Reishi mushroom, or the mushroom of immortality, is one of the oldest and most researched medicinal mushrooms and herbs of all time. Before it became widely known as a supplement, reishi had a long history of use in China, and a deep connection with spirituality.
Despite reishi’s growing popularity, many people new to the world of reishi have many questions about what exactly it is, how to take it, what it does, etc. In this guide and FAQ, I’ll be answering some of the most common questions I’ve gotten about reishi over the past decade of experience I’ve had working with this mushroom.
These are some of the most common questions I get about reishi mushroom:
Does Reishi Have Caffeine?
Reishi itself does not have caffeine, but many people choose to take reishi by adding a powdered extract to their morning coffee. In this case, the beverage would obviously have caffeine - but it’s coming from the coffee rather than the reishi mushroom.
If you’re looking for a caffeine free choice, Hyperion’s reishi extract mixes just as well with hot water, caffeine free teas, or blended drinks.
What Does Reishi Taste Like?
Reishi doesn’t taste like any of the common culinary mushrooms (crimini, portabella, oyster, shitake, etc). Quality reishi should taste bitter and earthy.
In fact, taste is one way you can discern whether you’re taking a quality extract or mere powdered mycelium. A high quality reishi extract will taste rather intensely bitter, while ground up mycelium tends to taste like rice, or nothing at all.
If you don’t like the bitter flavor, I recommend mixing reishi into coffee or a smoothie - depending on how much you use, you can proportion the beverage to where the reishi taste is barely noticeable. Another option would be to take reishi extract capsules instead.
Is Reishi Psychedelic? Psychoactive?
Reishi is not a psychedelic mushroom in the same sense that magic mushrooms, or psilocybin are. It is completely legal and has been used traditionally for thousand of years. However, reishi could be considered psychoactive, as the mushroom can help expand consciousness, and may even affect the mood and emotions. Many people find reishi to be primarily relaxing and calming.
Where Do Reishi Mushrooms Grow?
Wild reishi grows on hardwood (especially oak trees) in the warmer regions of Asia, the south Pacific, southern Europe and the Southeastern United States. In the US, it can often be found on dead or dying eastern hemlock trees.
What is Duanwood Reishi?
"Duanwood Reishi" means that the Reishi is grown on "original wood" - this means it is grown on logs of the hardwood variety and species listed above.
How Much Reishi Should I Take?
If you’re using a high quality reishi extract, start by taking 1/4 teaspoon (about 1 gram) 1-2 times a day, or as directed by a health professional. From there, you can adjust to taking more or less based on how your own body responds to reishi. Remember to consult a doctor or professional health care practitioner if you are taking prescription drugs, have a medical condition, or are pregnant or nursing.
When Should You Take Reishi?
Since reishi doesn't have caffeine and doesn't have a stimulative effect, most people can enjoy it at any time of the day. Some users find it relaxes them in the evening before bed. Experiment to find your ideal time of use! If you find it is keeping you awake, limit your use to the beginning of the day
Can You Take Reishi with Chaga, Cordyceps, Lion's Mane, or Other Mushrooms?
Yes, Reishi is safe to combine with the other functional mushrooms. The mushrooms compliment each other quite well and each have their own unqiue feel and offering of benefits.
Why Take Reishi? What Does Reishi Do?
To learn about what reishi can do for your health and body, check out the video and scientific studies below!
Scientific Studies on the Health Benefits of Reishi
Reishi and Cell Function/Immunity: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30317947
Reishi and Candida: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29199568
Reishi and Neuroprotection: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28340576
Reishi and Hypertension/Blood Pressure: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3852974/
Reishi and Sleep: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22207209
What’s the Best Kind of Reishi? Where To Get It?
Not all reishi products on the market are created equal. In fact, many reishi products in health food stores are merely ground up raw mycelium - which is hard to digest, poorly suited for bioavailability, and offers little of the benefits that many people take reishi for.
For this reason, I always recommend a concentrated extract as the most potent and effective way of taking reishi. Hyperion’s reishi extract is 3rd party lab tested to contain 2% triterpenes and 12% polysaccharides. All of the reishi is grown organically on hard wood - ensuring the utmost quality and purity.
Hyperion's reishi is a dual extract - This simply means that both alcohol and water are incorporated into the extraction process. This ensures that all the beneficial chemical compounds are extracted, as some are soluble only in water, and others only in alcohol. By using dual extraction, we ensure the most comprehensive extraction of all beneficial compounds in the plant.
You can learn more about reishi extract by checking out the product page here!
Is Hyperion's Reishi Red Reishi?
Yes, all Hyperion reishi products are made from red reishi mushroom - it is the most popular, common, and widely studied species of reishi.