Eastern Hemlock Mushroom Saturated with Antioxidants
Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract contains an abundance of antioxidants. [827, 828, 829, 830] A study from 1999 found Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) to possess "the strongest antioxidant activity of five species of Ganoderma tested," and stronger than Vitamin E. [831]
Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) is the local variety of Reishi (Ganoderma spp.) for eastern United States. It is common on Eastern Hemlock trees (Tsuga canadensis) throughout the Appalachian range.
It shares many of the therapeutic properties with the Common Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), the oldest medicinal mushroom in Chinese herbal medicine with written testaments dating back 2,000 years.
Hemlock Varnish Shelf is not limited to the U.S., though, and plenty of Asian research has been conducted specifically on this species of Reishi.
The primary Asian source of Hemlock Varnish Shelf is commercially grown specimens from Taiwan that are exported to mainland China as medicinal mushrooms. The traditional use of Ganoderma tsugae in Chinese medicine is for the treatment of autoimmune conditions, asthma and other conditions involving inflammation.
As far as modern research goes, a 2001 study reported "improved the survival rate of lupus" [800] when patients were given Ganoderma tsugae extract in addition to the conventional treatment.
When it comes to conditions involving inflammation of lung tissue, three studies have been conducted on Hemlock Varnish Shelf. It has been reported to "exert anti-inflammatory effects on airway responses" [801] in allergic asthma and other forms of broncheoalveolar inflammation. [802, 803]
A unique and increasingly popular use of Hemlock Varnish Shelf is as a form of skin substitute to aid in wound healing. Sold under the name of Sacchachitin, this Ganoderma tsugae-derived skin substitute has been shown in many studies to help speed up skin healing. It's been reported that "rapid wound healing" occurs when the injured area is covered by Sacchachitin as compared to gauze. [804] A "wound area covered by SACCHACHITIN completely healed by 21 days, while that covered with cotton gauze did not," states one paper. [805, 806, 807]
Ganoderma tsugae extract has also been used in studies on cancer with results that encourage continued research. [808, 809, 810, 811, 812] Breast cancer [816] and lung cancer patients in particular have responded favorably in the studies conducted. [808, 809, 810, 811, 812] A study on cancer metastasis also reported positive results from the use of Hemlock Varnish Shelf. [817]
Similarly as the Common Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Hemlock Varnish Shelf also exhibits immunomodulatory properties, [817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823] which means that it may adjust the immune response either up or down depending on what the situation calls for. [824, 825] While we mostly think of the immune system as something we wish to be strong, in autoimmune conditions and inflammatory diseases, the over-active immune system actually needs to be slowed down, or "put on ice" as it may be.
Last but not least, a 2004 study concluded that Hemlock Varnish Shelf also possessed liver protective properties as well as being anti-fibrotic. [826]
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb (or mushroom) for medicinal purposes.
Dr. Markho Rafael has worked with natural health since finishing Chiropractic College in 1996. He currently specializes in medicinal mushrooms, working specifically with MycoMedicinals from Paul Stamets' Fungi Perfecti, including synergistic reishi blends such as G5 (Five Ganoderma) and CordyChi. For scientific references to this article, please visit the Ganoderma tsugae research list.