Nourish According to the Season, Accumulate Energy
As the saying goes: "Taking a winter tonic prepares you to 'fight a tiger' next year." During the winter season, the body’s Yang energy is conserved internally, and metabolism slows down, making the nutrients from tonics easier to absorb and store.
However, the key to a tonic is to "be able to absorb it." If the spleen and stomach are weak, the body will "not receive the tonic." Among thousands of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, Reishi stands out with its unique efficacy and conditioning mechanism, making winter supplementation "twice as effective with half the effort."
Why is Reishi the "Golden Partner" for Winter Tonics?
In the classic text of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shennong Ben Cao Jing, Reishi is listed as a "Superior Herb," primarily for nourishing life, being non-toxic, and safe for long-term use in large doses. It does not aggressively target a single disease but rather achieves "Fuzheng Guben" (supporting the body's vital qi and strengthening the constitution), comprehensively regulating the body's physiological functions and restoring internal balance.
Modern research also confirms that the core components of Reishi—triterpenoids and polysaccharides—interact to enhance immunity, provide sedative-hypnotic effects, lower blood pressure, regulate blood lipids, combat aging, and exhibit antiviral properties [1], thereby realizing its comprehensive conditioning effect.
The Following Three Types of People Benefit Earlier by Taking Reishi Sooner
The First Type: People with Weak Spleen and Stomach, Who "Cannot Receive Tonics"
The spleen and stomach are the "source of qi and blood generation," responsible for converting food into energy. When the spleen and stomach are weak, they cannot transform and transport the essence of food and water, meaning even the most precious ingredients cannot be turned into nourishment.
Reishi enters the Heart, Liver, Lung, and Kidney meridians, and its taste allows it to enter the Spleen meridian. This enables the spleen and stomach to properly absorb the refined essence of food, thereby supplementing Yuan Qi (vital essence) and nourishing the body and mind.
The Second Type: People with Restless Sleep and Uneasy Mind
The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine) states: "People feel sleepy when yang has declined and awake when yin has declined." Poor sleep in winter is often related to the failure of the heart and kidney to communicate (Xin Shen Bu Jiao) or malnourishment of the spirit (Xin Shen Shi Yang). Excessive worry consumes heart blood, leaving the Shen (mind/spirit) nowhere to rest.
Reishi enters the Heart meridian and has the effect of calming the mind and tranquilizing the spirit (Ning Xin An Shen). It helps improve sleep quality by regulating the homeostatic balance among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.
Today's research also confirms Reishi's effectiveness in relieving anxiety and reducing depression. For daily consumption, Reishi tea, soups, or congees can be cooked together with ingredients like Sour Jujube Seed (Suan Zao Ren), Longan Aril (Long Yan Rou), and Goji Berry (Gou Qi) to achieve better results in nourishing the heart and calming the spirit.
The Third Type: People with Low Immunity and Recurrent Colds
Reishi's main effect is supporting the body's vital qi and strengthening the constitution (Fuzheng Guben). Its core components, polysaccharides and triterpenoids, are highly beneficial for immunity, capable of activating immune cells such as macrophages and T-lymphocytes.
Those who suffer from physical weakness, susceptibility to colds, aversion to cold, fatigue, insomnia, and forgetfulness due to long-term exhaustion, late nights, or excessive stress can consume Reishi tea or Reishi spore powder to supplement Yuan Qi, enrich Ying Xue (nutritive qi and blood), and restore vitality.
Reishi Dishes for Winter Nourishment
Reishi Health Tea
Place 5-10 grams of sliced Reishi in a thermos cup, steep with boiling water, and let it infuse for 20 minutes before drinking. It can be steeped repeatedly until the flavor fades. A few red dates or Goji berries can be added to enhance the flavor.
Reishi Chicken/Pork Rib Soup
Add 10-15 grams of sliced Ganoherb Purple Reishi to chicken or pork rib soup, and simmer over a low fire for 1-2 hours along with the meat. The soup is delicious and highly nutritious.
Regulating the spleen and stomach, aiding sleep, strengthening immunity... the benefits brought by Reishi extend far beyond this. This winter, consider incorporating Reishi—with a clear and traceable source—into your daily routine. Nourish your body with Reishi every day and allow your health to naturally improve.
Reference: [1] Lin Zhibin & Yang Baoxue. Pharmacology and Clinical Application of Lingzhi [M]. 1st ed. Beijing: Peking University Medical Press. 2020: 11