There are four important things to consider. There exist different kinds of lingzhi in the wood and forests. These are natural lingzhi. But they are so rare that there wont be enough for commercial production. Thus all the lingzhi products in the market are prepared from lingzhi cultivated in farms.

Since there are different kinds of lingzhi, different places they are grown, different raw material used and different times of harvest, the quality of the mushroom would vary widely.

• Methods of extraction are different.  The quantities of various bioactive materials in lingzhi products depend on methods of extraction. This has been discussed earlier.

• Contamination problem is the most fearful one.  Its known that chemical fertilizers and pesticides are widely used in farming.  These two things contain toxic substances that, if left over in the lingzhi mushroom, could be dreadful.

• Use of steroids is another danger. In order to impress, increase effectiveness of products or cheat, steroids are usually mixed with herbal products. One has to make sure that lingzhi used is free of steroids.

A lot of caution should be exercised in shopping for lingzhi products. We have to be certain that the lingzhi is of high quality. Because in treating serious illness, time of action might be the deciding factor for life or death.  We just cant afford to waste any time on poor ineffective products.

Safety is another priority to be considered. We have to be assured that the lingzhi is free of contamination of toxic material from pesticides and chemical fertilizers.  Lingzhi is usually taken for long period. We dont want any accumulation of any toxic material in our body.

Translated from the book Melatonin and I
(in Thai language by Banchert Tantivit, MD)

Don't opt for cheap Lingzhi