Popular question
When is the best time to harvest lingzhi?
Several studies in China have compared how lingzhi’s components change across growth stages. They generally found that the and content of the peaks around maturity and drops markedly after a long period of spore release. After measuring 10 triterpenic acids by liquid chromatography, the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development of Peking Union Medical College concluded that the best time to harvest the fruiting body is in the early stage of spore release. So even among lingzhi fruiting bodies, harvest time can make a big difference to the components.
This topic includes 4 studies and reports, each linked to its source.
Terms explained on this page (4)
- composition analysis
- Measuring the amounts of various components in lingzhi in the laboratory; it says nothing about effects in people who take it.
- triterpenes
- A group of bitter-tasting compounds in lingzhi, found mainly in the fruiting body; one of lingzhi’s main active components.
- polysaccharides
- Large molecules in lingzhi made of linked sugar units; one of lingzhi’s main active components and closely tied to research on immune regulation.
- fruiting body
- The lingzhi you normally see: the “mushroom” part that grows above the surface.