Can Reishi help treat Chronic Disease Syndromes?

May 12th has been designated as the Day for International Awareness of Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases. But what does this mean? It’s clear that we need a day to promote awareness around these oft debilitating conditions that can take years to diagnose. These diseases include Fibromyalgia (FM), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).

The date of May 12th was chosen because it was Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Florence became a nurse in the mid-1800s, and she is considered the founder of modern nursing. She is thought to have suffered from ME/CFS, though of course that was not recognized at the time.

Because these syndromes have many things in common and they can be difficult to diagnose, these diseases have sometimes been categorized together under the heading of Chronic Disease Syndrome (CDS).

What Is Chronic Disease Syndrome?

Chronic Disease Syndrome is characterized by long-term, often progressive symptoms that are not easy to diagnose. Many of the symptoms of CDS are shared with other conditions, which can make it difficult for a doctor to pinpoint the cause. Because there are currently no specific blood tests or imaging tools (Xray, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, etc.) that can be used to diagnose these conditions, diagnosis comes from a thorough assessment that analyzes the timing of onset, history of illness, details of symptoms, and more, while ruling out other known diseases and conditions.

  1. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

    Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a condition that was first named in 1988, but we still don’t know that much about it. When, in the mid 1980s, there were two large outbreaks of mystery illness in New York and Nevada that resembled mononeucleosis, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated, couldn’t find a cause, and gave it a name—CFS.

    This syndrome remains difficult to diagnose, but the severe and chronic fatigue must have lasted for at least six months, other conditions must be ruled out, and at least four defined symptoms must be present, including from the list of muscle pain and weakness, headaches, insomnia, tender lymph nodes, inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, depression, mood swings, light sensitivity, and more.

  2. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)

    Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a term that has been around in various forms for decades but remains poorly understood and highly unrecognized. It is a chronic and complex disease that affects the brain and nervous system. Myalgia means muscle aches and pains, while encephalomyelitis refers to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. ME causes severe exhaustion, as well as problems with thinking and memory. ME can also make it hard to do simple things like stand up or walk around. Additionally, some people have trouble talking because they’re too tired to form words properly.

    People who have ME experience extreme fatigue—more than just feeling tired after an activity or task—and this fatigue can last for weeks at a time without any relief from rest or sleep. Other symptoms include dizziness when standing up quickly, muscle pain, difficulty concentrating, headaches, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and sensitivity to light and noise.

    Because it can be difficult to distinguish between the two, ME and CFS are often combined to a diagnosis of ME/CFS.

  3. Fibromyalgia (FM)

    Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome that can affect people of all ages, though it more commonly affects women and often starts in middle age. It is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive issues. The cause of FM isn’t well understood but it may be related to abnormalities in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).People with FM often feel tenderness to touch where even light pressure can cause pain. The diagnosis used to include having to describe at least 11 of 18 listed “tender points,” but now diagnosis includes having widespread pain for at least three months and that other conditions have been ruled out.

  4. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

    Also known as Chemical Sensitivity (CS), Chemical Intolerance (CI), and Idiopathic Environmental Illness (IEI), Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a condition that is widely debated in the medical community. The symptoms are varied, but can include headaches, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, memory loss, confusion, rashes, and asthma.

    We are well aware that we are heavily exposed to a wide variety of chemicals, and some chemicals and substances are highly recognized as being harmful to our health, including asbestos, lead, mercury, arsenic, tobacco smoke, and PCBs. But some people appear to be more sensitive to lower levels of environmental chemicals, and they can experience severe symptoms, especially when exposed to things with a high degree of synthetic and scented additives like perfumes, cleaning products, body care products, plastics, new carpets and furniture, and pesticides.

A Common Thread

While each of these syndromes has its own system of acquiring a diagnosis, they share many symptoms, are all difficult to diagnose, and sufferers of these conditions are often told its “all in your head.” More recently, it seems that Long COVID can also be added to this list of chronic, debilitating syndromes.

Personalized care that calms the nervous system, supports a healthy immune response, and strengthens organ function is key to address Chronic Disease Syndrome.

Managing Chronic Disease Syndrome (CDS)

While conventional medicine can offer pharmaceuticals to try to manage symptoms, there are many key things you can do to improve your condition. It should come as no surprise that the first things you can do are to make healthy lifestyle choices.

  • Get enough sleep. Sleep allows your body to rest and recuperate, which can help you feel better during the day. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try being consistent with a wind-down routine like taking a warm bath before bedtime, reading, doing some gentle stretches, listening to relaxing music, meditating, or practicing breath work. You may also want to speak with your healthcare provider about natural remedies to help improve sleep quality and quantity.
  • Maintain a healthy diet. Eating the right foods can help manage Chronic Disease Syndrome. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables will provide you with the nutrients you need to maintain good health. Make sure to also include enough high-quality proteins and good fats. Good bacteria found in fermented foods (or probiotic supplements) are also important to maintain a healthy immune response.
  • Exercise regularly. Aim for some form of physical activity every day. This depends on your ability, as fatigue and pain can make everything challenging. Activity can be divided up into short segments through the day, rather than done in one block of time. For some this will mean gentle stretches and joint mobility. For others it will mean walking a block or doing a household chore like dusting. As your health improves, this might mean upgrading to walking up stairs instead of taking the elevator or riding your bike instead of driving your car. The important thing is that you do what you can for movement activities, make it important, and do your best not to get discouraged. Physical activity also helps reduce stress levels which can help treat CDS as well.

