Lingzhi （Ganoderma lucidum） is historically a treasured herbalmaterial in China. It is becoming well-known all over the world inrecent years. The Chinese traditional medicines classic, ShetmongMateria Medica regards Lingzhi as being of a "supremely exquisite"quality with tonic and longevity effects. Over the years, fables andlegends adored Lingzhi with a patina of mystery as a "heavenly herb"that connotes auspiciousness, blissfulness and happiness.ingzhi （Ganoderma lucidum） is historically a treasured herbalmaterial in China.

Chapter1 Mystery and Culture of Lingzhi
Lingzhi in myths
Lingzhi in ancient poems
"Catholicon" according to Taoism
Auspicious symbol for Chinese
Guo Mo-Ruos poem on Lingzhi
Chapter2 Lingzhi as Described in Shennong Materia Medica
Shennong Materia Medica on Lingzhi
Scientific understanding on Lingzhi by scholars in early years
Criticism on misinformation regarding Lingzhi in the old time
Current understanding of the six kinds of Lingzhi
Interpretation of Shennong Materia Medica using the traditional Chinese and Western medicine principles
Chapter3 Understanding Lmgzhi
Lingzhi fruiting body-a Chinese medicine
Life cycle of Lingzhi
Morphological characteristics ofhyphae, fruiting body and spores
Cultivation of Lingzhi for its fruiting bodies
Submerged fermentation for Lingzhi mycelia
Lingzhis "genealogy" revealed by DNA fingerprinting
Organic cultivation of Lingzhi
Lingzhis active components and pharmacological effects
Chapter4 Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Bronchitis with Lingzhi
Chronic bronchitis
Therapeutic efficacy of Lingzhi on chronic bronchitis
Immunorcgulating nature of Lingzhi
Chapter5 Prevention and Treatment of Hyperlipidemia with Lingzhi
Hyperlipidemia
Therapeutic efficacy of Lingzhi on hyperlipidemia
How does Lingzhi regulate blood lipid?
Chapter6 Anti-Hypertensive Effects of Lingzhi
Hypertension
Clinical reports on Lingzhi’S efficacy for hypertension treatment
Why can Lingzhi effectively treat hypertension?
Chapter7 Preventive and Therapeutic Effect of Lingzhi on Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus
Clinical reports on Lingzhi for adjuvant treatment ondiabetes mellitus
Mechanism of adj uvant therapeutic effect of Lingzhi on diabetes mellitus
Chapter8 Prevention and Treatment with Lingzhi for Neurasthenis
Neurasthenia
Rejuvenation of nerve-endocrine-immune systemwith Linzhi
Clinical reports on neurasthenia treatment with Lingzhi
Clinical reports on memory improvement by Lingzhi
Chapter9 Prevention and Treatment of Hepatitis with Lingzhi
Therapeutic efficacy of Lingzhi on hepatitis
Clinical reports on Lingzhis efficacy for hepatitistreatment
Mechanism of Lingzhis liver-protective effect
Chapter10 Adjuvant Therapy for Cancers with Lingzhi
Lingzhi as an adjuvant therapy for cancers
Clinical reports on Lingzhis adjuvant treatments for cancers
Mechanism of anti-tumor activity of Lingzhi in adjuvant therapy
Chapter11 Care for Health of the Sub-Healthy Middle-Aged and Elderly
Chapter12 Lingzhi Minimizes Poisoning Effect of Poisonous Mushrooms
Chapter13 Lingzhi for Treatment of Other Diseases
Chapter14 Recommendations in Choosing and Using Lingzhi Products
Chapter15 Processing Technology for Lingzhi Products
Appendix

In the Flying Dragon, he told a story of hisencounter in the misty Mt. Tai with a Taoist monk on a white deerwith a Lingzhi in his hand. It was from that man he learned the magichealth benefits of Lingzhi.
In the Singing Trip era Han Dynasty Yuefu-style poem, a similarstory was told. The author met a god-like man with short hair andlong ears riding a white deer, and was led to pick Lingzhi. At thelegendary mans home, he was shown the tonic made from thehealth-improving, hair-color darkening, and life-prolonging effects ofthe reddish herb.
The "Lingzhi culture" was greatly influenced by Taoism, thenative religion in China. Taoism believes that living is most impor-tant and that human beings can be immortal by following the regimensand taking a certain magical herbs. Bao Pu Zi written by Ge Hongpresented the theory suggesting that a person could learn to becomeimmortal. It even included stories of such occurrences by takingLingzhi.
The ancient Taoist theory considered Lingzhi as the best amongthe catholicons, and by consuming Langzhi, one would never growold or die. Therefore, Lingzhi acquired the names, such as Shenzhi（heavenly herb） and Xiancao （magic grass）, and became mystified. Inthe book of Ten Continents in the World, Lingzhi grew everywherein the fairy land. Gods fed
n it to gain immortality. In the JinDynasty, Wang Jias Picking Up the Lost and in the Tan Dynasty, DaiFus The Vast Oddities, 12,000 varieties of Lingzhi were said to becultivated on acres of land in Mt.