Red mushroom a cure for ailments
Chennai, Dec 6 Red mushroom, the ancient Chinesesecret of health and longevity, is emerging as an elixir oflife for many in India suffering from various ailments,
including cancer, claim doctors in Tamil Nadu and Kerala."It is not disease-specific or organ-specific. It is a
dietary supplement which corrects the disorders of the bodymainly by enhancing immunity and rebuilding lost or damagedcells", says Dr S Ranjan, a leading cardiologist here.Dr N K Venugopal, a medical practitioner at Muvattupuzhain Kerala's Ernakulam district, says he has been prescribingproducts made out of ganoderma for over six years and claimedto have found total cure in about 1,000 patients sufferingfrom various ailments."The regular intake of ganoderma along with medicationhas proven that cancer can be cured in early stages," he says,adding, the polysaccharide fractions in ganoderma are mainlyresponsible in developing immunity against tumours.Prof K K Janardhanan of the Department of Microbiology,Amala Cancer Research Institute, Thrissur, says he wasimpressed by anti-cancer properties of ganoderma duringvarious studies."Our investigations have shown that methanolic extractof ganoderma lucidium, the variety commonly found in SouthIndia, possesses significant anti-tumour and anti-oxidantactivities," he says.
"When mice were administered a dose of 500mg of ganodermaper kg of body weight after implanting a tumour, it was foundthat the tumour load was reduced by 97.7 per cent within 10days," he says.Venugopal says he has noticed that even in patients intheir final stages of cancer, ganodema increaseslife-expectancy, reduces pain substantially, improved qualityof life and reduces the side-effects of chemotherapy andradiation.Dr Ranjan also says it was the anti-cancer effect ofganoderma on a person with myelomonocytic leukemia thatexposed him to the virtues of the mushroom."A friend of mine was having blood cancer in its finalstages in 1999 when he started having ganoderma products.Within days, he showed signs of remission. He had a morecomfortable living for four more years", he says.The effect of mushroom was found to be cent percent in
diabetics, psoriasis, liver and cardiovascular disorders, DrVenugopal says.Prof M T Joseph of Thodupuzha in Kerala's Idukkidistrict, says he was suffering from acute psoriasis eightyears back. "Different systems of treatment, includingallopathy, ayurveda and homeopathy, could not bringany relief.Then, I came across ganoderma through a friend who wascured of acute diabetics. After consulting a few experts, Istarted having ganoderma and, to my surprise, within a fewmonths I was fully recovered", he says."Another remarkable thing I found was that many othersmaller problems like ulcer in the stomach and bleeding of thegum also were cured."Apart from building up immunity of the body, themushroom also has anti-ageing properties, he claimed.
Various products of ganoderma are being consumed bypeople in around 60 countries, says Dr Vengugopal adding thethese have been certified by United States Food and DrugAuthority and approved by Japan in anti-cancer care.While Indonesia has an approved diploma course inganotherapy, various species of ganoderma have been includedin Chinese pharmocoepia.In China, mushrooms were in use for over 4,000 years forphysicial and mental well being. Known as 'Ling zhi' in localparlance, it was an expensive tonic mostly reserved foremperors and the rich.The medicinal properties of various varieties of redmushroom, especially those found in India, have specialreference in the ancient Ayurvedic texts, adds Dr Venugopal.Agricultural research centres in India, includingNational Research Centre for Mushrooms, in Solan, HimachalPradesh, and Kerala Agricultural University have successfullygrown some species of ganoderma.As much as 6,000 tonnes of ganoderma extracts areproduced yearly across the globe, with China, Japan and thetwo Koreas being the main producers. The total trade touchesUSD four billion, he says.Dr Ranjan says researchers worldwide are trying toisolate molecules to be used in the allopathic systemof medicine. "Though some reaearchers have developed GanomycinA and B, the clinical tests are still not complete", he says.Dr Venugopal wants the Central government to give moreemphasis on research in the field and make the productslocally available at cheaper rates.