Medicinal Mushrooms Explained: Lion's Mane, Reishi & Cordyceps
Share
Medicinal Mushrooms, Explained
Lion's mane, reishi, and cordyceps. Three mushrooms. Three radically different mechanisms. One guide that tells you exactly what each one does and why.
They're not magic. They're chemistry.
Medicinal mushrooms have been used in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicine for over two thousand years. And for most of that time, their effects were attributed to something mystical. We now know it's considerably less mystical and considerably more interesting.
Fungi are not plants. They're a kingdom of their own. Their cell walls are made of chitin (the same material in insect exoskeletons), not cellulose. They breathe oxygen and exhale CO2, just like animals. And some species have evolved incredibly sophisticated compounds that interact directly with the human immune system, the nervous system, and cellular energy pathways.
The three mushrooms most supported by modern clinical research are Lion's Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps. They work through entirely different mechanisms, which is both what makes them confusing to people and what makes them so useful once you understand which is which.
Meet the three
Click through each mushroom to understand what it actually does inside your body.
Lion's Mane is the only food or supplement known to stimulate Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) production in the brain. NGF is a protein that maintains and regenerates neurons. As we age, NGF production declines, which is associated with cognitive decline, memory loss, and mood disorders.
The active compounds responsible are hericenones (found in the fruiting body) and erinacines (found in the mycelium). Both have been shown in cell and animal studies to cross the blood-brain barrier and directly stimulate NGF synthesis. Human trials show improvements in mild cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, and focus after 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use.
One particularly striking 2009 double-blind study in Japan found that older adults with mild cognitive impairment who took Lion's Mane for 16 weeks showed significantly improved cognitive function compared to placebo. When supplementation stopped, the improvements reversed over 4 weeks. This suggests the effect is real, active, and dependent on continued use.
Called "Lingzhi" in Chinese medicine and "The Mushroom of Immortality," Reishi is the most revered medicinal mushroom in Asian tradition. Its reputation isn't unfounded. Modern research has identified its key mechanisms as immunomodulation and adaptogenic stress response, with secondary effects on sleep quality and cardiovascular health.
Reishi's active compounds fall into two categories: beta-glucans (polysaccharides that directly activate immune cells) and triterpenoids (which act as adaptogens, modulating cortisol and inflammatory pathways). The combination is unusual. Most immune-boosting supplements are stimulatory. Reishi is modulatory, meaning it helps the immune system respond appropriately rather than just activating it indiscriminately.
For sleep, Reishi's triterpenoids interact with GABA-A receptors, producing a calming effect without sedation. A 2012 study found significant improvements in sleep quality and duration in people with neurasthenia (a condition characterised by fatigue and sleep disturbance) after taking Reishi for 8 weeks.
Cordyceps became globally famous when Chinese athletes broke world records at the 1993 World Championships, and their coach attributed the performances to Cordyceps supplementation. The Western scientific world was sceptical. Twenty years of research later, the scepticism has mostly dissolved.
Cordyceps' primary active compound is cordycepin (a nucleoside analogue). Its key mechanism: it increases the ratio of ATP to ADP in cells, effectively improving cellular energy availability. In muscle cells, this means greater output and faster recovery. In respiratory tissue, it increases oxygen utilisation efficiency.
A 2016 randomised controlled trial found that healthy adults taking Cordyceps militaris for 3 weeks significantly improved their VO2 max (maximal oxygen uptake) compared to placebo. This is the gold standard measure of aerobic capacity. Improved VO2 max means better endurance, better recovery, and more usable oxygen at any given intensity level.
It also has a notable effect on testosterone through a different mechanism than Tongkat Ali: Cordyceps appears to stimulate the Leydig cells in the testes to produce more testosterone via increased luteinising hormone sensitivity.
Why extract quality changes everything
Here's something the supplements industry doesn't advertise loudly: most mushroom supplements contain minimal active compounds. The reason comes down to whether the product is a whole mushroom powder or an extract, and if it's an extract, what's actually in it.
Mushroom cell walls are made of chitin, which is indigestible. If you swallow whole mushroom powder, most of the active compounds remain locked inside cells your digestive system can't break through. Extraction (typically with hot water, alcohol, or both) breaks those cell walls and concentrates the bioavailable compounds.
Beta-glucan content is the key marker. Look for this on labels. Quality Lion's Mane products should specify at least 30% beta-glucan content. Products that don't specify are often mycelium-on-grain products where much of what you're consuming is starch from the substrate the mushroom was grown on, not actual mushroom compounds.
High-quality extract
- Beta-glucan content listed (ideally 30%+)
- Dual extraction method (hot water + ethanol)
- Fruiting body used (not just mycelium)
- Third-party testing certificate
- No fillers or flowing agents
Low-quality product
- No beta-glucan percentage stated
- Mycelium-only or mycelium-on-grain
- Whole mushroom powder without extraction
- No third-party testing
- Starch content high (substrate residue)
Our Lion's Mane extract is standardised to 30% beta-glucans, dual-extracted from fruiting bodies grown on certified substrate. Our Cordyceps militaris is extracted to 25% polysaccharides. Our Reishi is standardised to 20% polysaccharides and 4% triterpenoids. Third-party certificate of analysis available for all products.
How to actually use medicinal mushrooms
Morning: Lion's Mane or Cordyceps
Both have activating rather than sedating effects. Take Lion's Mane with your morning coffee or tea for a synergistic focus effect. Cordyceps is best taken 45 to 60 minutes before exercise or a demanding workday.
Evening: Reishi
Reishi's calming, GABA-modulating effect makes it ideal taken 1 to 2 hours before sleep. Many people mix it into a warm drink with oat milk. The slightly bitter, earthy flavour is an acquired taste, but a small amount of honey helps.
With food or without?
With food is generally fine and improves tolerability. Cordyceps in particular can cause mild digestive discomfort in sensitive individuals when taken on an empty stomach. Lion's Mane can be taken on an empty stomach without issue for most people.
How long to take them
Daily consistent use for a minimum of 8 weeks is necessary to evaluate real effects for Lion's Mane and Reishi. Cordyceps shows measurable results faster, often within 2 to 3 weeks. Most people use medicinal mushrooms continuously without cycling, unlike some adaptogens.
Stacking mushrooms together
The three mushrooms have complementary mechanisms and no known interactions that reduce their effectiveness when combined. In practice, the most popular combinations are:
Lion's Mane + Reishi: An excellent combination for anyone dealing with burnout, brain fog, and immune vulnerability simultaneously. Lion's Mane rebuilds cognitive function while Reishi modulates the immune stress response and improves sleep.
Cordyceps + Lion's Mane: Ideal for high-performers and athletes who need both physical output and mental clarity. This combination is increasingly popular in the biohacking community for obvious reasons.
All three: Known as a "comprehensive mushroom stack." The compounds in these three species have no known negative interactions. Many people find the combination provides a stable baseline of energy, focus, immunity, and sleep quality that they notice most acutely when they stop taking them.
Questions, answered honestly
Explore Herb Terra Mushroom Supplements
Dual-extracted fruiting body extracts, standardised for beta-glucan content, third-party tested for purity.
Shop Medicinal Mushrooms