Reishi mushrooms, also known as "mushrooms of immortality," contain polysaccharides called beta-glucans that can help stimulate the immune system, prevent tumor growth, and lower blood pressure. One way to use this medicinal mushroom is to make a decoction, or tea. 

You can sometimes find wild reishi mushrooms in the woods; they usually grow near water in hemlock forests. If you are not trained in mushroom identification, join a local mushroom club or go mushroom hunting with an expert. Alternatively, look for them at a local farmers market, or purchase them from an herb shop or online store like Mountain Rose Herbs.

The taste of reishi mushroom tea is smooth and sweet with an earthy tone, almost like a green tea but less bitter. If you don’t like hot tea, put the tea in the refrigerator and use it in place of water in a smoothie.

Makes 1 cup of tea

Ingredients

1 heaping tablespoon of dried reishi mushroom
3 cups of water
1 teaspoon ginger (optional)
raw honey (optional)

Directions

Add mushrooms and water to a pot and bring to a boil. Let simmer on low for at least 20 minutes. Add ginger and honey, if desired.