What is the Best Reishi Mushroom Supplement in 2017?

Last Updated on June 13, 2019 by Marc Seward

What are Reishi Mushrooms?

Reishi mushrooms also commonly known as linghzi have played an important role in Chinese traditional medicine for many hundreds of years or more. These mushrooms are used for a wide variety of health conditions including immune health, fatigue and even cancer prevention.

As Eastern tradition spreads and modern science starts to confirm that these traditional uses have merit, reishi mushroom supplements are becoming ever more popular in the West. As demand grows, so too does supply and there is an ever increasing list of manufacturers keen to sell you their product.

This article will give you some general information about the health benefits you can expect from reishi mushroom supplements and then look at the relative merits of the best supplements on the market today. We hope that after reading the article, you will be able to decide whether you should be taking this supplement and also to choose the best supplement for your personal needs.

The Health Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms

1) Immune Health

Reishi mushrooms and supplements are full of health boosting substances including antioxidants and other compounds with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Taking a reishi mushroom supplement can help bolster the immune system and protect against disease and is especially useful for anyone with a weakened immune system.

2) Heart Health

Reishi mushrooms contain triterpenes which help reduce blood pressure and improve blood-clotting.

Supplementing with reishi can also help improve circulation and reduce inflammation in your arteries which lowers the risk of serious heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

3) Liver Health

Reishi mushroom supplements can help detoxify the body and cleanse it of harmful toxins. This prevents the liver from becoming overworked and helps it operate more effectively. There are even some preliminary studies that indicate reishi mushrooms can help the liver regenerate healthy cells.

4) Respiratory Health and Allergies

The triterpenes present in kava may also help reduce histamine release and the consequent allergic reactions. Triterpenes can suppress allergic reaction and prevent common symptoms like watery eyes, sneezing and blocked nose.

5) Inflammation

Reishi mushrooms and supplements made from them can help to reduce inflammation throughout the entire body. It can help decrease internal inflammation as well as painful inflammatory conditions like arthritis.

6) Cancer Prevention

It is early days, but studies looking at the effects of reishi mushrooms in protecting against cancer have been promising.

Who Would Benefit From a Reishi Mushroom Supplement?

Reishi mushrooms are very well-known for their ability to bolster your immune system so they are especially helpful for people with a compromised immune system. That includes people undergoing cancer treatment, those with auto-immune diseases like HIV and even those moving past middle age since the immune system becomes weaker with age.

But the benefits of reishi mushroom supplements are not limited to specific groups of people. Pretty much anybody could benefit from an immune system boost. They also contain a blend of potent antioxidant which are essential to protect us from the harmful effects of free radicals and even help to slow down the aging process itself.

Choosing the Best Reishi Mushroom Supplements

Reishi supplements are widely available these days in many different forms including powders, capsules and teas.
Raw reishi mushrooms are not easily absorbed by the body which is why taking a supplement is a good option. You should check what method was used to extract the mushroom because is a major factor in the supplement’s potency and effectiveness.

Reishi mushrooms come in several different types including purple, black, red, yellow and white. The black and red reishi mushrooms are the most beneficial with red considered to be superior.

What are the Best Reishi Mushroom Supplements?

Choosing the correct brand of supplement is never an easy task especially if you are new to the supplements market. To help you make you decision easier, we have compiled a list of what we believe are some of the best reishi supplements available today and taken a look at their relative merits.

1) Reishi Extract Powder – Real Mushrooms

This reishi mushroom extract from Real Mushrooms is sourced in China where it is hand picked and cultivated in a way that gives it some extra potency. This high quality product comes in a 30 gram pack and contains a good amount of triterpenes and beta-glucans which give the extract its beneficial qualities.

There have been comments from some users that the taste is overly bitter because of its triterpene content and while comments are generally positive, the price is a little steep.

Pros

• More potent than most because of method of extraction.
• Contains triterpenes and beta-glucans.
• Certified Kosher and organic.
• Suitable for vegans.
• Non GMO.

Cons

• This is a relatively expensive product compared to many of its competitors.
• It has a bitter taste that some people find too strong.

2) Reishi Mushroom Elixir Mix – Four Sigmatic

This product from Four Sigmatic contains more than just mushrooms. In fact, this reishi mushroom mixture also contains mint, licorice, and the natural sweetener – stevia.

This product is sold in a boxed package containing 20 packs of organic red reishi which was log-grown. Each pack is 1000 mgs of reishi extract and contains beta-glucans (15%) and triterpenes (2%)

Pros

• Log-grown and dual extracted reishi mushrooms ensure potency.
• Certified organic.
• Suitable for vegans.
• Comes with licorice root, star anise and mint all of which confer added health benefits.
• Contains both triterpenes and beta-glucans.

Cons

• Contains stevia which many people do not like.
• Only a small amount of reishi mushroom extract in each packet.

3) Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder – Health Ranger Select

Health Ranger Select offers a reishi supplement extracted from mushrooms grown in the US. Unfortunately, the extract is derived from the non fruiting bodies of the mushrooms and therefore contains no triterpenes. This means that you do not get the full health benefits that you get from some of the other products in our list.

According to most users, they taste ok and are quite palatable and they are not especially expensive. Despite not containing the beneficial triterpenes, user revies are generally positive regarding its effects on their immune system.

Pros

• The taste is not as bitter as some.
• The price is very fair.
• Certified organic.

Cons

• This product does not contain triterpenes.
• Myceliated brown rice has been added.

4) Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder – Sun Potion

This reishi mushroom powder from Sun Potion comes in a jar containing 100 grams or reishi powder. Again, the mushrooms are harvested in the US but unlike the previous brand, they are derived from the mushroom’s fruiting body. Users have been generally positive about this supplement saying it has improved their immune health and also boosted their energy.

Pros

• Certified organic.
• Good taste.
• Extracted from the fruiting bodies of the reishi mushrooms.
• Positive reviews.

Cons

• This supplement is relatively pricey.

5) Reishi Mushroom Tea – Buddha Teas

If you are one of the many people who enjoy a cup of healthy tea, this may be the best option for you. This reishi product is sold in a box containing 18 reishi mushroom tea bags with each bag containing around 1.3 g of reishi mushroom extract.

Pros

• Convenient and easy to use tea bags.
• Non GMO.
• Certified organic.

Cons

• The amount of reishi mushroom extract in each bag may not be sufficient for many consumers.
• The taste is rather bland but not unpleasant.

Potential Side Effects

Taking a reishi mushroom supplement is regarded as safe so long as you use them correctly. A gram to a gram and a half each day is considered to be a safe dose.

There have however been some reports of adverse side effects when a person takes too much or the supplement is used for a long time. They include stomach upset, dry mouth and dizziness.

You should always speak to your doctor or health care expert before taking any new supplement and this includes reishi mushrooms.