1. Choose professionally-extracted ganoderma products
It is not wise to choose, to buy raw ganoderma slices, to boil down to produce the essence. Firstly, it is difficult to obtain high-quality raw ganoderma as it is impossible to determine its quality by looking, touching, tasting or smelling it. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrophotometer or other professional means are essential to establish the quality of ganoderma. Without good material, the effective components of ganoderma cannot be extracted even if it is boiled down over a long period. Expertise is required for ganoderma extraction since the effective components cannot be extracted readily. For example, using the traditional braising method, three bowls of hot water with ganoderma slices (about 30g) sold on the market will be concentrated into one bowl (about 150cc) of essence. After examination, this essence will be found to have a very low triterpenoid content (equivalent to approximately 1/3 of a 450mg ganoderma capsule sold on the market). Only product using ganoderma fruiting-body as their sole raw material, after having the effective components extracted completely by undergoing professional processing, including extraction, concentration and drying into powder, can demonstrate the true efficacy of ganoderma. These products have the additional benefit of being convenient to administer.
2. Long term administration is required
Hippocrates (B.C. 460~377), considered to be the father of western medicine, clearly stated, “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” This coincides with the idea that “medicine and food are homologous” in traditional Chinese medicine. Unlike western medicine, ganoderma cannot sho its effects immediately following oral administration. Since it is the ultimate herbal medicine amongst all others, its efficacy proceeds step by step. Beside, as Rome
3. Prevention is betten than treatment
Gradual proliferation, death and replacement of cells in the human body take place and are not under conscious control and individuals cannot detect the weakening and death of their cells such as brain nerve cells, kidney cells, lung cells and cardiovascular cells. Once cells die and cannot be replaced by new cells, it is possible to recognize symptoms of memory deterioration, inability to urinate, difficulty with breathing and chest pain. Such warning are ‘alarm calls’ in recognition of the fact that the internal organs have suffered too much damage to be cured. Nowadays, popular medical practice is to use preventative medicine, focusing on the cells in the body to provide protection. This involves the prolongation of survival rates on a variety of cells in the human body, from heart cells, kidney cells, spleen cells to lung cells, extending the lifespan of the organs (i.e making them last longer) and facilitation a healthier life.
By strengthening the ability to clear free radicals ganoderma can protect and extend the life of cells forming in organs and thereby extend the lifespan of those organs. Many long-term users of ganoderma are surprised to discover that they become more energetic than before taking ganoderma. The frequency of catching colds decreases; their excretion has been made easier and smoother; improvement in observable symptoms has been observed. Many improvements occur without the individual being aware of them. In the clinical trial on anti-oxidation, most participants did not feel any benefits initially but, after 3 months of taking ganoderma, they reported better mental health than before taking the product. An explanation of this is that the participants’ blood and liver had undergone great transformation (please refer to chapter 6: Application of Ganoderma in Oxidation). The ultimate aim of preventative medicine is achieved - to keep the body healthy and fit.
4. Sufficients dosage.
Because ganoderma is absolutely sage, a limit on dosage becomes unnecessary. The rule of thumb is: the lower the dosage the longer it takes for ganoderma to take effect while the higher the dosage, the faster and more prominent the effect takes place. However, higher dosage is required under certain situations; for instance, when using ganoderma as an auxiliary to anti-tumor treatment, long-term high dosage is necessary to demonstrate efficacy and reduce excruciating side-effects. An effective starting dose is needed since the toxic residues, accumulating in the body for years as hidden swellings, need to be metabolized and excreted. This effective “thorough cleansing” of the body requires sufficiently high circulating levels of the effective components of ganoderma. Once control of the condition is gained after taking a high dosage of ganoderma over an extended period of time, the dose should not be suddenly reduced or stopped as this could nullify all the previous benefits of treatment. It is preferable to reduce the dose gradually and continue at a lower dosage in order to retain the benefits of treatment. After a period of time on a lower dose it may be beneficial to return to a high dosage for a short period to allow the body to undergo a “thorough maintenance” so as to keep it in its optimal state.
5. Better effect if taken before meal
Ganoderma should be taken before meals as this allows the gastric juice to digest the effective components of ganoderma triterpenoids (triterpenoids are water insoluble). Dissolution accelerates the absorption of the effective components of triterpenoids. Other effective components, such as those of polysaccharides or adenosine, are also absorbed more efficiently without the presence of food in stomach. This means that the effect of ganoderma is quicker if it is taken before meals. If there are problems in the digestive system (e.g after surgery on the stomach the presence of a stomach ulcer), ganoderma can be taken after meals, or in smaller doses spread throughout the day, to avoid any local irritation on the damaged gastric wall. The optimal time for dosing is either before meals or 30 minutes to 1 hour after meals.
