Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Chinese Herbs

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Chinese Herbs - Ling Zhi (Ganodermae lucidi)

Ling Zhi is also known as Lucid Ganoderma. The sweet and netral herb has been used in TCM to treat cough, asthma, tinnitus, deafness and lassitude of the loins and knees, palpitation, insomnia and amnesia, hepatitis B, etc. as it nourishes Yin and Blood, strengthens the Spleen tonifies Qi and Body Fluids, calms the Mind, strengthens the Stomach, etc., by enhancing the functions of Lung, Kidney, Liver, Heart, Spleen and Stomach channels.

Ingredients1. Ganodermic acid G
2. Lucidone A
3. Fungal lysozyme
4. Pachymic acid C
5. Stellasterol
6. OPolyporenic acid
7. Pterocarpin
8. Trifolirhizin
9. Kuraridin
10. Kuraridinol
11. Oxalic acid
12. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Oral anticoagulants
In the examination of the consumption of herbal medicines is increasing steadily throughout the world, although to our knowledge there are neither studies on their effectiveness nor controls over the quality and safety of these preparations, indicated that Ganoderma Japonicum, Papaw, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Ginseng, Devil’s claw, Garlic, Quinine, Ginkgo, Ginger, Red Clover and Horse-Chestnut reinforce warfarin action by heterogeneous mechanisms. They should thus not be used in patients on oral anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet therapy. They should thus not be used in patients on oral anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet therapy(1)
2. Thrombosis
In the evaluation of the effects of Ganoderma japonicum(Fr.) Lloyd mixture on thrombosis and its mechanism, showed that Ganoderma japonicum(Fr.) Lloyd mixture inhibited thrombus formation in vitro and in vivo, the thrombus weight and length formed in the rabbit common carotid artery and external jugular vein were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared with the control (P < 0.01). The results suggest that Ganoderma japonicum(Fr.) Lloyed mixture has anti-thrombotic effect, blood coagulation and platelet activation were inhibited, and the ability of vascular endothelial cells against the process of thrombosis was enhanced(2)
3. Free Radical scavenger and antihepatotoxic activity
In the investigation of the free radical scavenging and antihepatotoxic activity from Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma formosanum and Ganoderma neo-japonicum, found that treatment with the water extract of Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma formosanum and Ganoderma neo-japonicum caused a marked decrease in the CCl4-induced toxicity in rat liver, made evident by their effect on the levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum(3)
4. Anti cancers
In the investigation of Antitumor effects of polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma lucidum, indicated that The popular edible mushroom Ganoderma lucidum has been used mainly against cancer and linked to lower rates of mortality. Various signaling pathways responsible for aberrant characteristics of cancer cells were modulated by Ganoderma lucidum, resulting in cell-cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of growth, and suppression of metastatic behavior.
Ganoderma lucidum also inhibits constitutively active transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1, which were suggested as potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment(4)
5. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in patient with weaken kiday, kidney diseases or kidney stone
2. 2. Do not use the Huang Bai in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or
breast feeding with out approval first with the related field specialist3.
Etc.