Hi everyone! Welcome back to yet another post on The Fun(guy) Blog! In this week’s post, I am going to introduce you to a lesser-known aspect of a fungus that is pretty well known, especially in the medical world: Ganoderma lucidum or Reishi mushrooms.
A variety of fungi have been identified for their medicinal values, especially mushrooms, in many cultures over the past thousand or two thousand years. Even today, scientists are constantly discovering the fascinating healing properties of mushrooms. Among these Reishi mushrooms are probably the most popular medicinal mushrooms. These mushrooms are large and dark with a woody texture and glossy exterior. For over two thousand years, cultures within China, Japan, and other Asian countries (where they grow the best due to the heat and humidity of these regions) have used Reishi mushrooms for promoting health and longevity. The mushrooms were highly prized by the royalties of the Han dynasty as they were believed to grant them enhanced health and eternal youth.
Reishi mushrooms have an array of health benefits including immune-boosting and cancer-fighting properties. Studies on Reishi mushrooms have shown that they are capable of killing cancer cells and increasing the activity of white blood cells which help fight infections in our bodies. Research has shown that the consumption of Reishi mushrooms for a year decreased the number and size of tumors in organs like the large intestine. Although Reishi shows a lot of potential in the treatment of cancer, more research on its safety and effectiveness is definitely needed. These mushrooms also have antioxidants and are good for heart health and controlling blood sugar levels. The mushrooms are often eaten fresh but they are converted into powdered forms or into extracts. They are also often made into soups and teas!
The health benefits of Reishi mushrooms are interesting but not as much as what Philip Ross, an artist based in California, did with these fungi. Ross started a small lab around 2014 in which he wanted to grow mushrooms that would be used to produce a set of chairs and stools. He wanted to demonstrate how different kinds of fabrication can be created using local agricultural waste. He grew Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) into bricks and stacked them into an arch at the Far West Fungi mushroom farm in Monterey, California. These “fungus bricks” become super hard and extremely lightweight once they dry. Not only that, their mycelium is strong, water-proof, and even fire resistant! Different lacquers and finishes can then be applied to their outer layers to seal them and give them a glossy finish.
Ross’s fungal arch is intended to be a part of a larger project that will result in an entire building grown out of fungal materials! According to him, these mushrooms have the potential to be a substitute for petroleum-based plastics and can help in producing a lot of local materials. The mycelium bricks were also used to build towers at the MoMA PS1 in New York. The mycelium’s potential as a building material is indeed astonishing!
Here is an interesting video on more about Philip Ross and his work with fungi:
This idea is fascinating! I had never considered the fact that fungi can be a strong, reliable building material. If it can be further developed and implemented to replace plastics and various pollutant materials, the air would be much cleaner and our planet would be much much better off. This post really reiterates the importance of fungi as an environmental player; it is essential to the health and wellness of our communities.
Wow!! Reishi mushrooms really are the miracle fungus! Not only do they seem to be extremely promising in treating and fighting cancer, but they also could have huge implications in the future of sustainability in our daily lives and around the world. If we could capitalize on the fact that Reishi mushrooms, and hopefully similar types of fungi as well, are not only beneficial to one’s health, but can also be used for construction purposes, the world would become a much healthier, environmentally friendly place. I think it’s probably just a matter of researchers getting a sufficient amount of funding and access to resources, which can hopefully be achieved through both government and private resources. I genuinely hope that Reishi mushrooms become more mainstream so that more people can enjoy the benefits that this amazing fungus has to offer! They could be a major key to a healthier, more sustainable future!
I am amazed at how many benefits the Reishi mushroom provides for us. As someone who loves tea, I would be interested in trying a Reishi mushroom tea. It’s not everyday that I hear about mushrooms being used for tea. I also hope that Ross completes his building grown out of Reishi mushrooms because it would serve as a great proof to those who might not believe in using natural resources to replace synthetic resources for infrastructure. Hopefully, the cost of these mushrooms remains low because then they would be the best alternative to plastic in many ways.