Reishi mushrooms are one of several medicinal mushrooms that have been used for hundreds of years, mainly in Asian countries, for the treatment of infections. More recently, they have also been used in the treatment of lung diseases and cancer. Among the most potent and well-researched mushrooms are turkey tail, reishi, shiitake and maitake. Like most mushrooms, these edible fungi are packed with potent antioxidants and beta-glucans that fight harmful free radicals, as well as polysaccharides that can fight several types of cancer, including lung cancer.
Recognised as a medicinal mushroom for over 2000 years, its powerful effects have been documented in ancient texts dating back to the Han dynasty. This variety of mushroom was first discovered by Chinese healers in the northern range of the Changbai Mountains. Known for its frigid conditions, the rare reishi mushroom flourishes at the base of the great temperate mountain forest. According to ancient texts, healers believed that the reishi mushroom is "useful for vital energy, increasing the faculty of thinking and preventing forgetfulness, and can "refresh the body and mind, delay aging and enable one to live long, and "stabilise the mental condition".
Before people began to cultivate and grow this mushroom, wild reishi remained a rare commodity limited to the Chinese nobility. Today it is increasingly used around the world to support general health and well-being. Turkey tail has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat lung diseases for many years. In Japan, turkey tail has been used to boost the immune system when given in conjunction with standard cancer treatment.
Although there are many herbal remedies that promise lung health, you should always seek medical advice from your health professional before taking any new supplement. Curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenol that gives turmeric its bright orange-yellow colour, has been shown to be a powerful lung health agent. Read on to discover some of the best natural herbs and supplements that can improve lung health, along with some tips for maintaining the overall wellbeing of your respiratory system. Named for its green leaves with white spots that are thought to resemble lung tissue, lungwort is a plant that has long been used as a remedy for lung infections.
