Lingzhi, also known as Lingzhi grass, Sanxiu, and Zhi, is recorded in the "Shennong Bencao Jing". It is the dried fruiting body of the polypore fungus Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss.ex Fr.) Karst. or Purple Lingzhi G.sinense Zhao, Xu et Zhang, etc. It can be harvested all year round. When the fruiting body is mature, the whole fruiting body is twisted off from the lower end of the stipe, and then air-dried or low-temperature dried (temperature not exceeding 55°C).
[Processing Method] Take the original medicinal material, remove impurities and sawdust, wash and air-dry or low-temperature dry.
[Characteristics of Chinese Herbal Medicine] The pileus is corky, semi-circular or kidney-shaped, with a glossy surface like lacquer, reddish-brown, purplish-black, or dark brown, with annular ridges and radial wrinkles. The lower surface can be seen as white, light brown, or rusty brown flesh. The stipe is lateral, with a glossy appearance, reddish-brown, purplish-black, or black; the spores are brown and ovate. The body is light and soft. It has a slight aroma and a mild taste.
[Processing Function] Lingzhi has a sweet and mild taste. It belongs to the lung, heart, and spleen meridians. It has the functions of nourishing Qi and blood, calming the mind, and invigorating the spleen and stomach. This herb is used raw and is used for deficiency fatigue, palpitations, insomnia, dizziness, mental fatigue, chronic cough, asthma, coronary heart disease, silicosis, and tumors. For example, the purple Lingzhi pill is used to treat deficiency fatigue and shortness of breath, as well as chest and hypochondriac pain (from "Shengji Zonglu"); Lingzhi tablets are used to treat neurasthenia, insomnia, and loss of appetite (from "Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China" 1977 edition); decoction of this herb can be used to treat neurasthenia, palpitations, dizziness, restless sleep, and coronary heart disease. Processing can improve the cleanliness of the medicine.
