The Top Reishi Mushroom Benefits For Skin

Reishi Bonsai!

Reishi mushroom (also called Ganoderma lucidum or Lingzhi) is one of the most revered medicinal mushrooms in eastern medicine, alongside the other top tier mushrooms such as Cordyceps, Chaga, Lion's Mane, Tremella & Turkey Tail. Reishi mushrooms, in particular, have been celebrated as a potent health and longevity tonic for thousands of years and traditionally only reserved for royalty.

Traditionally known as the 'herb of spiritual potency' or the 'mushroom of immortality', reishi is found growing naturally on dead or dying trees in hot and humid regions throughout Asia, however, can be quite elusive and hard to find.

Adding to what's been recognised in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries, modern science is now showing us the mechanisms and processes that make ling zhi such a powerful healing mushroom - aiding in everything from immune system support & fighting cancer cells through to, you guessed it, skincare!

Read on below we as we focus in on exactly what makes this mushroom such a great natural supplement for your skin:

The big and beautiful Reishi Mushroom!

Reishi Mushroom Benefits For Skin:

Many of the properties that make reishi mushrooms so effective in immune support, anti-cancer treatments and blood glucose regulation are also what make it a potent medicinal mushroom for skincare.

1.) Smooth and Tone:

Reishi mushroom contains a high concentration of beta-glucans, simple sugars that are present in many different mushrooms.

These are attributed to much of the immune stimulation and anti-tumour properties of the lingzhi, and from a skincare perspective, are great at reducing itching and redness from acne and other breakouts, helping with a much smoother and toned complexion.

Furthermore, beta-glucans are also thought to help with collagen regeneration, assisting with skin elasticity.

2.) Reduce Cell Damage and Slow Premature Ageing:

Reishi is famous for its super-elevated levels of anti-oxidants and is a powerful scavenger of free radicals that cause cell damage and signs of premature ageing.

Reishi mushroom is anti-inflammatory and contains skin-protective polysaccharides that can help protect the skin from oxidation damage - from UV rays, environmental pollutants and toxic ingredients in makeup, to list a few - which can all cause the skin to age more rapidly and degenerate faster.

With its high anti-oxidant levels ling zhi is a great aid for fighting off sun damage and wrinkles from cell breakdown, helping to maintain healthy skin. Used in conjunction with other potent natural skin healers (i.e. green tea or matcha) and you've got yourself a powerful ally in the fight against skin damage.

3.) Hormone Balancing:

Due to its anti-stress properties, reishi mushroom can be used to help balance sex hormones that are known to cause those pesky pre-period breakouts around the chin that we are all too familiar with, or androgen driven acne along the jawline, neck and upper back.

Through calming the nervous system and improving the body's resilience to stress, reishi can help prevent the various skin issues associated with sex hormone imbalances.

The skin benefits of Ashwagandha are also potent and well known due to its hormone balancing effects and is a great pairing for reishi to address skin health. 

4.) Thickens Epidermis and Dermis:

Skin thinning is something that happens to everyone as we age, it can be accelerated by things like sun damage, medication, or lifestyle factors, and can leave the skin looking older and more susceptible to damage.

Reishi has been shown to increase the thickness of the epidermis and dermis, improve the skin structure and protect the skin cell DNA. It has also proved useful in preventing the degradation of collagen and elastin and enhancing the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) within the skin, overall, creating fuller, more youthful-looking skin.

5.) Accelerated Healing:

When applied directly to the skin, reishi mushroom can improve and speed up wound healing due to its protective polysaccharides, which can be particularly beneficial to those with acne scars or other topical wounds.

Reishi also reduces pigmentation and may have a skin lightening effect.

There is no question that the health benefits of reishi mushroom in skincare are plentiful. However, while you may read about many other benefits of reishi mushroom for skin and overall health, the above points are supported by numerous scientific studies and research, so these are the ones we write about with confidence.

Potential Side Effects:

While reishi mushrooms are renowned for their powerful adaptogenic qualities, there are always potential side effects.

We always recommend consulting your doctor before taking any new medicinal mushroom, and even then starting with a small dose and increasing over time as your body adapts.

In the very rare cases that they occur, the common symptoms include:

• Stomach ache
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Headaches

These will go away when you stop using the product, however, if the symptoms persist you should consult your doctor.

Also, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should seek medical advice before adding reishi mushroom (or any medicinal mushroom) to your diet.

'The Herb of Spiritual Potency'

How To Use Reishi Mushroom:

Reishi mushroom can be bought as a supplement in many different forms: powdered, capsules or as a liquid extract.

Which one you choose is really personal preference as they all come with their pros and cons; powdered reishi mushroom extract can be added into your coffee, smoothies, tea or yummy recipes, capsules and liquid extracts can simply be taken on a morning and are quick and easy. You can even mix reishi with other mushrooms.

Whichever option you choose, we recommend you do your research to find the most potent, contaminant-free medicinal mushrooms, that are ethically sourced and contain no "filler" ingredients as these will be the ones that will let you unlock all the incredible benefits these herbs have to offer.

Hot Tip:

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I hope you got some great value from this article - click here if you want to know more about medicinal mushrooms in general, and click here if you'd like to dive deep into everything you need to know about reishi mushroom with our ultimate guide.

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