A 1999 research paper reported Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) to have "the strongest antioxidant activity of five species of Ganoderma [Reishi] tested," a more potent free radical scavenger than Vitamin E. [831] Other published papers have also reported extraordinary antioxidant levels in Hemlock Varnish Shelf. [827, 828, 829, 830]
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.
Being a common tree mushroom also in parts of Southeast Asia, Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) has been the object of study in plenty of Asian research.
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.
The single modern study conducted on Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract to treat an autoimmune disease, conducted in 2001, concluded that it "improved the survival rate of lupus." [800]
A bit more research has been conducted on asthma and lung inflammation. In 2007, it was reported that Ganoderma tsugae extract produced "anti-inflammatory effects on airway responses" [801] in broncheoalveolar inflammation, including allergic asthma. [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]
Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract has also been tested for its antitumor properties with promising results. [808, 809, 810, 811, 812] In particular lung cancer [813, 814, 815] and breast cancer [816] have responded favorably in scientific research. It was also shown in one study to help prevent cancer metastasis. [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. Never use any herb (or mushroom) except as advised by a licensed medical practitioner. - 14130
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.
Being a common tree mushroom also in parts of Southeast Asia, Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) has been the object of study in plenty of Asian research.
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.
The single modern study conducted on Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract to treat an autoimmune disease, conducted in 2001, concluded that it "improved the survival rate of lupus." [800]
A bit more research has been conducted on asthma and lung inflammation. In 2007, it was reported that Ganoderma tsugae extract produced "anti-inflammatory effects on airway responses" [801] in broncheoalveolar inflammation, including allergic asthma. [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]
Hemlock Varnish Shelf extract has also been tested for its antitumor properties with promising results. [808, 809, 810, 811, 812] In particular lung cancer [813, 814, 815] and breast cancer [816] have responded favorably in scientific research. It was also shown in one study to help prevent cancer metastasis. [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. Never use any herb (or mushroom) except as advised by a licensed medical practitioner. - 14130
About the Author:
Dr. Markho Rafael has worked with natural health since finishing Chiropractic College in 1996. He currently specializes in medicinal mushrooms, specifically working with MycoMedicinals from Paul Stamets' Fungi Perfecti, which include synergistic reishi blends such as G5 (Five Ganoderma) and CordyChi Extract. For scientific references to this article, please go to the Ganoderma tsugae list.
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