Shiitake is used as an anti-cancer drug in Japan and sanctioned for this purpose by their FDA.

It has many health benefits, such as it’s ability to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol. It possesses powerful antioxidant properties that help the body fight the damage of free radicals. It is also known to reduce inflammation. It also has many beneficial vitamins and minerals.

This mushroom contains Lentinan. Lentinan is used by some to treat cancer of the bowel, liver, lung and stomach. It increases the production of beneficial killer cells. It may also be helpful in the treatment of AIDS.

Shiitake may treat and prevent thrombosis (blood clots that decrease blood flow). It some tests an Nihon University in Japan, Shiitake mushroom oil was shown to decrease platelet aggregation due to this mushroom’s lenthionine content.

Shiitake is loaded with powerful antioxidants, like vitamins A, C, D and E, selenium and uric acid. Though more research is needed, it appears that Shiitake may be able to lower high blood pressure.

This mushroom can lower cholesterol levels and boots production of interferon, which exhibits an anti-viral effect. Some studies suggest that this my be a possible treatment for hepatitis.

The substance in Shiitake called polysaccharides is what gives this mushroom it’s powerful immune enhancing effects. Shiitake’s cholesterol reducing action is caused by it’s eritadenine content.