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lingzhi - my miracle cure

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Posted 2/18/2009 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
Please note the precautions. Reishi is generally thought to boast your immune system. Some even describe it's action as immunostimulant. I decided to try it because a friend felt it was more of an immune modulator, most Chinese practitioners agree and use it to treat autoimmune disorders. In other words, even among naturopaths and people involved in the food supplements business opinions differ greatly on the action of these mushrooms. I used them for 10 days or so, a few months apart. Do your homework and be well.


Posted 2/18/2009 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
73monte,

Our pediatric GIs (it's a team at Children's--they're all on the same page) told us early on that they no longer believe Crohn's to be a true auto-immune disease, but rather an infectious disease with an underlying immune system deficit; an inability to fight the invader. At our last appointment when the GI told us to discontinue my son's only medication he added, "Yes, and treating CD with immuno- suppressants as we have for all of these years is probably the complete WRONG thing to do." Thankfully he wasn't the same doctor who wanted to put my son on Imuran 10 months before or I think I would have punched him. smilewinkgrin

ozonehole,

Thanks again for all of the helpful information--pictures and all!!! I have one more question, though. The picture of the mushrooms in a bag that you posted appear to be sliced already. Is that the case or is this simply how they grow? I'm going to check our import grocery store to see if they have them! Many, many thanks!
Posted 2/18/2009 6:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hi EMom,

This is the first time I've heard of such a theory on Crohn's, (infectious as opposed to auto-immune). Is there a growing school of thought on this? What medication did you discontinue, and did you end up on Imuran? 

My daughter is about to start Imuran, and I'm always curious to hear others experiences with it. I know we've comunicated before, but I can't recall if medication was discussed. 

Thanks, Tom.

Posted 2/18/2009 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Forum,

I'm happy to see so much interest in the Reishi. I did some research and found that Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake all do wounders like fighting cancer, stopping tumors, anti-inflammatory properties etc....

Shiitake and Maitake is known for: as great cancer fighter. A vast amount of research into Shiitake's medicinal properties has been completed and shows that it has the ability to fight tumors and viruses and enhance the immune system. Primary chemical constituents of crapake include Polysaccharide, eritadenin, proteins, fatty acids, and vitamins D, B-2, B-12. The proteins contain all of the essential amino acids, and most commonly occuring non-essential amino acids, amides, shiitake also helps speed up the processing of cholesterol in the liver and shiitake appears to be effective against some of the more serious viruses we face today: HIV and hepatitis B and also diabeties

It seems that all three mushrooms overlap each other with great benefits from studies. I really don't know how much you have to take and how long to see results but to me WHY NOT

I do know that several years ago I ate a lot of Shiitake mushrooms a friend told be about and my cholesterol levels was back to normal. Keep in mind I also avoiding certains foods but by avoiding these foods in the past never lowered by cholesteral level.

Here is a link: http://www.healthcastle.com/herb_mushroom.shtml


At the health food store they do have the Reshi extract and they also pointed to the site "New Chapter" that was posted earlier. This weekend I'm seeing my TCM doc which I'II ask his views about it.
Posted 2/18/2009 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I've read the previous posts with great interest. I'll definitely be looking into this some more. Earlier, Cat's Claw was mentioned. Has anyone used this? A colleague of mine gave me a bottle (direct from her Grandmother in Peru) and when I Googled Cat's Claw, I saw references to Crohn's. So, I am also trying to find out more information about this as well. As previously noted, I am also concerned about possible problems that could develop with herbal remedies in combination with our Western medicines. I'll have to talk with my doctor about these, but I wonder if she'll even know much about either of these alternatives.
Posted 2/19/2009 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
I am now simmering my second batch of linghzi, How do i know the mushroom the store in chinatown gave me is the right one? It was huge and kinda red, and then they chopped it up for me. She told me it was reishi.
Anyway I had my sixth cup in the 2 days I have been taking it. No side effects. Which is great! It tastes very bitter , for me it tastes better a little cold , easier to handle. How long before I see results. I have already had 1 surgery where they removed 3 feet of my large bowel.

Thanks for the all info.

Carmen
Posted 2/19/2009 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Ozonehole, sorry I did not respond, It is chinatown in Toronto, Ontario.


Thanks
Carmen
Posted 2/19/2009 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Carmen,

Where in China Town did you get the mushroom? do you have the number so that I can call?. I want to head down this weekend and get some.

Please let me know
Posted 2/19/2009 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi 73monte,

I don't want to hijack the mushroom thread here, so I'll try to be brief! Feel free to email me if you'd like more information--I have tons of links saved.


