There are differences in quality behind mushroom supplements, so it’s important to understand the characteristics behind the best reishi supplement available
Not all mushroom supplements are created equally, including a reishi supplement. To understand this we need to understand the fungal life cycle. The mushroom is the fruiting body of the fungus, which only comes out occasionally.
The mushroom fruits from what is called “mycelium” -- a network of cells that are always present and usually out of sight. The mycelium is how fungi gather food, grow, and communicate with the surrounding environment. If compared to an apple tree the mushroom is the apple and the mycelium is the roots, bark, branches, and leaves. Mushrooms magically appear after heavy rain because the mycelium is always there and when the environment is just right, mushrooms pop out of the mycelial networks.
Confusingly, some mushroom supplements don’t use any mushrooms and they only use mycelium. When you look at the back of these supplements they will say at the bottom other ingredients: freeze-dried myceliated brown rice. These products are primarily not mushrooms and they mostly do not involve the mushroom fruiting body. Instead, they involve mycelium grown out on grain.
The issue here is that the mycelium and grain cannot be separated so both are extracted and placed into the capsule. It is unclear what percentage of the grain has been transformed into mycelium, so who knows how much of the product is actually fungal biomass and how much is simply undigested rice.
Only in the last 10 years has this become a wide spread product. At no other time in history have people used the mycelium as the primary source for a supplement or health aid. With this industry expected to continue to “mushroom” it is important you get a high quality product.
With products that exclusively use mushroom fruiting bodies you know 100% of that is fungal biomass and you are using the anatomical part of the fungus that has typically been used. A lot more research is needed to see if these products are equal in their efficacy. More research is also needed to know exactly what impacts mushrooms have on the human body. Most studies in the west have not been conducted on humans.
Be aware that marketing and advertising is being heavily used in the mushroom supplement industry currently. Be sure your products are actually mushrooms and do your own research as to what possible benefits are.
Understanding the liquid reishi supplement we provide
We provide both a dual-extract liquid reishi supplement as well as a powdered reishi supplement.
The reishi supplement in liquid form uses foraged fruiting bodies, mainly from Ganoderma tsugae. Other reishi supplements I’ve seen are mycelium-based products that are grown on grain. Growing reishi on grain is good for consumption, but the efficacy of its medicinal benefits as a supplement are questionable.
Furthermore, a triple extraction process is used to make the reishi supplement in liquid form. This process includes alcohol, hot and cold water. Some medicinal constituents from reishi are extracted only in water, as others are only extracted in alcohol. Using this triple extraction method works to get the most amount of constituencies in available liquid form for our customers.
Understanding the powdered reishi supplement we provide
Many people are working with medicinal mushrooms in a powdered supplement form, including the extremely popular reishi supplement.
As previously mentioned, it is critical you know exactly what you are getting when you buy mushroom supplements. Ensure that you are getting hot water extracted mushroom fruiting bodies when you select a supplement! The label on the back should guarantee beta-glucan and starch levels. We do this with the powdered supplements we supply.
If you don’t have time to add mushrooms to your meals or make your own mushroom medicine, then the bioavailable mushroom supplements we sell are a perfect alternative. If you want to leave extraction up to professions while getting the most beta-glucan content in your supplement, our product will work great for you.
Another benefit to using a reishi supplement from us is the dosage. These products have high doses of readily-available mushroom constituents. It is easier to get higher amounts in extracted supplements. You would need to eat a lot of fresh mushrooms to get a similar amount.
Reasons why the popularity of reishi supplement is growing
If you read the modern and ancient texts associated with the Ganoderma tsugae, you will find an array of medicinal benefits associated with this mushroom. Here’s a list compiled from Supplement to Classic of Materia Medica, Ben Cao Gang Mu, State Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (2000), and Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects, 2nd Edition:
- Immune system support
- Cardiovascular system support
- Enhances vital energy
- Replenishes Qi
- Supports memory
- Support with mental stress
- Helps control blood glucose levels
- Supports liver health
- It’s recommended for insomnia, dizziness, and palpitations
The list goes on, too. This is a pretty amazing mushroom, which is why we wanted to offer reishi supplement in both liquid and powdered forms to our audience.