry mouth, itching skin and gastrointestinal discomfort.

Pregnant and nursing women should not use reishi tincture, nor should those with type II diabetes mellitus. Additionally, those with liver disease, kidney disease and HIV or AIDS should not use reishi tinctures without express permission from their doctors.

Reishi mushrooms are known to interact with many prescription medications, most notably anticoagulants, antiplatelets, antihypertensives and antidiabetic medications. Be sure to consult with your doctor before starting to take reishi tinctures, capsules, extracts, teas or decoctions.

Rate This Article

(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5, rated)