I think the answer to your question, "is there a growing school of thought on this?" is yes! However, our doctors did not voluntarily share this information with us. They only shared it when we began asking specific, pointed questions about the issue. I'm sure not all doctors are on the same page, but like I said, the team where we go all seem to agree on this.

The possible contenders for this "bad guy" bacteria, though, are several: MAP (mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis, proven to be in our milk supply), Klebsiellia pneumoniae, Candida albicans, and an errant strain of E. coli. These are just the few I'm aware of--there are probably more. If you care to google "mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis" and read Wiki's explanation, you will get a glimpse into the issue. Or you could watch this newsreel from a Canadian broadcast which aired last summer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2I8EOf303c

No one has yet been able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt which one of these is responsible--maybe it's different bad bugs from person to person. The most recent studies on MAP, though, have been impressive. One thing is for sure, though. Most, if not all of these bad bugs are proven to proliferate in a high-carb atmosphere; thus the birth of a dietary approach to starve them out. Adding yogurt and other fermented foods to re-introduce the proven beneficial bacteria adds yet another weapon.



I should add here that our doctors were not behind us with our dietary and supplement approach, and sadly did not ask what it is we are doing when they said my son no longer needed to take any medication. Our strategy has been to try to do everything to boost his immune system, though, so I find this mushroom thing fascinating!!!

No, we haven't discussed medications before. The drug my son discontinued last June was Asacol (or mesalamine, sister drug to Pentasa). It was a year ago October when one of the GIs recommended Imuran for my son. We had a long, somewhat heated conversation because we were aware of this infectious pathogen/immune system controversy. We had only just begun the diet at the time (it had not had time to help), and my husband, son and I decided it was in my son's best interest to adopt a "wait and see approach" and refused Imuran. It was rather unnerving at the time (he was in a flare and drinking a liquid diet to stop it), but in retrospect it was the right decision for him. ...hope this helps a bit! Please know you two are in my thoughts and prayers!
Posted 2/19/2009 5:29 AM (GMT 0)

EMom said...

ozonehole,

Thanks again for all of the helpful information--pictures and all!!! I have one more question, though. The picture of the mushrooms in a bag that you posted appear to be sliced already. Is that the case or is this simply how they grow? I'm going to check our import grocery store to see if they have them! Many, many thanks!

In the photo that I posted, the mushrooms were already sliced, and dried. That's the only way I've seen them sold here (aside from the prepared capsules). Remember to keep the mushrooms refrigerated.

Since you liked the photos, I'll also include one of the brand-name capsules sold here in Taiwan. I rather doubt that it's sold where you are. It's several times more expensive than just buying the mushrooms, but more convenient.

VIEW IMAGE
LingChih (lingzhi) King capsules

carmen said...
I am now simmering my second batch of linghzi, How do i know the mushroom the store in chinatown gave me is the right one? It was huge and kinda red, and then they chopped it up for me. She told me it was reishi.
Anyway I had my sixth cup in the 2 days I have been taking it. No side effects. Which is great! It tastes very bitter , for me it tastes better a little cold , easier to handle. How long before I see results. I have already had 1 surgery where they removed 3 feet of my large bowel.

Carmen, I guess you'll have to trust them. If they say it was reishi, let's hope that's what it was. Does it look like the picture on the box of the photo I posted just above? Is it OK for me to ask you how much it cost? Here in Taiwan it's quite inexpensive (about US$10 for the amount shown in my photo), but I imagine that it's more in Canada.

As I've mentioned, I experienced very rapid results. I was having diarrhea about 10 times a day. This slowed down much after just two days of taking lingzhi. It did take a month before my stools became solid and the (very loud) bowel sounds stopped. I don't know if you drink coffee, but if you do then you might want to stop that - I've always found that to be a major diarrhea-inducer.

Like you, I have also lost about three feet of intestine due to surgery, though mine was small bowel. Here's to hoping for no more surgeries.

best regards,
Robert
Posted 2/19/2009 8:49 AM (GMT 0)

Fellow Crohnies and Crohnie Lovers,

 The link below shows an actual photograph of a reishi mushroom that looks exactly like the mushrooms my acupuncture teacher friend brought me that he acquired at a local Asian market. I think he told us that the bag had 4-5 of these and the ones I saw were about 5-7" in diameter. He told us that he paid about $10 (USA) for the bag. It might be that it is worth the money to get the standardized product.

 http://www.naturalnews.com/021498.html

E-Mom,

  I may have told you before, I am so amazed at the Mothers, who like you have become proactive. I have seen many children do very well on the SCD and Makers Diet for IBD'S and many who suffer from Autism and follow SCD who are recovering communication skills. It hurts my heart when parents come to the place I work to ask for help, and when I mention the diets, they simply say "I can't do that". I don't get how they can reject any safe ideas when the children need help so desperately. I know some fear the children will starve if they don't allow them to gorge themselves on the high carb diets that they tend to crave. Some don't realize that the extra work and planing would save so much heartache and pain, or that in the end it could give them and the children something close to a normal life. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I think you are so awesome!

