Shū-shé Língzhī/Reishi

Shū-shé Língzhī/Reishi (Ganoderma applanatum) is a polypore fungus with a corky texture and bitter flavour. Many Ganoderma species, such as the better-known Red Lingzhi/Reishi,  are regarded as potent folk-medicinal mushrooms, traditionally brewed into a tea and/or steeped in alcohol to extract compounds believed to promote health and longevity. Modern science is establishing potent medicinal applications for such extracts. In the case of Shū-shé Língzhī/Reishi, the tea has been shown to have potent pain-relieving, anti-depressant and anxiety-alleviating effects. Observed in the wild, even gorillas know to self-medicate with this mushroom! Known by many names (e.g. 'Book-tongue', 'Powdered Monkey Bench'), in the West it's commonly known as 'Artist's Conk', very much under-valued as a self-standing canvas for painting on when no better surface is available....