It’s been crowned “Queen Healer” by Traditional Chinese herbalists for centuries for its ability to strengthen heart and mind. It’s known throughout Asia as a tonic herb thought to enhance longevity and vitality. The Reishi mushroom, or Ganoderma lucidum, is known for its powerful adaptogenic properties and a host of other health benefits. So let’s cut a cross section into this functional fungus and explore the benefits of Reishi mushroom.

What is Reishi Mushroom?

Before diving into Reishi mushroom benefits, let's look at its background. Reishi mushrooms grow on trees under a wide range of conditions and are found in the United States, Asia, and parts of the Amazon. With a long history of use in TCM, Kampo (a traditional Japanese herbal medicine system), and throughout Asia, Reishi is prized as a superior herb once reserved for royalty.

In TCM, Reishi is used to calm the consciousness (shen), quelling nightmares, insomnia, and other manifestations of a nervous spirit.

Warming and drying, it’s been traditionally used for those who have cool and damp constitutions.

Though modern science has yet to catch up with traditional understandings of this plant, Reishi is being increasingly studied for its many health and beauty benefits. Its bioactive compounds, like beta-glucans, triterpenes, and antioxidants, work in concert to provide numerous advantages. Reishi has the potential to assist in adrenal and pituitary function. It supports the body’s nervous, digestive, hormonal, and immune systems.

9 Incredible Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms

If you’re considering adding this adaptogen into your daily supplement routine, here’s the outlook on Reishi mushroom health benefits for your body and mind:

1. Brain nourisher

Reishi is used to support concentration thanks to the adaptogenic mushroom’s studied neuroprotective qualities. Specifically, the presence of triterpenes and polysaccharides in Reishi are associated with neuroprotective effects and the promotion of cognitive function. These compounds may help support brain function by clearing up brain fog and reducing mental fatigue. Reishi has also been shown to enhance memory.

To support concentration and overall brain health, reap the benefits of Reishi mushroom powder with your daily coffee or other treat. Its strong botanical aroma and intensely tannic taste pairs well with chocolate.

2. Stress reliever

Reishi mushrooms are known for their adaptogenic properties, allowing you to unlock creativity and connect, not project.

One benefit of Reishi is its ability to help reduce stress and anxiety. By modulating the release of the stress hormone cortisol, Reishi allows your flight or fight response to come back to center, thereby reducing stress and promoting a sense of calm. Incorporating Reishi into your routine may help you alleviate stress and its associated effects on the body for improved mental and overall well-being.

3. Immune supporter

These mushrooms are maybe best known for their potential to support your immune function and response.

The bioactives found in Reishi may support the activity of white blood cells, which are an important part of your body’s immune system. By supporting immune cells like lymphocytes, Reishi mushrooms have the potential to modulate the immune system and provide valuable maintenance to the body’s natural mechanisms of defense. Because of this, Reishi is often included as an essential ingredient for any immune support supplement.

4. Mood balancer

Reishi mushrooms have been traditionally used to balance mood and promote emotional wellbeing.

The bioactives in Reishi may have a regulating effect on neurotransmitters and hormones involved in mood regulation, such as serotonin and dopamine. This balancing effect can help alleviate symptoms of stress and low mood, promoting a more stable and positive emotional state.

5. Energizer

Like we mentioned, these shrooms are considered an adaptogen, which means they can help the body adapt to stress and improve energy levels as a result. By supporting the adrenal glands and reducing fatigue, Reishi mushrooms can enhance physical and mental stamina.

Consuming Reishi mushrooms as an energizing supplement or incorporating them into your diet may help combat fatigue and increase overall vitality.

6. Free radical fighters

Reishi mushrooms possess potent antioxidant properties, making them effective scavengers of the free radicals in your body that are harmful if they accumulate. The presence of polysaccharides, triterpenes, and phenolic compounds in Reishi mushrooms allows them to neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and protecting cells from damage. This antioxidant activity can contribute to long-term health by reducing the risk of oxidative damage.

7. Beauty food

Reishi mushrooms are often considered a "beauty food" due to their ability to nourish the skin’s barrier and tame irritation. The antioxidant compounds in Reishi can help promote skin health and improve skin elasticity.

To harness Reishi mushroom benefits for skin ritual, consider using Cosmic Cream™, a dewy moisturizer containing this and other potent adaptogens for moisture and barrier protection.

8. Hormone balancer

As an adaptogen, Reishi helps your body come back to center when elevated stress and its onslaughts could otherwise take their toll on various aspects of your health. By helping reduce cortisol, adaptogens can indirectly help mitigate other hormonal imbalances. For instance, when you have elevated stress, this can stimulate the release of the hunger hormone ghrelin, causing you to be flooded with hunger and cravings when you would otherwise feel sufficiently full.

How to Consume Reishi Mushroom

This adaptogenic mushroom can be found in many forms, including supplements, dried mushroom slices, extracts, powders, or teas. But whether you're wondering how to use Reishi mushroom powder or Reishi extract, the dosage and consumption will vary based on the form. You can also give a Reishi mushroom coffee or Reishi tea recipe a try to reap the benefits of it.

Takeaways

Used in Eastern medicine, Reishi mushroom is praised for many reasons. From supporting the immune system and helping your body adapt to stress to nourishing the brain and encouraging cardiovascular health, the benefits of Reishi mushroom have earned its reputation as a powerful superfood.

By welcoming Reishi mushroom benefits into our diet or supplement routine, we can harness their potential to enhance our immune response, boost our mood, improve cognitive function, and support heart health. With their ability to fight free radicals, Reishi mushrooms can also help protect our cells from oxidative damage and contribute to overall longevity. Their beauty-enhancing potential also makes them a valuable addition to our skin care rituals.

Nature has provided us with an adaptogenic gift in the form of this fungus, and harnessing the benefits of Reishi can lead to a healthier, more vibrant life.