If your nervous system has been running like it’s permanently ‘on call’ (wired at night, foggy in the morning, reactive during the day) you’re not alone. Our fast-paced lives are loud with distraction, decisions, commitments, deadlines, schedules and lists — and yes, we say lists even though we love a good daily list.
While there’s no single silver bullet for feeling calm, clear-headed and resilient, medicinal mushrooms can be a beautifully supportive piece of the puzzle. We like to aim for regulation (steady, grounded, responsive) so we can operate within this complex modern world without being consumed by it. Nervous system support is about building capacity, so you can meet life without your body sounding the alarm at every turn.
In this journal entry, we shed light on medicinal mushrooms that can support the nervous system, and how to integrate them within the rhythm of your day.
What Does Nervous System Support Actually Mean?
Your nervous system is your internal communication network, in its most simplistic physical sense, the brain, spinal cord and nerves, which are constantly scanning for safety and threat.
When it’s supported, you tend to notice:
- Greater emotional steadiness and stress resilience.
- Deeper sleep and smoother energy (less crash-and-burn).
- Clearer thinking, better memory and focus.
- Less “fight/flight” reactivity in your body.
When it’s under-resourced (stress, poor sleep, inflammation, overstimulation), your baseline can drift toward dysregulation. In this instance you may notice sensations like feeling anxious, flat, fatigued, snappy, foggy, or all of the above.
Medicinal mushrooms don’t replace foundational nervous system practices, but they can act as steady daily allies, supporting stress pathways, neuroinflammation, cognition, and recovery.
Medicinal Mushrooms for Nervous System Support
Lion’s Mane ~ Clarity, Cognitive Support & Nerve Nourishment
In the mushroom world, Lion’s Mane leads the way when it comes to supporting brain and nerve health. You may have heard it discussed in the context of ‘neurotrophic’ activity, meaning it can support the growth and maintenance of neurons (nerve cells). Specific compounds in Lion’s Mane (including hericenones and erinacines) have been studied for their relationship to nerve growth factor (NGF) and neuroplasticity. [1]
Research carried out earlier this year has continued to delve into Lion’s Mane’s potential to optimise cognitive performance and mood-related outcomes in healthy young adults, much to the excitement of the biohacking community. [2]
We Reach for Lion’s Mane:
- When we want more mental crispness without stimulation
- When our focus is scattered (too many tabs open… internally and externally)
- When we’re building a ‘brain-support’ routine that feels gentle and consistent
Anecdotally: Lion’s Mane is one of those mushrooms people often describe as ‘I didn’t notice it… until I realised I’m less foggy and more present’. It’s subtle — less like a hit, more like a slow return of signal.
Reishi ~ The ‘Exhale’ Mushroom for Stress & Rest
Reishi has a long traditional history for supporting a sense of steady calm, sleep and overall resilience. Modern clinical research has looked at Reishi extracts in the context of supporting fatigue, wellbeing, and stress-related symptoms (including a randomised, double-blind trial in people with neurasthenia — a syndrome associated with fatigue and nervous exhaustion). [3]
Reishi is often highlighted as a prime adaptogenic mushroom; not sedating you into shutdown, but supporting the stress response so you can access rest more easily.
We Reach for Reishi:
- In the evening to support our nightly wind-down routine.
- During high-stress periods when the body feels ‘buzzed’.
- When we want to support sleep quality.
Anecdotally: Reishi is the mushroom our community comes back to when they want that my body can finally unclench feeling. Some describe more vivid dreams or deeper sleep, especially when paired with consistent bedtime cues.
Tremella ~ Soft Support for Stress Pathways & Brain Resilience
Tremella is most commonly touted as the beauty-shroom, known for hydration and skin support, but it holds its own when it comes to stress-related and neuro-supportive effects. A 2025 study investigated Tremella fuciformis extracts in a chronic stress model and found improvements across behavioural and neurochemical/inflammatory markers. [4]
We Reach for Tremella:
- When stress is showing up as dryness, depletion and frayed edges.
- As part of a replenish & regulate stack with Reishi.
- When we want gentle, supportive nervous system care that doesn’t feel pushy.
Anecdotally: Tremella tends to feel like nourishment. Working with Tremella is like having a more ‘juicy’ baseline — not just physically, but emotionally (less brittle, more buffered).
Cordyceps ~ Restoring Energy when Stress has Drained the System
When fatigue is stress-driven (not just tired, but depleted) the nervous system often needs support at the level of energy production and recovery, not stimulation. This is where Cordyceps enters the chat.
A comprehensive scientific review on Cordyceps explores decades of research its role as a tonic for weakness, exhaustion and reduced vitality, particularly following prolonged stress or illness. [5]
Rather than acting like a stimulant, Cordyceps appears to support the body’s ability to utilise oxygen, regulate metabolic and endocrine function, and recover from fatigue — processes that are closely tied to nervous system resilience. When stress has kept the system in overdrive for too long, this kind of foundational energy support can help shift the body out of survival mode and back toward steadier regulation.
We Reach for Cordyceps:
- When stress shows up as flatness, burnout or running on fumes.
- In the mornings, to support sustainable energy without anxiety.
- Alongside grounding practices, so increased energy feels stabilising rather than edgy.
Anecdotally: Cordyceps is often described as restorative rather than stimulating — helping people feel more capable in their bodies, with energy that lasts through the day instead of spiking and crashing. That sense of physical capacity can be deeply regulating for an overwhelmed nervous system.
How to Work with Medicinal Mushrooms for Nervous System Support:
If you want a starting point:
- For a sense of calm & sleep support: start with Reishi
- For clarity, cognition & nerve health start with Lion’s Mane
- For stress depletion & softness: add Tremella
- For fatigue & recovery (especially in the morning): consider Cordyceps
A gentle support stack for regulation and revitalisation might look like:
Reishi (PM) + Lion’s Mane (AM), then layer Tremella or Cordyceps depending on what your body is asking for.
Additional Practices that Support Nervous System Regulation:
Medicinal mushrooms can go a long way, but your nervous system also thrives on signals of safety, rhythm and recovery. Here are a few high-impact practices we come back to again and again:
Build “bookends” for your day
Your nervous system loves predictable cues. Try:
- Morning light within an hour of waking (even 5–10 minutes).
- A slow start: warm drink, a few deep breaths, gentle movement before screens.
- Evening dimming: lower lights, reduce stimulation, same bedtime window.
This isn’t about perfection, it’s about consistently letting your body know: we’re safe enough to downshift.
Regulate through the body, not just the mind
When you’re dysregulated, thinking your way out can feel impossible. Here are some simple practices that can be drawn upon throughout the day.
- Longer exhales (e.g., inhale 4, exhale 6–8 for 2–5 minutes).
- Humming or singing (simple vagus-nerve-friendly cues).
- Slow strength & walking to discharge stress chemistry.
- Warmth (shower, magnesium bath, tea) when you feel wired.
These are tiny, nervous-system-native inputs that shift state without requiring too much effort.
As always we’re here to help. We love hearing your thoughts, questions and comments. Drop a comment below or get in touch via hello@inneratlas.com.au . Here’s to staying regulated, revitalised and resilient!
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