Ganoderma lucidum isn't necessarily better the older it gets.

“Since ancient times, Ganoderma lucidum has been regarded as a tonic that strengthens the body and promotes longevity in adults. The ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ also records that long-term consumption of Ganoderma lucidum can lighten the body, prevent aging, and even grant one the elixir of immortality. As a precious medicinal herb, the benefits of Ganoderma lucidum to the human body are beyond doubt.” Since ordinary Ganoderma lucidum contains large amounts of woody components, to fully harness its medicinal effects, it is essential to extract its active ingredients. “The two most important active constituents in Ganoderma lucidum are ganoderic polysaccharides and ganoderic triterpenes. These two compounds not only help prevent cancer but also improve metabolism and boost immune function.”

So, does the older a Ganoderma lucidum gets, the better it is? Does a thousand-year-old Ganoderma really possess miraculous medicinal properties? Actually, a thousand-year-old Ganoderma contains an exceptionally high proportion of lignin but very few active ingredients; thus, its extractability is actually lower than that of younger Ganoderma. That’s why careful attention is paid to the selection of raw materials for Ganoderma products. Pharmacological tests have shown that top-quality red Ganoderma—harvested after a growth period of roughly six months to one year—is the best choice for medicinal use, because such Ganoderma boasts particularly high concentrations of active ingredients and is easier to extract.

Freshly cultivated Ganoderma lucidum exhibits stable quality and is rich in active ingredients. In particular, the red Ganoderma (Ganoderma lucidum var. sinense) grown on log substrates has become the preferred preparation for clinical trials by medical experts both at home and abroad, thanks to its mature cultivation techniques and remarkable research achievements. Some millennial Ganoderma specimens have been auctioned off at exorbitant prices—largely because of their high added value. Everyone understands the principle that rarity drives up value. The collectible value of millennial Ganoderma is simply unmatched by that of ordinary Ganoderma. As for its medicinal efficacy, however, millennial Ganoderma actually raises many questions and uncertainties.

Millennial reishi mushrooms, when found in nature, are easily affected by external factors such as environmental pollution, parasitic contamination by other fungi, and changes in environmental conditions, making it difficult to maintain consistent quality. Moreover, harvesting is often delayed. According to current research, some varieties of millennial reishi are highly toxic, and without specialized training, it is impossible to distinguish them accurately. The content of active ingredients in reishi can vary significantly depending on the growth stage. Overgrown specimens (such as millennial reishi) tend to become woody, while those harvested too early—such as fruiting bodies with white edges that are still in the growing stage—contain low levels of active compounds. Neither condition is ideal.

Moreover, the most widely studied and applied product derived from Lingzhi—the Lingzhi spore powder—cannot be collected from millennium-old Lingzhi mushrooms. Even if one were fortunate enough to collect a millennium-old Lingzhi mushroom covered with spore powder, testing institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control have confirmed that the levels of heavy metals and ash in these mushrooms generally exceed the permissible limits, making them harmful rather than beneficial to human health if consumed.