霊芝は伝統的な漢方薬として使用することができ、その主な効果は、気を補い、精神を落ち着かせ、咳を和らげ、喘息を落ち着かせる（咳を止め、喘鳴を落ち着かせる）ことである。 Ganoderma lucidum is derived from the dried fruiting bodies of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum or Ganoderma lucidum of the family Polyporaceae, which is sweet in taste and flat in nature; it belongs to the meridians of the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, and has the efficacy of tonifying qi and tranquilising the mind and relieving coughs and asthma, and can be used in the treatment of qi and blood deficiencies and loss of nourishment of the mind and spirit caused by restlessness of the mind and spirit, tiredness of the body and fatigue of the mind (lack of mental energy), insomnia, excessive dreaming, palpitations, and shortness of breath due to deficiency of qi and blood, deficiency of the lungs and coughs and asthma, and lack of thought of food. 霊芝は漢方薬として、煎じ薬や粉末にして内服したり、飲み込んだりするが、その副作用や禁忌はまだはっきりしていないので、上記のような症状の治療に使用する場合は、医師の診断のもとで行うべきで、やみくもに単独で使用すべきではない。