Why do people take reishi mushroom?

Reishi mushroom has been used to help enhance the immune system, reduce stress, improve sleep, and lessen fatigue. People also take reishi mushroom for health conditions such as:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Liver or kidney disease
• Respiratory diseases (such as asthma)
• Viral infections (such as the flu)
• HIV/AIDS
• Cancer and support during chemotherapy
• Pain during and after a shingles outbreak
• Building strength and stamina
• Fatigue

There is some scientific evidence of its effectiveness, including lab research and some small human studies. Researchers are beginning to look at the chemical makeup of this mushroom to better understand how and whether it really works for each of these conditions.

• Your age
• Condition for which the mushroom is being prescribed
• Form of the mushroom
• Your overall health

Optimal doses of reishi mushroom have not been set for any condition. Quality and active ingredients in supplements may vary widely. This makes it very hard to set a standard dose.

500mg Lions Mane

Lion’s mane mushrooms are big, white mushrooms that resemble a lion’s mane. Although they’re generally thought of as a single type of mushroom, there are three different species. Hericium erinaceus is the one that’s most widely available.

Lion’s mane mushrooms usually look like white pom-poms and are used as both food and medicine. They are extensively used in Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, India, and China.

You can find lion’s mane mushrooms in grocery stores, restaurants, and supplement shops.

Lion’s mane mushrooms have a flavor that many describe as similar to seafood. They can be eaten raw, dried, or cooked. As a supplement, the mushroom comes in powders, liquids, and capsules.

Lion’s mane mushrooms are rich in vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. They are also a good source of essential minerals such as manganese, zinc, and potassium.

Lion’s Mane Benefits

Lion’s mane mushrooms have been used for centuries in Chinese medicine. Lab and animal studies suggest this traditional medicine may help with many conditions. But there’s limited research in humans, and no product made from the mushrooms has been approved for the treatment of any condition.

The preliminary evidence suggests lion’s mane mushrooms might help in these ways.

Fighting inflammation and free radicals 

Many health conditions, including heart disease, arthritis, and cancer, involve chronic inflammation and the effects of unstable molecules in our bodies called free radicals. Lion’s mane mushrooms contain potentially potent antioxidants, which are substances that limit the damage of free radicals. They also contain anti-inflammatory substances that show promise in animal studies.

Fighting dementia and other brain diseases

Some studies in animals and small, preliminary studies in people suggest lion’s mane mushrooms might have a role in the prevention or treatment of cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease.

For example, in one study of 30 older adults with mild cognitive impairment, those who took tablets containing Hericium erinaceus powder for 4 months showed a temporary improvement on cognitive tests. The mushrooms have also been shown to slow Alzheimer’s symptoms and brain changes linked to the disease in mice.