Eastern Hemlock Mushroom Saturated with Antioxidants
A 1999 research paper reported Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) to have "the strongest antioxidant activity of five species of Ganoderma [Reishi] tested," a more potent free radical scavenger than Vitamin E. [831] Other published papers have also reported extraordinary antioxidant levels in Hemlock Varnish Shelf. [827, 828, 829, 830]
Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) is the local variety of Reishi (Ganoderma spp.) for eastern United States. It is common on Eastern Hemlock trees (Tsuga canadensis) throughout the Appalachian range.
And in fact it shares many medicinal attributes with the better known Common Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), which has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for 2,000 years or more.
Hemlock Varnish Shelf is not limited to the U.S., though, and plenty of Asian research has been conducted specifically on this species of Reishi.
Commercially cultivated in Taiwan and exported to mainland China as a medicinal mushroom, Hemlock Reishi has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases, particularly asthma and autoimmune conditions.
The single modern study conducted on Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract to treat an autoimmune disease, conducted in 2001, concluded that it "improved the survival rate of lupus." [800]
A bit more research has been conducted on asthma and lung inflammation. In 2007, it was reported that Ganoderma tsugae extract produced "anti-inflammatory effects on airway responses" [801] in broncheoalveolar inflammation, including allergic asthma. [802, 803]
One of the most novel uses of Hemlock Varnish Shelf is as a skin substitute during wound healing. The skin substitute material, commercially sold as Sacchachitin, has been proven in numerous studies to promote and speed up skin healing. It has been observed that "rapid wound healing" takes place when covered by Sacchachitin as compared to regular gauze [804] - a "wound area covered by SACCHACHITIN completely healed by 21 days, while that covered with cotton gauze did not." [805, 806, 807]
Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract has also been tested for its antitumor properties with promising results. [808, 809, 810, 811, 812] In particular lung cancer [813, 814, 815] and breast cancer [816] have responded favorably in scientific research. It was also shown in one study to help prevent cancer metastasis. [817]
As with the Common Reishi, Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract appears to be immunomodulatory [817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823] - meaning that it will adjust the immune system up or down depending on what is needed. It helps strengthen a weak immune system, [824] but will calm an over-active immune system in cases of inflammation [825] or autoimmune conditions.
One study conducted in 2004 found Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract to posses liver protective properties and be anti-fibrotic. [826]
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb (or mushroom) for medicinal purposes. - 17273
Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) is the local variety of Reishi (Ganoderma spp.) for eastern United States. It is common on Eastern Hemlock trees (Tsuga canadensis) throughout the Appalachian range.
And in fact it shares many medicinal attributes with the better known Common Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), which has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for 2,000 years or more.
Hemlock Varnish Shelf is not limited to the U.S., though, and plenty of Asian research has been conducted specifically on this species of Reishi.
Commercially cultivated in Taiwan and exported to mainland China as a medicinal mushroom, Hemlock Reishi has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases, particularly asthma and autoimmune conditions.
The single modern study conducted on Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract to treat an autoimmune disease, conducted in 2001, concluded that it "improved the survival rate of lupus." [800]
A bit more research has been conducted on asthma and lung inflammation. In 2007, it was reported that Ganoderma tsugae extract produced "anti-inflammatory effects on airway responses" [801] in broncheoalveolar inflammation, including allergic asthma. [802, 803]
One of the most novel uses of Hemlock Varnish Shelf is as a skin substitute during wound healing. The skin substitute material, commercially sold as Sacchachitin, has been proven in numerous studies to promote and speed up skin healing. It has been observed that "rapid wound healing" takes place when covered by Sacchachitin as compared to regular gauze [804] - a "wound area covered by SACCHACHITIN completely healed by 21 days, while that covered with cotton gauze did not." [805, 806, 807]
Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract has also been tested for its antitumor properties with promising results. [808, 809, 810, 811, 812] In particular lung cancer [813, 814, 815] and breast cancer [816] have responded favorably in scientific research. It was also shown in one study to help prevent cancer metastasis. [817]
As with the Common Reishi, Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract appears to be immunomodulatory [817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823] - meaning that it will adjust the immune system up or down depending on what is needed. It helps strengthen a weak immune system, [824] but will calm an over-active immune system in cases of inflammation [825] or autoimmune conditions.
One study conducted in 2004 found Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract to posses liver protective properties and be anti-fibrotic. [826]
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb (or mushroom) for medicinal purposes. - 17273
About the Author:
Dr. Markho Rafael has worked with natural health since finishing Chiropractic College in 1996. He currently specializes in medicinal mushrooms, working specifically with MycoMedicinals from Paul Stamets, including synergistic reishi blends such as G5 (Five Ganoderma) and CordyChi. For research references to this article, please go to the Ganoderma tsugae page.
posted by X - Men at
1:35 PM
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