Ganoderma lucidum aqueous extract prevents hypobaric hypoxia induced memory deficit by modulating neurotransmission, neuroplasticity and
maintaining redox homeostasis.
Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) has long been known for it's benefits on the mind and emotions, and new research is showing it's ability to heal and restore the structure and function of nerve cells within the central and peripheral nervous systems. Reishi is now emerging as one of the premier medicinals in support of cognitive function, memory and the natural remediation of nerve deterioration and cognitive decline.
I will showcase one particular study from 2020 to understand exactly how Reishi works to protect neurological integrity. This study published in June 2020 reveals that Reishi can ameliorate and reverse the damaging effects of oxygen deprivation to the brain and body. The study investigated a condition called ‘hypobaric hypoxia’. This is similar to high altitude sickness, where the body is deprived of sufficient oxygen. The respiratory system can no longer transfer enough oxygen to the bloodstream, causing the muscles to stop responding and the integrity of the central nervous system to deteriorate. This causes severe cognitive impairment, lack of spatial awareness, memory loss and a dramatic reduction in problem solving skills. In many cases, the damage to the body and brain can have a permanent, lasting effect.
While altitude sickness is not something that most of us have to deal with, a decrease in oxygenation within the body is a very real issue that so many of us are exposed to. For example, lack of movement/exercise, too much of a sedentary lifestyle, bad posture, food choices and lifestyle habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption – all of these can increase blood pressure and lower cellular oxygenation.
Stress, overload of information, multitasking, environmental pollution – all of this restricts our breathing and reduces the amount of oxygen we are delivering to the cells of the body. Nowadays, the average adult actually over-breathes and takes between 12 to 18 shallow breaths per minute. This causes only one third of the lung capacity to be used. Our modern lifestyles have caused us to reproduce a mild form of altitude sickness which is ongoing, even at sea level.
Results:
In cases of hypobaric hypoxia, the hippocampus is damaged– an area of the brain that, as we have seen, also becomes impaired and degenerates in cases of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Hypobaric hypoxia causes severe dysfunction within the limbic system – a mechanism within the brain that deals with emotion and memory. The hippocampus is central component to the healthy functioning of the limbic system.
Hypobaric hypoxia caused fear and stress-related neurotransmitters such as epinephrine and norepinephrine to become highly elevated in the hippocampus and blood plasma, while serotonin (associated with parasympathetic healing and repair) was reduced. It was also observed that glutamate buildup was occurring in the hippocampus, causing neurons to rapidly die. Introduction of the Reishi extract to the affected group exhibited an adaptogenic affect, reducing the adrenergic neurotransmitters, increasing serotonin and also inhibiting the dangerous accumulation of glutamate in the hippocampus.
The extreme fatigue associated with hypobaric hypoxia was also observed by a significant decrease in serum levels of the important antioxidant glutathione. Enzymes directly responsible for the production of ATP (cellular energy) within the hippocampus were also greatly repressed, yet once a suitable dosage of Reishi extract was administered to the affected group, glutathione levels in the blood normalized and ATP production within the hippocampus sufficiently resumed.
By acting as a homeostatic regulator of neuro-endocrine, cardiovascular and immune systems as well as modulating gene expression, Reishi extracts are able to inhibit deterioration and ultimately the destruction of nerve cells as well as repairing and recovering the structural integrity and function of neurons. This increases synaptic transmission and the corresponding cognitive abilities that accompany a high functioning brain and central nervous system. In many cases, a high yet safe dose was able to out-perform leading pharmaceutical drugs.
Currently the majority of Reishi products are neither grown nor extracted correctly and the health benefits will correspondingly be disappointing.
That is why I am proud to offer wood grown Reishi from a semi-wild environment. Our Reishi fruiting body is extracted in a precise and proper way to obtain the beneficial components.