How Reishi Mushrooms Can Help Treat Chronic Disease Syndromes

While there is currently little known about these chronic disease syndromes, one way that people have found success managing their symptoms is to take reishi mushroom supplements.

Reishi mushroom is an adaptogenic herb. That means it can help with a wide range of symptoms caused by stressors to the body, returning the body to a state of homeostasis, or balance. As a Qi tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), reishi can address symptoms of fatigue. It also supports the liver and kidneys, organs key to removing toxins from the body.

Perhaps even more importantly, reishi is classified as an herb to calm the nervous system and modulate the immune system. Since one aspect that seems common to all these chronic disease syndromes is a hypersensitive, hyper-reactive response by the nervous system, calming the nervous system without causing drowsiness can help CDS sufferers find relief. Additionally, because it is suspected that a potential cause of some of these conditions may be a chronic, lingering viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection that disrupts immune function, a remedy that supports the immune system is also thought to be helpful. But you don’t want to just stimulate a strong immune response because there are aspects of CDS that seem to act like autoimmune issues. So, a modulated response like that offered by reishi’s polysaccharide and triterpene compounds is ideal.

If you suffer from one of these chronic disease syndromes, Japanese red reishi supplements may help you on your journey to wellness.


October 10 is World Mental Health Day

Though it’s important every day, World Mental Health Day is marked annually on October 10. It was established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), an organization representing over 100 mental health associations in over 120 countries. Their goal is to educate the public about mental health and mobilize efforts to improve it.

To mark the day, we’ve rounded up some ways you can support your own mental health.

What Is Mental Health?

Mental health is a state of emotional well-being in which an individual can realize their own potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and contribute to their community. Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellness as it includes the ability to enjoy life and to develop a wide range of skills and interests. It affects all aspects of our lives, including our physical health, work performance, and connection with others.

Mental health can be impacted by many different factors, including:

  • Stressors
  • Trauma
  • Depression or anxiety disorders
  • Substance use disorders (including alcohol and drugs)
  • Chronic conditions like pain, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, autoimmune diseases, and anything that affects one’s ability to enjoy life

Our mental health affects what we think about ourselves, how we relate to others, and what choices we make.

What Are Some Ways to Improve Mental Health?

Mental health conditions can affect anyone. So, if you’re struggling with your mental health, or know someone who is, it’s important that you know you’re not alone. Here are some ways to take care of yourself:

  • Reach out for help, whether that be by talking to a friend or family member or going to see a therapist or health practitioner.
  • Practice self-care by taking time for yourself each day. This could mean taking a walk outside on your lunch break, practicing ten minutes or more of breath work or meditation, or doing some stretches or taking a soothing bath at the end of your day instead of immediately turning to the TV.
  • Eat healthy, brain-supportive foods like omega-3-rich nuts (walnuts are shaped like brains!), seeds, and fatty fish, as well as leafy greens, brightly coloured vegetables, and berries.
  • Keep your gut healthy by including fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, miso, and kimchi, as they provide good bacteria (probiotics) that are key to our emotions. The digestive system provides more feel-good serotonin than the brain.
  • Include movement activities. This might be going to the gym or playing a sport, but it can also be stretching, going for a hike in nature, walking your dog (or cat—getting to be more common!), doing some yoga or tai chi, and even just taking the stairs or parking your car a little further from where you need to be.
  • Get enough restorative sleep. Create a wind-down routine and shut off backlit screens a few hours before bedtime, address sleep disorders like sleep apnea, and make sure your bedroom is geared for a restful environment.
  • Seek joy. That doesn’t mean always being joyful, of course, but find activities, places, people, and animals where you can feel pleasure, awe, flow, peace, and comfort.
  • Express yourself. While we may not enjoy feeling angry, frustrated, sad, hurt, lonely, fearful, anxious, or worried, suppressing our emotions and pretending they aren’t happening doesn’t necessarily make them better. Of course, there’s a time and place for strong emotions, but stoicism isn’t always the best approach. What we feel is valid and important.
  • Practice gratitude. Some days this can be particularly difficult, but seeking and expressing gratitude for even the tiniest of things can help shine a bit of light.

Mental health concerns affect everyone, whether we realize it or not. The good news is that there are many ways we can help ourselves stay mentally healthy—not just during this special day, but every day of the year.

How Can Reishi Improve Mental Health?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), reishi mushroom is one of the top herbs for calming the nervous system. It is also recognized as a powerful adaptogen, meaning it helps the body adapt to stressors and can support the body’s natural defences against physical, chemical, and biological stressors. This makes reishi an excellent choice for people looking to improve their mental health as well as their physical health.

Reishi is known to have a very positive effect on the mind, and many people use it for mental health issues, including:

Depression: Reishi can help reduce depressive symptoms by balancing hormones and supporting neurotransmitters. The anti-inflammatory properties of reishi also help reduce the risk of developing depression in the first place.

Anxiety: Reishi can help reduce anxiety by regulating neurotransmitters, balancing hormones, and reducing inflammation.

Stress: Reishi has been shown to reduce stress levels by increasing serotonin production while decreasing cortisol production (the stress hormone).

Reishi may be a strong tool for improving mental health and stabilizing mood swings. It’s a great option for anyone suffering from depression or anxiety. And the best part is, you can use reishi to complement your existing treatment plan, not replace it. So, what are you waiting for?

The more we talk about mental health, the more others will realize they aren’t alone. And hopefully, they’ll feel comfortable reaching out to get help if they need it. Knowledge is power, after all.