| It is my pleasure to introduce
this book about one of the most important medicinal plants
of the age - the magic Reishi mushroom, or Ling zhi as it
is called in China. To introduce Reishi to a wide audience,
it is the challenging job of the author, Terry Willard,
to overcome two cultural factors: a cultural bias and a
cultural amnesia. I believe he is up to the task.
Fortunately, in North America we have a very diverse cultural
mix, perhaps helping us to avoid completely closing our
minds to new things. It is a fact that most cultures,
rather then detesting mushrooms, not only love them, but
ardently seek them for both food and medicine. In fact,
they gladly pay high prices for them. In Russia, all over
Europe, and across the Orient, people are mad over mushrooms.
Wherein lies the cultural amnesia
of which I spoke? We have forgotten about the concept
of "tonics", and we are only just now refocusing
our attention on the idea of health preservation through
prevention. A tonic in the present sense is a natural
substance that generally strengthens and support body
systems. This concept is a vital one, for in this age,
where environmental conditions are rapidly changing, our
food, water, and even the air we breathe are being polluted
with the addition of many new synthetic chemical compounds.
These compounds, in addition to the stressors of fast-paced
life-styles, the pressure of increased population, the
weakening of the protective ozone layer, and other novel
strains on our immune system, make it easy to understand
the desirability of natural products that can strengthen
our defense systems and act as general environmental safeguards.
People also ask how often to
take Reishi as a medicine. Another way of looking at the
whole process is the view of not only the Chinese healer,
but also of Hippocrates, the ancient Nature-Doctor who
said: "let your medicine be your food and your food
be your medicine." Consider Reishi a food-one to
be eaten often, when need for strengthening and "environmental
protection." In this way we embrace the concept of
tonics--natural food medicines which can nourish and strengthen
us. In this culture, we are not unfamiliar with this concept
as seen, for instance, in advertising for milk. These
ads extol the "healthful" virtues of milk, telling
us in particular that it helps build "strong bones."
Recognize that Reishi and other adaptogens help us build
strong defenses.
In summary, I believe you will
find Terry Willard's book not only absorbing, but of importance
in re-emphasizing an age-old approach to health and prevention.
He has presented the material in a style that involves
us in a adventure of discovery, and helps to make the
scientific provings more accessible. I hope my short
introduction not only serves to open the door to this
exciting work, but also helps to impart a little of the
love and tremendous enthusiasm I have for medicinal mushrooms
and our future relationship with them.
Christopher Hobbs
Santa Cruz, CA.
April 14, 1990
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