   I know you follow the Makers Diet for the most part. Are you familiar with the Garden of Life Product by the name of RM-10? It is the Immune product that Jordan Ruben developed for his Grandmother when she was ill with cancer. It is a mushroom product, made in part from Reishi. In a town near my home many patients and several Nurses were exposed to the Hep C virus by a co-worker. Here is a link to the NY Times story

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9D06E0D61F3BF933A25753C1A9649C8B63

   Some of the Nurses felt that the facility where they worked delayed telling them that they had been exposed for some time after they became aware of the exposure. Many who actually contracted the virus chose to use natural methods in an attempt to heal themselves. I know of several who followed a protocol that included the RM-10, along with some herbs traditionally used for the liver and some nutrients that protect the liver, like alpha lipoic acid, selenium and NAC. The results were astounding.

    I feel the mushrooms and colloidal silver are helpful, along with diet for all the ""bad guy" bacteria" related to GI disease that you mentioned  . That was my take on things when I used the mushrooms. 

   I always run my supplements by my Pharmacist. He is a very bright young man who has a much better working knowledge of  nutrients, supplements and pharmaceuticals than my Doctors do. More time spent in biochemical labs too!

Posted 2/19/2009 8:26 PM (GMT 0)

Margie,

That's so sweet of you to say.  Thank you!  :-)    Also, thanks for that information about Rubin's RM-10.  I was not aware of it, but I do remember reading about his grandmother beating cancer.  That story about Hep C sure was scary. skull   And so awesome that you know folks who overcame it naturally!  I will definitely be looking into RM-10 and the lingzhi/reishi mushroom further!  Also, someday I'd like to pick your brain about colloidal silver, since you brought it up.  May I email you?  (It won't be until next week, though!) 

ozonehole,

Thanks again!  This has been so helpful!  Though my son has no Crohn's-related symptoms, he is terribly prone to bronchitis about this time each winter.  I'm looking for alternatives to boost his immune system further.  I can't wait to tell him about the mushroom extract!  devil He's going to look at me like I have three heads!!! smilewinkgrin   shocked smilewinkgrin

Posted 2/19/2009 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Im still on my search for the Reishi extract, Ive only tried one place so far, I dont get out much...eh.  My question is, have any of you told your GI doctor that you were trying this, and how did they respond?  I have an appointment on Monday with my GI and Im debating if I should mention this to him or not.  Regardless of his repsonse Im going to try it, nothing else has worked for me.  But it seems like most doctors are against and or avoid this type of healing because of lack of knowledge or ignorance to it. 

Posted 2/20/2009 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Forum,

These mushrooms are strong medicine!  I always run my supplements by my Pharmacist. He is a very bright young man who has a much better working knowledge of  nutrients, supplements and pharmaceuticals than my Doctors do. He spent more time in biochemical labs too!

Sorry this is very OT.



EMom,
Feel free to E-Mail me anytime. I will get back to you as soon as I can. I would love to hear from you. I think genetics, and many microorganisms along with other environmental factors are at play with GI disease, as well. I feel even more strongly about multiple factors contributing to various other afflictions like ADD, ADHD, OCD, ASD, and even major mental illness like schizophrenia (from which many family members suffered). All of these seem to improve for a good percentage of people, with proper nutrition , like SCD or Makers Diet.



MAG,

"Regardless of his response I'm going to try it, nothing else has worked for me." I love this statement, because it was this attitude along with the help of some very good Doctors, who were cooperative and open minded, than began my healing process. Desperation can be the Mother of great invention, and when we miss the boat the way it seems we have for IBD and these other issues, we need all the help, thought and Motherly Love that we can get.



"But it seems like most doctors are against and or avoid this type of healing because of lack of knowledge or ignorance to it."  I was blessed with some Doctors and other mainstream health care providers, that were informed. That is unheard of in my area. We are one of the most medicated states in the nation, and in a very small market. You are right about the "lack of knowledge" thing.  They are trained to run tests and prescribe meds, not to heal. They are not required to take many nutritional classes. Doctors are  educated well enough to know better than to "open their mouths and extinguish all doubt". I am the same with them. I address them mainly in the form of questions. I try not to play Doctor, and hope they don't play Foodie, supplement sales person or Nutritionist. I feel for the students in the decreed Registered Dietitians (RD) programs (some work with us part time) because they want to change the world one body at a time, but instead get the same blank stares we all know so well from the Doctors. They then spend entire careers passing along what they feel are outdated diet programs waiting for Professional Organizations and food police to catch up.