6. Use in combination with other medical therapy
It is the right concept to see a doctor and receive adequate medical therapy when you are ill. However, it is also true that the direct and rapid effects of conventional western medicines may be followed by serious side effects. Taking ganoderma in combination with western medicines will draw out the positive effects of the medicines while, at the same time, reduce side effects. For example, current cancer chemotherapy causes severe side effects but many cancer patients who have used ganoderma in combination with chemotherapy have reported that this has reduced these intolerable side effects considerably. It is worth remembering that ganoderma is necessary both before and after surgery. Before the operation, the body needs to be maintained in an optimal physical stat in order to manage the ensuing trauma (operation) and ganoderma provides overall physical improvement. A post-operation concern is the risk of infection and inflammation; it has been shown that certain ganoderic acids can inhibit inflammation, stimulate platelet coagulation, and thereby make substantial contributions to postoperative recovery. The decision to undergo a surgical procedure heralds an attack on the body and so constructive preparation at this time will strengthen the endurance of the body against the inevitable attack, faciliting faster recovery and after the surgery. Ganoderma is a paramount guardian both before and aster the operation.
By protecting the cells, tissues and organs, ganoderma serves as the best auxiliary remedy to most medical therapies. The treatment associated with sicknesses, such as auto-immune diseases, liver diseases, cancers hematopoietic system diseases and AIDS, all cause severe, often unbearable, side effects. Ganoderma is the prime choice to reduce these side effects and accelerate the body’s recovery.
How to Deal With the “Vertigo” Reaction
At the onset of taking ganoderma, worsening discomfort may take place close to the nidus (refers to tissues which have not completely recovered in the post-wounding area, or organs having a low functional level over a long period of time). These reactions include: somnolence or sleeplessness; diarrhea or constipation; thirst, increasing appetite or urticaria appearing on the skin. Symptoms vary, but in principle they are proportional to the condition of the patient and the severity of the disorder. Liver disease is a good example, symptoms of hepatitis and liver fibrosis are different; the former is lighter than that of the latter. This is an important message to note. Many people connect the side effect of ‘dizziness’ with the taking of western medicine.
“Dizziness” of “vertigo” literally means ‘feelings of lightheadedness and wooziness’, and it can be traced back to one of the statements in a classical text, ‘The Charge to Yue (Yueming)’, the 10th book in the ‘Book of Shang of the Documents of the Elder (Shangshu)’. The first of the three series of The Charge to Yue states, “If one dose not get dizzy after taking the medicine, his or her sickness cannot be healed completely.’ According to the logic above, in order for ganoderma to rectify the disorder, a discomforting reaction has to take place first.
The reason why such a “reverse reaction” takes place might reside in the immune system. High fever caused by a cold might be an example. When large amounts of viruses accumulate within the body the immune system mobilizes and the chemical reaction between T cells and B cells, increased oxidative action explosion resulting from phagocytes’ engulfing the viruses and other actions can all contribute to the production of heat energy, thereby increasing the body temperature. Likewise, after taking ganoderma for a period, the immune system is subject to activation, followed by modulation. Once it is modulated to a status with higher energy, it can re-recognize the “nidus” and an immune response takes place again to complete the unfinished tasks, such as cleaning pathogens (especially for hidden viruses), removing fibrous tissue and proliferating new tissue cells. This further immune reaction thus triggers other physical changes. In term of the immune theory, it is good sign as the long-existing nidus has possibly been cleaned off and the tissues/organs restored through taking ganoderma. Even though this is a deductive immunity theory, it is certain that there have been many ganoderma users who have come through it by faith and re-acquired health.
When this reverse reaction occurs, coping strategies vary from individual symptoms and levels of endurance, including: maintaining a fixed dosage; reducing the dose or dose increasing the dose. Those who can bear the reaction can stay at the same dosage so as to overcome the reaction. For those who cannot tolerate the discomfort caused by the reaction, they can choose to lower their dosage for a short period of time, and wait until the discomfort is alleviated and then return to the original dosage when the reaction disappears. Self-conscious improve (such as feeling more spiritual, not easily falling asleep, etc.) usually after the period of “reverse reaction”. People who choose to increase their dosage should make their decision based on symptoms. For instance, people with light allergic reactions can consider increasing to a higher dosage so as to reduce the reaction time.
Patients with cardiovascular disease, asthma or epilepsy should follow a progressive approach, taking ganoderma at a lower dosage in the beginning, and once their symptoms are alleviated, they can slowly increase their dosage. Such a method can avoid a severe adverse reaction.
Conclusion:
Oxidation (aging) of the human body is a one-way journey, because cells and tissues within the body wear out with time. The main health concept promoted by current preventive medicine is aimed at slowing the rate of oxidation (aging) of the body and reducing the incidence of sickness. Everyone should be aware of their own responsibility for maintaining health. Before potential diseases occur, choosing to take ganoderma establishes a strong, solid foundation for maintaining health. This is truly the best action as it aligns the concept of preventative medicine with the optimal time to start taking ganoderma. Speaking of ganoderma’s applied effect on auxiliary treatment, its good reputation as a remarkable medicine has already been established by many beneficiaries. Ganoderma is absolutely safe. The concepts relevant to the usage of ganoderma are easy to understand, and they can serve as reminders intended for removing the unfamiliarity of ganoderma, as well as reducing the distance between the users and ganoderma itself. They also help the users to truly appreciate why ganoderma deserves the name of “Ultime Herbal Medicine”.
