The 'mushroom of immortality' and nourisher of the spirit, Reishi mushroom is revered for its ability to support a sense of calm while at the same time strengthen immunity and support the body's innate ability to handle stress.
Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least two thousand years with the original textbook of traditional Chinese medicine, The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing written by 'The Divine Farmer' Shen Nong, ranking Reishi mushroom as a Superior Herb, highest among the 365 healing plants and fungi.
Our love for Reishi stems from its ability to guide the body back to a peaceful state of balance. Daoist monks and sages refer to Reishi as a Shen tonic, which loosely translates to a herb that nourishes the spirit, related to our mental, emotional and spiritual wellness. By nourishing ourselves in this way we are able to cultivate a sense of calm and peace as we move through day-to-day life.
Due to modern living, we’re often exposed to more stressors than we realise; disagreements with those we love, sleep disturbances, the influx of information and distraction from devices and environmental toxins to name a few. Exposure to micro and macro stressors can accumulate within the body where they begin to manifest physically resulting in symptoms like insomnia, inflammation, brain fog, fatigue, poor gut health, hair loss and anxiety.
The good news is we can work to reduce stress imbalances through diverting attention and energy to foundational health practices like eating as close to nature as possible, hydrating, taking time out to get into nature, connecting with friends and family, focusing on good sleep hygiene and meditating. Working with adaptogenic herbs and medicinal mushrooms can also be a great support to build a reserve of adaptive energy and inner-resilience to draw on as stressful situations arise.
We often get asked about the best mushroom for sleep support and stress relief, and our answer is first and foremost Reishi. Reishi receives a great deal of attention for its superior calming qualities, and it’s noted as the ultimate herb for stress with good reason.
Read on to discover how Reishi mushroom can work as a tool for stress management.
Reishi ~ Central Nervous System Support
The adaptogenic beta-D-glucans and triterpenes in Reishi work to relax the nervous system and ease mental stress. This is the means by which Reishi can help calm the mind and promote a relaxed state of focus similar to a meditative state. The cultivation of a sense of peace, a benefit unique to Reishi mushroom, has long been valued by spiritual seekers, meditators, yogis, and those looking to help manage the stressors of everyday life.
Reishi’s calming effect on the central nervous system can extend to support anxiety and a general state of restlessness. Often during intense periods of stress, an embedded sense of fatigue can manifest. This level of exhaustion is often attributed to an ongoing demand on the energy reserves of the central nervous system. A 2005 8-week study on 123 patients experiencing neurasthenia (fatigue, headache, irritability) uncovered that the participants experienced a significant reduction in fatigue while supplementing Reishi during the test period[1].
Reishi ~ Peaceful Sleep
A calm nervous system is not only essential for tackling the demands of our waking life with ease, but also for preparing for deep, good quality sleep. Often heightened states of stress and anxiety go hand in hand with insomnia. We’ve all been there, those times when you feel so tired and are desperate to sleep yet the mind and body cant quite wind down enough to deliver us to rest. Studies have demonstrated that the triterpenes in Reishi have the potential to soothe the nerves, promoting a sedative quality that can help to ease insomnia. The accumulative effect of taking Reishi mushroom across a long-term basis has also been shown to increase states of deep sleep[2]. For this very reason, we love enjoying a ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Reishi in a cup of warm water as tonic tea to help promote a dreamy, peaceful sleep.
Reishi ~ Mental Support
Lack of focus and impaired memory can be apparent during times of stress and unfortunately, challenging times are often those when we need to draw on our mental reserves the most! While Lion’s Mane is often looked to for cognitive support, Reishi also comes with a host of its own brain nourishing benefits.
A 2017 study revealed that the polysaccharides in Reishi mushroom help regulate the death of nerve cells in the brain and inhibit oxidative stress promoting significant neuroprotective effects[3]. Additionally, Reishi’s naturally occurring triterpenes have also been found to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF). The same study also found that Reishi can support mitochondrial biogenesis in the brain[4]. Mitochondrial biogenesis is the process by which our cells increase mitochondrial levels. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells and high energy-requiring tissues within our bodies, such as the brain are highly dependent on mitochondria to function at an optimum level.
If you’re looking to cultivate a state of steady calm Reishi could be your new ally.
Our Inner Atlas Reishi is:
- Semi-wild crafted, grown on hardwood in natural environmental conditions.
- Certified USDA & EU Organic.
- Grown Di Tao – sourced from the pristine and remote Jinzhai County, Anhui, China.
- Fruiting body only – 100% real mushrooms with no added fillers or mycelium.
- Lab-tested for purity.
- Highly potent, containing greater than 30% beta-D-glucans (the active compounds).
References:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15857210/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3255119/
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28761429/
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22633948/
