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Ganoderma Lucidum is a type of mushroom that has been used for thousands of years throughout Asia. The aim of this paper is to note the status of research regarding Ganoderma Lucidum and study the health benefiting properties of it. In ancient China, Ganoderma was reserved only for emperors for consumption. Gradually, with time, research has identified numerous health benefiting properties including anticancer effects, immunoregulatory, antioxidant, liver protecting, hypoglycemic, anti-microbial and blood cholesterol reducing properties. Research has also shown its anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, analgesic and anti-allergic properties. Research regarding its medicinal value has been conducted at various levels in different countries like USA, Malaysia, Japan, China and India.
Keywords: ganoderma lucidum, health benefits, medicinal value, research
'Good health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings'
- Publilius Syrus
Nature for human health: Relationship of mankind with nature has changed over the years. In a very short period of time, humanity has moved from the industrial revolution to a technical revolution where humans are able to Uve entire lifetimes rarely having to encounter nature. Exceptions to this isolation often occur only in the midst of natural disasters (Mitten, 2009). Ayurvedic Medicine (the Indigenous Indian medical system), Tibetan Medicine, Native American Medicine, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, all at least 5000 years old, are examples of medical systems that see being in nature as integral to healing in which people maintain a physical and spiritual connection with nature (Adhikari, 2009).
Advantages of nature healing: Wilson has put forward a very strong argument about the health benefits of nature over two decades (Wilson, 1984; Wilson, 2001). Empirical evidences, centuries ago, show that some part of Asian as well as Western cultures believed that plants and gardens were beneficial for patients in healthcare (Ulrich and Parsons, 1992). A study by Parsons et al. (1998) has shown that lacing trees next to freeways and roads reduces driver stress (Parsons et al., 1998). Exposure to nature was shown to reduce mental fatigue, irritability and accidents, and improve problem solving ability and concentration in people from urban areas who are located in a natural environment for a few days (Herzog et al., 1997). New fields of study are emeiging which draw on the benefits of nature to enhance or restore health....