The use of Ganoderma lucidum in the management of histamine-mediated allergic responses

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2006 by Martin Powell

Allergies and asthma are two examples of histamine-mediated allergic responses. Both conditions are increasing in frequency and are difficult to target with modern medicine. The modern approach to drug research is target-specific and does not consider the natural defense mechanisms of the body or the causative factors (the shift to a predominantly TH2 cytokine profile) underlying histamine-mediated allergic responses. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) as immunonutrition, with its unique array of compounds working in concert, could play a major role in treatment of histamine-mediated allergic responses.

What is Immunonutrition?

The potential to modulate the activity of the immune system by intervention with specific nutrients is termed immunonutrition. This concept may be applied to any situation in which an altered supply of nutrients is used to modify inflammatory or immune responses. However, immunonutrition has become associated most closely with attempts to improve the clinical course of clinically ill and surgical patients, who often require an exogenous supply of nutrients. (1)

Major surgery is followed by a period of immune suppression that increases the risk of morbidity and mortality due to infection. Improving immune function during this period may reduce complications due to infection. Critically ill patients are at a greater risk of adverse outcomes than surgery patients. In these patients, complex variable immune and inflammatory changes occur that are only now being well defined. A biphasic response with an early hyper-inflammatory response, followed by an excessive compensatory response associated with immune suppression, is seen in many such patients. (2) Here, early treatment is aimed at decreasing the inflammatory response (reversing a TH1 to TH2 shift) rather than enhancing it, in order to stop the hyper-inflammation and prevent the resulting compensatory immune suppression. (3) In histamine-mediated allergic responses, treatment should be aimed at decreasing the inflammatory response (reversing a TH1 to TH2 shift).

Historical Use of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi)

The numerous legends surrounding the reishi mushroom provide an historical record that spans 2000 years. Traditionally, the reishi mushroom was used in China by Taoist monks to promote a centered calmness, improve meditative practices, and attain a long and healthy life. (4) Chinese royalty, seeking longevity, held the reishi mushroom in high esteem, and the mushroom became immortalized throughout Chinese culture in paintings, statues, silk tapestries, and designs on the robes of emperors. The reishi mushroom has also been revered in Japanese culture where it is considered the most important of all Japanese medical polypores (Matsumoto 1979). (5)

Variously known as the "mushroom of immortality," "ten-thousand-year mushroom," and "mushroom of spiritual potency," Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) has been used for many centuries in the traditional herbal medicine of China and Japan for its immunomodulatory and adaptogenic properties. (6) In the most comprehensive Chinese materia medica, the "Ben Cao Gang Mu," published in 1578 AD, reishi was listed as the most respected herb out of 120 superior herbs (shang pin) (Masumoto 1979, Unsehuld 1986). Superior herbs were classified as the highest category of medicines, since they were considered to prolong life, prevent aging, boost energy (qi), and make the body light and limber. (7)

Modern research has shown Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) has antiallergic, antioxidant, anti-tumor, antiviral, cardiotonic, and liver-protective properties. Reishi mushroom has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treatment of chronic bronchitis (Tasaka et al., 1988). In one small uncontrolled study of 20 patients with chronic bronchitis, reishi mushroom was administered for four months. According to the review, in all but two patients there was a significant decline in blood cholinesterase activity, suggesting a reduction in the excitability of the parasympathetic nerves (Chang and But, 1986).(8)

Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi)'s Anti-inflammatory Properties

Animal Studies

Water extracts of reishi mushroom were found to possess significant activity against carrageenin*-induced paw oedema when administered subcutaneously (sc) to rats. In one controlled study, groups of animals received either saline as a placebo control, indomethacin as a positive control (10 mg/kg sc), or a test article, one of which was a reishi mushroom water extract (2 g/kg). Both indomethacin and reishi mushroom showed significant anti-inflammatory effect (P<0.01) against carrageenin-induced oedema at all time intervals from one to six hours (Lin and others, 1993). (9)

Chemical Identification and In Vitro Studies

More than 100 different highly oxygenated lanostanoid triterpenes have been identified in reishi mushrooms. The predominant triterpenes are ganoderic acids A-Z. (10) As well as its general health-enhancing action, Ganoderma lucidum has been shown to have specific anti-inflammatory properties, and this traditional usage has been linked to the presence of these ganoderic acids that exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. (11)