Reishi Mushroom Ling Zhi Taste and properties: Bland, sweet, or bitter depending on cultivar. Neutral to warming. Channels of entry: Heart, liver, lung, spleen, kidney. Functions: Nourishes and calms shen, relieves cough, tonifies qi and blood, supplements the kidneys, and stabilizes the will Nourishes the Heart and Calms the Spirit (Shen) Ling zhi nourishes the heart and strengthens qi and blood. It is used to treat symptoms of heart and spleen deficiency manifesting as symptoms of insomnia, forgetfulness, fatigue, listlessness, and poor appetite. For insomnia: use in combination with dang gui (Angelica sinensis), bai shao (Paeonia albiflora), suan zao ren (Zizyphus spinosa), and long yan rou (Arillus longan), or with long yan rou and sang shen (Morus alba). Relieves Coughs and Arrests Wheezing Ling zhi dispels phlegm, relieves cough, and arrests wheezing. It is used to treat cough due to cold, cough with profuse sputum, accelerated respiration, chronic asthma, and inability to sleep