Reishi mushroom healing spinal cord injury.

Unlock the Healing Power of Mushrooms: Can Ganoderma Lucidum Protect Your Spine?

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how this ancient remedy could offer hope for spinal cord injury recovery."

Spinal cord injuries can lead to long-lasting challenges, often resulting from a mix of immediate damage and secondary issues like inflammation and oxidative stress. These secondary problems can worsen the initial injury, leading to further nerve cell damage and reduced function.

That's why researchers are always on the lookout for ways to protect the spinal cord after an injury. One promising area of study involves natural compounds that can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, potentially helping the body heal.

In a recent study, scientists explored the potential of Ganoderma lucidum, a medicinal mushroom also known as reishi, to protect the spinal cord after injury. This mushroom has a long history of use in traditional medicine and is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Can Reishi Mushrooms Really Help Heal Spinal Cord Injuries?

Reishi mushroom healing spinal cord injury.

The study, published in the International Journal of Morphology in 2018, investigated whether Ganoderma lucidum could alleviate some of the damage associated with spinal cord injuries in rats. The researchers induced spinal cord injuries in the animals and then treated them with either Ganoderma lucidum extract or a saline solution. They then assessed several markers of spinal cord health, including:

To evaluate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum on spinal cord injuries, researchers focused on key indicators:

Oxidative Stress: They measured levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation (cell damage), and glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant that protects against damage.
Inflammation: They assessed myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, which indicates the presence of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell involved in inflammation.
Neurological Function: They observed the rats' neurological function.
Cellular Regeneration: They examined vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, which is invloved in cell growth, and vascular repair.

The results of the study revealed some interesting findings. Spinal cord injuries typically lead to a decrease in GSH levels and an increase in MDA levels and MPO activity, indicating oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the rats treated with Ganoderma lucidum showed a reversal of these effects. The mushroom extract appeared to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the spinal cord.

The Promising Future of Natural Remedies for Spinal Cord Injuries

While this research is still in its early stages, the results suggest that Ganoderma lucidum may have the potential to protect the spinal cord after injury. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, this medicinal mushroom could potentially support healing and improve neurological function. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and determine the optimal dosage and delivery method for Ganoderma lucidum in spinal cord injury treatment. However, these initial results offer a glimmer of hope for those seeking new ways to improve recovery after spinal cord injuries.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4067/s0717-95022018000100175, Alternate LINK

Title: Neuroprotective Effects Of Ganoderma Lucidum On Spinal Cord Injury

Subject: Anatomy

Journal: International Journal of Morphology

Publisher: SciELO Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo (ANID)

Authors: Aysun Ekinci, Hüseyin Ozevren, Bülent Emre Bilgiç, Cenap Ekinci, Senay Deveci, Engin Deveci

Published: 2018-03-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why does damage continue after the initial spinal cord injury, and what is being done to prevent it?

Spinal cord injuries often involve a combination of immediate physical damage followed by secondary complications like inflammation and oxidative stress. This secondary damage can exacerbate the initial injury, leading to further nerve cell damage and functional decline. Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress are key strategies in protecting the spinal cord post-injury, which is why natural compounds with these properties are being investigated.

What specific indicators did the researchers use to assess the effect of Ganoderma lucidum on spinal cord injuries?

Researchers evaluated several key indicators to determine the impact of Ganoderma lucidum on spinal cord injuries. These included measuring oxidative stress levels via malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), assessing inflammation by observing myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, monitoring neurological function, and examining cellular regeneration through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression.

How did Ganoderma lucidum treatment affect oxidative stress and inflammation markers in rats with spinal cord injuries?

The study indicated that rats treated with Ganoderma lucidum extract showed a reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation within the spinal cord. Specifically, the extract reversed the typical effects of spinal cord injuries, leading to decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity while increasing glutathione (GSH) levels. This suggests that Ganoderma lucidum can potentially protect the spinal cord after an injury.

What further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of Ganoderma lucidum for spinal cord injury treatment?

While initial results are promising, more research is necessary to fully understand the potential of Ganoderma lucidum in treating spinal cord injuries. Future studies should focus on confirming these findings, determining optimal dosage, and exploring the best delivery methods. It's also essential to investigate the long-term effects and potential side effects of using Ganoderma lucidum in spinal cord injury treatment.

Besides reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, what other spinal cord healing processes are worth investigating in relation to Ganoderma lucidum?

The study mentioned investigated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, which indicates cell growth, and vascular repair. The study does not mention how Ganoderma lucidum might influence neuroplasticity or nerve regeneration, which are critical aspects of spinal cord injury recovery. Future research could explore how Ganoderma lucidum interacts with these processes to enhance functional outcomes after spinal cord injuries.