Reishi Mus hroom Benefits & Usage
Reishi Mushroom Benefits & Usage Our stress response is characterized by the release of stress hormones such as cortisol from the adrenal cortex and the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, epinephrine (also called adrenaline), and norepinephrine from the adrenal medulla. Reishi’s polypeptides may help to regulate these responses and support the body’s natural process of bringing stress hormones back to normal, appropriate levels.Reishi Mushroom Benefits & Usage
Forgetfulness, insomnia and palpitations are symptoms associated with significant stress; these symptoms are how reishi was and is used in TCM Although there are no direct randomized control trials highlighting reishi’s impact on the hypothalamic- pituitary- adrenal axis, there are studies showing benefits to other systems involved in stress response. Neurasthenia refers to a former medical diagnosis consisting of physical and mental fatigue paired with poor memory and sleep difficulties (34). This diagnosis has been dropped from Western medicine but these symptoms are still relevant in many traditional medical systems in Asia (35).
When used together with lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, and behavior-based stress management, like mindfulness or meditation, reishi has the potential to support whole-body health. Reishi mushroom benefits for supporting general relaxation are also being investigated. Recent research shows that reishi has a calming quality that can help support a positive mood (7,38).
Reishi Mushrooms Support Restful Sleep and a Calm Mind
While reishi mushroom can benefit the mind to help alleviate occasional stress, similarly it can also be used as a supplement to support restful sleep. A study in rats found that reishi reduced sleep latency, which is the time it takes to fall asleep, and increased sleeping time (8). Researchers suspect reishi mushrooms impact sleep through the microbiome and serotonin connection (29). These rodent studies suggest that reishi may have GABA receptor activity, GABA is the neurotransmitter targeted in sleep medications (36).
Its general calming effects mentioned above can help you get to sleep by h soothing everyday worry and racing thoughts. This is how reishi was used traditionally when referencing “calming the mind” (33). Promoting quality sleep should be prioritized, as sleep can affect many aspects of health (14). In a cold and flu study, reishi extracts paired with another herbal extract decreased sleep disturbances, a common symptom in individuals who are feeling sick (30).Reishi Mushroom Benefits & Usage
Reishi Mushrooms Support Lung & Respiratory Health
Reishi may help support lung and respiratory health. In a mouse study, reishi supported a healthy inflammation response, reducing the sensitivity of the airways (28). If this effect translates to humans, reishi may support free and easy breathing. Reishi was traditionally used in Chinese medicine for bronchitis, a chronic lung condition impacting breathing (6).
Reishi Mushrooms Promote Balanced Blood Sugar Levels
Initial research suggests that reishi may maintain blood sugar levels already within a healthy range, which is promising news for those concerned with glucose control. Multiple animal studies have found that mice and rats treated with various extracts of reishi were better able to maintain healthy blood sugar levels (9). While there is more research to be done, reishi’s potential as a beneficial supplement for supporting balanced blood sugar is promising and warrants further investigation.Reishi Mushroom Benefits & Usage
Reishi Mushrooms Support the Immune System
Reishi appears to have immune-modulating properties. Initial studies conducted in vitro as well as in animals have been promising for supporting reishi’s use as an immune-system booster. One study found that reishi beta-glucans increased the activity of immune cells, including natural killer cells and T cells, in rats (22). A systematic review of five well-designed studies in humans yielded similar results, finding that reishi significantly increased levels of T cells, while slightly raising levels of leukocytes (another type of white blood cell) (23). The researchers concluded that reishi stimulates host immunity, is well-tolerated, and has no observed toxic effects.
Studies have also shown that reishi can modulate and enhance immune cells like natural killer cells in those with a chronic disease (20, 31).
In one cell study, reishi was shown to work synergistically with cisplatin (a chemotherapy drug) by having anti-tumor effects on ovarian cancer cells and by enhancing the sensitivity of cancer cells to cisplatin (24).
Scientists attribute the reishi mushroom benefits of immune system support and modulation to its stores of beta-glucans. Beta-glucans are special polysaccharides that stimulate immune system function (27). Importantly, beta-glucans are found in the highest concentrations in the mushrooms (fruiting bodies), which is what Real Mushrooms’ products are made from — not the mycelium, which is what is typically used in other so-called mushroom supplements.
Reishi Mushrooms Support the Lower Urinary Tract
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), structural bladder abnormalities, and other pelvic conditions can increase Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). LUTS is defined as any obstructive or voiding symptoms such as: hesitancy, straining, incomplete bladder feeling, frequency, urgency, and dribbling. Doctors and clinics use a questionnaire called the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). This verified tool is not used for diagnostics but for treatment efficacy. In a human clinical trial, low dose reishi supplementation improved IPSS scores in men with LUTS (21). In a different study, out of 19 mushrooms tested, reishi had the most 5-alpha reductase inhibitory activity, making this a theoretical mechanism of action relevant in prostate and urinary conditions (19).
Reishi is the “King of Mushrooms” for Good Reason
These reishi mushroom benefits can sound almost too good to be true; however, the effects of reishi on the body are not to be underestimated. Clinical Herbalist Dr. Terry Willard states that he has recommended Reishi the most to patients in his decades-long practice because of its sheer versatility and capacity to enhance our physical, emotional, and even spiritual health. Willard calls it “the Merlin of the herbal world” and dives into why he has given it this auspicious title in the video below: