Many people consume this fungus due to its potential cancer-fighting properties (11, 12).
In fact, one study of over 4,000 breast cancer survivors found that around 59% consumed reishi mushroom (13).
Additionally, several test-tube studies have shown that it can lead to the death of cancer cells (14, 15, 16).
Yet the results of these studies do not necessarily equate to effectiveness in animals or humans.
Some research has investigated if reishi could be beneficial for prostate cancer due to its effects on the hormone testosterone (17, 18).
While one case study showed that molecules found in this mushroom may reverse prostate cancer in humans, a larger follow-up study did not support these findings (19, 20).
Reishi mushroom has also been studied for its role in preventing or fighting colorectal cancer (2, 21).
Some research showed that one year of treatment with reishi decreased the number and size of tumors in the large intestine (21).
What’s more, a detailed report of multiple studies indicated that the mushroom can beneficially affect cancer patients (22).
These benefits included increasing the activity of the body’s white blood cells, which help fight cancer, and improving quality of life in cancer patients.
However, researchers state that reishi should be administered in combination with traditional treatment rather than replacing it (22).
What’s more, many of the studies of reishi mushroom and cancer were not high-quality. Because of this, much more research is needed (11, 23).
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