The “mushroom of immortality” of Chinese tradition — a hard, glossy mushroom that grows on tree trunks and has been studied for two thousand years.

What is ganoderma?

Ganoderma (Ganoderma lucidum), known as reishi in Japanese and lingzhi in Chinese, is a woody mushroom that grows on the trunks and roots of broadleaf trees, mainly oak. Its cap has a distinctive reddish-brown colour and a shiny, lacquered surface — hence the name lucidum, “shining”. It is not eaten, being hard and bitter; it is used as an extract. It is rich in beta-glucans and other polysaccharides, triterpenes (ganoderic acids), sterols and antioxidant phenolic compounds.

What are the benefits of ganoderma?

In skin care ganoderma is valued for its gentle, protective action. Applied topically it:

• Offers triterpenes and phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity
• Its polysaccharides hold moisture on the surface of the skin
• Gives a calming feel to easily irritated skin
• Suits dry, sensitive and mature skin
• Helps the skin look smoother and more rested

From imperial courts to the laboratory

In ancient China ganoderma was so rare in the wild that it was reserved for emperors, and its shape adorned temples, furniture and garments as a symbol of longevity and good fortune. The first Chinese pharmacopoeia, around two thousand years ago, ranked it among the “superior” herbs. Since the 1970s, when Japanese growers succeeded in cultivating it, it has become widely available, and today it is one of the most studied mushrooms in the world.

Where does it come from?

Ganoderma grows wild in the forests of Asia, Europe and North America — in Greece too, on oak and chestnut trunks. Almost all commercial ganoderma today is cultivated, mainly in China, Japan, Korea and Malaysia, on hardwood logs or sawdust.