Do you want your dog to live forever?
Then feed them reishi mushrooms. This may be an overstatement, but reishi is quite potent as far as medicinal mushrooms are concerned. The reishi Mushroom is known as the immortal mushroom. And, in traditional chinese medicine, it has had this reputation for thousands of years. Reishi is also known by the botanical name Ganoderma lucidum, or its Chinese name, Ling Zhi. So what is our favorite brand of reishi mushroom for dogs?
Reishi Mushroom Products for Dogs
Let us take a look at the 6 biggest reasons why you should feed reishi mushrooms to your dogs. And then you will find out how to ensure that you are getting a good reishi supplement. You can find our favorite picks of the top reishi and other mushroom products for dogs here at realmushrooms.com. They grow and bottle their own organic, reishi and have created some amazing blends that incorporate other adaptogenic mushrooms that are beneficial for your dog. Now let’s look at research on reishi mushrooms health benefits.
What Do Reishi Mushrooms Do for Dogs?
Many other healing plants may be lacking in scientific research…but the reishi Mushroom is not. There is plenty of clinical studies supporting reishi’s medicinal properties.
- Immune system support
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant Control
- blood sugar
- Regulate blood pressure
- Protect the liver
- Support kidney health
- Allergy relief
These benefits make reishi a powerful addition to the health of your dogs.
6 Reasons To Give Reishi Mushrooms To Your Dog
Keep in mind these 6 reasons why you should feed your dogs these awesome mushrooms.
#1 Anti-Cancer Properties
Reishi mushrooms have a long history in Chinese and Japanese medicine for treating cancer. Reishi mushrooms contain triterpenes, compounds with a variety of healing properties. Studies confirm its properties against cancer. Reishi mushrooms also contain beta-glucans, which modulate the immune system.
They enhance the immune system without overstimulating it. Additional studies have shown that reishi mushrooms may support the immune system in fighting cancer and preventive care. They may prevent the growth of tumors, and they can even shrink them. Reishi can also help to prevent secondary cancers. Studies also found that reishi mushrooms can lessen side effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
#2 Liver Support for Your Dog
A healthy liver is essential for the health of your dog. Reishi mushrooms contain antioxidant properties that feed, detoxify, and protect your liver. These antioxidant effects help to keep the free radicals at bay, which may be degrading liver function.
It also rejuvenates liver cells, strengthening the liver and improving detoxification processes. One study in rats showed that reishi mushrooms reversed fibrosis in the liver.
This is the last phase of fatty liver when treatments are generally not an option. Reishi may also aid hepatitis B and cirrhosis in humans. These are not dogs diseases, but it shows how powerful Reishi is for treating them. Caution: If your dog has severe liver problems already, consult with a holistic veterinarian before giving reishi.
#3 Blood Sugar And Diabetes Support
Studies have shown that reishi mushrooms may be useful in managing diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels. Additional studies have shown they can also prevent or slow down kidney problems that may develop in people with diabetes. And antioxidants in reishi may accelerate the healing of wounds in diabetics. Ask your holistic veterinarian if reishi mushrooms may be helpful for your diabetic dog.
#4 Support Your Dog’s Cardiovascular Health
Reishi mushrooms are the traditional medicine of Japanese circulation problems. In traditional Chinese medicine, Reishi is an overall tonic for the cardiovascular system. Reishi is a vasodilator, which enhances the supply of blood and the supply of oxygen to the heart.
Vasodilators expand the vessels, so your heart does not have to work so hard. Reishi also has blood thinner effects, so donat use it with blood thinners. Reishi may also help lower blood pressure and relieve heart arrhythmias.
#5 Allergy Control
Another ingredient in reishi is the ganoderic acid. It is a triterpene which blocks release of histamines which causes an allergic reaction.
An allergic reaction is caused by a defective immune response. When that happens, the immune-modulating powers of Reishi may be of assistance. Reishis antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions also can lessen allergy symptoms such as itchiness and breathing difficulties. Reishi may ease coughs and other respiratory problems because it has a healing effect on the lungs.
#6 Anti-Aging
Reishi can delay aging processes and lower symptoms of old age. When mice were fed reishi supplements, one study reported longer life spans and reduced mortality risks. Increased lifespans such as these are just one benefit that reishi is known for. And another reason why people refer to it as the fungus of immortality. Reishi may combat immunosenescence, the natural deterioration of your immune system with aging.
Reishis potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have shown to be beneficial in preventing or even reversing cognitive decline. And it may be helpful for joint problems such as arthritis.
There are very few side effects associated with Reishi mushrooms. There have been some cases of nausea and insomnia in humans.
When giving Reishi to dogs, simply begin slowly so as not to cause stomach discomfort. Anti-clotting is another quality of reishi mushrooms. As mentioned above, do not combine these with any blood thinners. Also, avoid giving Reishi to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
There are no studies of such patients.
How To Give Reishi Mushrooms To Your Dog
Reishi mushrooms are characterized by their pungent flavor. It is best to give it to dogs in the form of tincture or a powder/capsule formulation. When buying powdered Reishi mushrooms, you will want to make sure that they are twice-extracted for the medicinal benefits. Note: If you decide to give whole reishi mushrooms to your dogs, make sure to thoroughly cook it so it is safe and provides its nutrition benefits.
This is because the mushrooms are highly indigestible when uncooked, and can be toxic to dogs. As an alternative, prepare a tea or soup, which is a good way to give fresh or dried mushrooms to dogs.
Buying Reishi
When looking for reishi supplements, it is essential that you do your research. If you can find them grown organically, it is best. You want to know how mushrooms are grown. The problem is, a lot of mushroom supplements are grown on grains, which is just the mycelium.
It is not the whole mushroom, it is the part of a fungus that has grown, similar to the roots of a plant. The product of mycelium is high in starch, and low in the medicine-grade beta-glucan. This is a truly essential medical component, which may help combat cancer, as well as increase the immune system of the dogs. Without the lower-b-glucan, you are missing out on much of the mushrooms healing effects. You may also want to use reishi with other mushrooms.
You can find our favorite capsules, powders, and tincture’s on the following pages of our website and learn more about each individually:
The Top Reishi Mushroom Supplement
The Top Reishi Mushroom Powder
The Top Reishi Mushroom Tincture
The Top Reishi Mushroom Mushroom Gummies
In Summary
Holistic veterinarians utilize mushrooms in their practices, and they promote the use of Reishi and having nothing but good things to say. Reishi mushrooms are a favorite mushroom to eat for their health benefits, and they are also the mushrooms prefered by vets for use in holistic vet practices (in conjunction with herbs, other mushrooms, and anti-oxidants). In general, Reishi mushrooms are best used for pets who are experiencing chronic degenerative processes, weakened immune systems, dysfunctional liver, heart, or renal systems, or overall weakness. When it comes down to it, reishi mushrooms probably will not keep your dog alive forever, but they can definitely improve their quality of life.
That is a pretty high expectation for a simple mushroom! But they sure could do some incredible things for its health.
Additional Resources:
Updated 10/21/2022
