Benefits of Reishi Tea and How to Make It

Reishi tea, made from Reishi mushrooms, has been used for centuries in eastern countries to cure a host of illnesses and health conditions. Reishi mushrooms, called Lingzhi in Chinese, are known as the "Miraculous King of Herbs", due to their medicinal properties.

These mushrooms are of six kinds namely, black, red, white, yellow, blue, and purple mushrooms. Out of these, red mushrooms are believed to be the most healing ones, and are hence utilized for making tea.

• Helps in fighting abnormal cells in the body, and is thus said to prevent certain cancers.
• Helps in minimizing symptoms of skin allergies, duodenal ulcers, and diabetes.
• Helps in providing relief from the pain and discomfort of chemotherapy drugs.
• Delays the process of aging.
• Lowers cholesterol, and thus helps in preventing heart diseases.

• Helps in reducing the symptoms of respiratory problems such as asthma.
• Useful in providing relief from cough.
• Benefits people under stress by soothing their mind and improving their sleeping patterns.
• Acts as a sedative for the nervous system and thus, helps in relaxation.
• Helps in fighting hepatitis due to certain liver-protective properties.

The first thing to do when learning to make Reishi tea is to find some good quality Reishi mushrooms. They can be purchased either from a health store, or on the Internet. Care should be taken that the supplier is reputed to ensure better quality mushrooms

• Soak one mushroom overnight, to make it tender.
• The outer covering of the mushrooms is very hard, and is covered with porous powder. It is this powder that has healing properties, so do not remove it while soaking.
• In the morning, when the mushroom has softened, cut it into a number of small pieces.
• Pour two liters of water in a pot. Add the pieces to it.

• Cover it with a lid.
• Boil for up to two hours on low heat.
• Then take the pot off the stove.
• You may add honey for sweetening.
• The tea can be cooled and refrigerated. It is considered fit for drinking up to five days.

Reishi tea is quite easy to make, and has various health benefits. However, it may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. It may also cause side effects such as dizziness, insomnia, stomach discomfort, dry mouth, or tiredness. To avoid these, its consumption should be limited to just 1 tbsp., initially. If it does not cause any side effect, it can be gradually increased to 2 tbsp., then a cup, and so on. Ideally, a person should consume 2 oz. of the tea twice a day, to derive maximum health benefits.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.