Compound or practice · Supplement
Reishi
A calming medicinal mushroom with immune and sleep signals — better data as a cancer-care adjunct than as a daily tonic.
- Overall grade
- Grade C
- Last revised
- 2
- graded outcomes
- 0
- references listed
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
2 at grade C — 2 graded rows
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Immune markers / QoL (cancer adjunct)Evidence grade C
Adjunctive
Smallmixed
- Sleep / calmEvidence grade C
Weak
Smalllow
What is uncertain
Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.
- Thin evidence: Immune markers / QoL (cancer adjunct) (grade C); Sleep / calm (grade C).
- Caution with Anticoagulants (warfarin): Mild antiplatelet action — additive bleeding risk.
Interactions
Documented pairings with supplements and medicines. A medicine on this list is a conversation for whoever prescribes it.
Anticoagulants (warfarin)Caution
Mild antiplatelet action — additive bleeding risk.
The evidence in words
What it is
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a medicinal mushroom used for immunity, stress, and sleep.
How it works
Its beta-glucans and triterpenes modulate immune-cell activity and have mild calming effects.
What the evidence shows
Reasonable evidence as an adjunct in cancer care (improving immune markers and quality of life alongside conventional treatment); general immune and sleep claims are weaker. Product quality varies widely.
How to use it
Standardized fruiting-body extract; dose per product.
Safety & interactions
Generally safe; mild antiplatelet action; rare liver reports at high doses. warfarin — Mild antiplatelet action — additive bleeding risk.
Bottom line
Best evidence as a supportive adjunct in cancer care; a gentle tonic otherwise. Buy fruiting-body extract.
How it is used
As the entry records it, from the studies it summarises. Not a recommendation for you — doses that suit a trial population may not suit you.
- Standard
- Fruiting-body extract per product.
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- ChagaAn antioxidant-rich fungus with essentially no human trials — and a real oxalate/kidney caution.Evidence grade D
- Reishi for Immune markers / QoL (cancer adjunct)Evidence grade C — AdjunctiveEvidence grade C
- Reishi for Sleep / calmEvidence grade C — WeakEvidence grade C
- Reishi: dosage and how to take itFruiting-body extract per product.Evidence grade C
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.