Reishi mushroom isn’t just rich in nutrients and antioxidants - it’s also rich in health benefits. From boosting the immune system to improving liver function, reishi has a myriad of unique effects on the mind and body.
Reishi is also an adaptogen, meaning it can adapt and modulate the immune system as well as the endocrine system. By working on the endocrine system, reishi can effectively improve one’s ability to handle stress, making it a useful tool for soothing anxiety.
In this blog, I’ll discuss these two unique benefits of reishi: it’s ability to boost immune function and simultaneously soothe anxiety. Lastly, we’ll discuss why quality matters if you truly want to get the most out of reishi, and you’ll learn where to find the highest quality reishi mushroom.
Reishi Mushroom for Anxiety
Reishi has an adaptogenic effect on our endocrine systems, a chemical messenger system intricately related to our health and mood.
Key functions of the endocrine system include:
- Metabolism
- hormone health
- stress response
- growth and development
- sexual function
- appetite
- sleeping and waking cycles
- body temperature
What we often label as anxiety can sometimes just be our endocrine system operating poorly. In other words, anxiety can stem from things like poorly regulated sleep-wake cycles, poor circulation, hormonal imbalances, being out of touch with our own appetite, etc. By improving the functionality of all these things, reishi can relieve anxiety in a very holistic way.
Reishi also soothes the adrenals and thyroids, key glands of the endocrine system that produce our stress response. These glands are often hyperactive or underactive in most people, resulting in conditions like hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism’s most notable symptoms are anxiety, hand tremors, irregular heartbeat, and many other physical markers that are also associated with stress and anxiety.
I mention hyperthyroidism above because it illustrates how anxiety is often a symptom of an underlying physical bodily issue within the endocrine system. This is, of course, in stark contrast to how our modern medical and mental health fields describe anxiety: as a strictly mental issue with no roots in the body.
By soothing and improving endocrine function in the body, reishi can improve our stress response and alleviate anxiety.
Reishi Mushroom for Immunity
Historically, reishi mushroom has been used as a potent immune system enhancer. Reishi is rich in polysaccharides known as beta glucans, which have been shown to have immuno-modulation effects. This is why the ancients referred to reishi as “the great protector.”
Again, as is the case with the endocrine system, our immune systems are often overactive or underactive. Despite what you might think, an overactive, or hyperactive immune system isn’t necessarily a good thing. By modulating the immune system, reishi helps ensure that it’s functioning at the level that it needs to be.
For immunity purposes, reishi spore powder can be a great choice. It is highly nutritive, with a high concentration of triterpenes and more ganoderic acids and oils. The spores of reishi provide potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal support for the immune system
Quality Matters - How to find High Quality Reishi Mushroom
Much of what you find in health foods stores and the ‘bigger’ ‘cheaper’ name brands of reishi supplements is merely ground up raw mycelium, which is barely even digestible, let alone bioavailable.
To ensure optimal bioavailability, it’s important to get a high quality reishi extract from a trusted source. That’s why all of our products are third-party tested, ensuring they actually contain the nutrients and compounds that you’re looking for.
In our reishi extract, whole pounds of reishi are distilled down into a single pound of extract, and made into a powder that is easily added to the food or beverage of your choice.
Check out the new reishi dual extract in the Hyperion Herbs store! You can learn more about reishi here.