My guess is this is true for all newly graduated professionals (including Doctors), whose training involves research, after they see obviously helpful trends, that require years of research to "Prove" Thank God, the young people are still hopeful enough to keep trying.
Posted 2/20/2009 2:54 AM (GMT 0)

MAG102886 said...
Im still on my search for the Reishi extract, Ive only tried one place so far, I dont get out much...eh.

It's pretty easy to order online. Again, it's not always easy deciding which one is a reputable brand. The one I use is sold only in Taiwan as far as I know. A google search turned up this page that offers many possible sources:

http://www.mysimon.com/9015-10954_8-34595992.html

best regards,
Robert
Posted 2/20/2009 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the link, I ordered some from the Vitamin shoppe :)

Posted 2/20/2009 7:29 AM (GMT 0)
Do you have to open them and put them in water, or can you simply just take the pill.  Im just wondering because IF it upsets my stomach I dont know how long I'll be able to keep it in my body until it comes out.....if you know what I mean.  I dont usually have problems with pills, but drinking stuff that isnt the best tasting sometimes messes with my stomach. 

The one I got is 600MG for $15.49


Posted 2/20/2009 10:42 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry I did not respond earlier, If you go along dundas , east of spadina , it was on the north side. What I did when I went,
I went into a few stores to ask about it. I found the one store, and the lady was very knowledgeable. It was an herb store,
they have quite a few on dundas.

Thanks
Carmen
Posted 2/20/2009 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
To let you know the cost, I paid $28.00cad. The bag should last a bit longer that a week, I went to the other store previous , and the
cut up one said made in China was $12.00 and made in Japan was $25.00.
Ozonehole , do you know why the cost difference? Is it okay to buy the cheaper one, already cut up?

Thanks
Carmen
Posted 2/20/2009 7:27 PM (GMT 0)

Kasper87 said...
You think the reishi will kill probiotics also?
Bcuz i take both but i think i should spread it out?

Of course, antibiotics kill the beneficial bacteria, but I don't think this reishi has any antibiotic properties. Someone correct me here if I'm wrong. Maybe ozonehole can explain exactly how it's believed to work.

Though I'm no expert, my understanding is that probiotics can be adversely affected by stomach acidity. For that reason, many of the capsules have a coating and a guaranteed ability to survive stomach acid.

I have no idea whether this reishi extract would be acidic or the opposite--alkaline? I suppose if it is particularly acidic (my guess is it's not), it could have a negative affect on the beneficial bacteria if they're in your stomach at the same time, but again, I have no idea. To be on the safe side, I would take them a couple hours apart from each other.
Posted 2/21/2009 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
I'll chime in and tell you that I totally agree with you, Margie 11 re EMoM being a proactive person doing this wonderful job in changing the nutritional habits in the family to help her son to improve his health!

I am so glad I've found this forum so that I can learn how to deal with my Crohns! I also have to add that by using LDN and doing it in a combination with good nutrition like low carb and increased use of vegetables and fruits, I have managed staying in remission since the fall 2007. The SCD yogurt is also helping me a lot, I make it once a week and mix it with soft vegetables like kiwi fruits, banana, blue berries or so, by doing this I get a lot of probiotics that is boosting the immune system together with Low Dose Naltrexone. My immune system has improved a lot the last two years, I used to have long lasting colds several times in a year, I haven't had more than 3 colds starting up in one day and ending the day after.
Due to autism, add, and hepatitis c: LDN is actually helping those with these diseases too.

And thank you very much for suggesting the Reishi mushrooms, I am going to order those too.
Take care!
Posted 2/21/2009 11:32 PM (GMT 0)

carmen said...
To let you know the cost, I paid $28.00cad. The bag should last a bit longer that a week, I went to the other store previous , and the
cut up one said made in China was $12.00 and made in Japan was $25.00.
Ozonehole , do you know why the cost difference? Is it okay to buy the cheaper one, already cut up?

Thanks
Carmen

Hi Carmen.

Anything made in Japan costs at least double (or more) compared to China. The lingzhi that I buy in Taiwan comes from China and is already sliced. You should be fine buying that - no need to go with a pricey Japanese-grown mushroom that isn't even sliced.

best regards,
Robert
Posted 2/22/2009 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thank-you so much for your advice...

Carmen
Posted 3/4/2009 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
SOOO??? How is it working? It's been a month. . . details please! :D
Posted 3/4/2009 6:36 PM (GMT 0)

MishBall2 said...
SOOO??? How is it working? It's been a month. . . details please! :D

Actually, not quite a month, but getting close. I'm also curious - has anyone (besides me) experienced positive results with this treatment?

best regards,
Robert
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