Similarly to maitake, reishi mushroom is a powerful adaptogen. In fact, reishi mushrooms have a laundry list of benefits supported by both anecdotal and research-backed data that has been compiled over the past 2000 years. One of reishi’s adaptogenic benefits is its ability to support a positive and healthy response to stressors, whether they are emotional, physical or environmental. A healthy response to stress provides the baseline for the health of many bodily systems, particularly the endocrine system.

Women of all ages can experience difficulty sleeping, but poor sleep is commonly reported by women undergoing menopause. Reishi can provide assistance to those who want support for high quality sleep. Many of reishi’s benefits are attributed to various triterpenes including sterols and ganoderic acids. One of the many benefits of reishi’s particular triterpenes are that they can greatly aid in falling asleep and sleep quality. It’s important to note that triterpenes are not water soluble, so you’ll want to use reishi in tincture-form to get these compounds. The nice thing about reishi is that as an adaptogen, you can still take this tincture any time. Those who take reishi in the morning notice a calm, collected feeling throughout the day whereas people who take reishi in the evening report easier, better sleep. That means that if you’re looking for a calming mushroom with effects similar to chamomile (but better) then reishi is a great option.

Reishi is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM as the, “Mushroom of Immortality” for a plethora of reasons, but one in particular is reishi’s affinity for supporting skin health. Extracts and serums of reishi are commonly found in K Beauty and luxury beauty ingredient panels. Reishi is one of those skin-supporters that not only provides benefits when applied topically, but also when consumed as a supplement. Topically, reishi extracts have been shown to have a positive effect on skin hydration and on transepidermal water loss. Topical reishi extracts have also been shown to be PH balancing and help with hyperpigmentation. There’s even some interesting skin healing products being created out of woven or gel-form reishi fruiting bodies after they have been extracted for supplement use. When taken internally, reishi benefits the skin through a variety of means, but primarily from reishi’s ability to soothe non-disease-related-inflammation (although this is a topical benefit as well). Reishi also supports the skin from the inside out by supporting healthy hormones, which play a huge role in oil regulation in the skin.

There are many mushrooms in the reishi (ganoderma) family and they have overlapping benefits, as well as unique benefits. We offer North American Red Reishi (Ganoderma tsugae) as well as Artist’s Conk aka white reishi (Ganoderma applanatum).

Learn more about Red Reishi

Learn more about Artist's Conk

Lion’s Mane is a phenomenal mushroom that can provide brain support for just about anyone, but women in particular should be interested in supporting their brain health. Since women tend to live longer on average, we are disproportionately affected by cognitive issues when compared to men. It's important to keep our brains as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Lion’s mane is a nootropic and as such, its primary benefits relate to the brain and nervous system - like supporting healthy focus and cognition. It also provides phenomenal mental energy, and when combined with chaga it makes a great coffee alternative. That’s not all it's good for though!

Read 3 Benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom

Compounds from Lion’s Mane have been studied for their ability to support a positive mood in menopausal women, reducing indefinite complaints significantly compared to the placebo group. The women noted that they had a more positive mood, and healthy concentration levels. Lion’s mane has been shown to support a positive mood (for both women and men) in several studies and it’s no wonder why. We can sum it up in a riddle, Lion’s Mane, it’s for your brain! Some customers even say it's similar to cleaning the clutter out of your brain.

Speaking of the brain, let’s talk about the gut! It’s been established for quite some time now that the brain and the gut affect each other tremendously. Lion’s Mane provides two-fold support for the gut. Firstly by providing the well known prebiotic, beta glucan. When extracted in a double extract tincture or a tea, beta glucan still acts as a great prebiotic, but without the bulk of the mushroom’s cellular material. For people who find that their prebiotic makes them feel gassy or bloated, taking prebiotics in liquid form, tincture or tea, can be a game changer. The second way that Lion’s Mane supports the gut is by supporting the brain with its nootropic properties. This way you promote your gut health from multiple angels, with a single product.

Learn about another mushroom for gut health, Turkey Tail

Maitake, Reishi and Lion’s Mane seem almost perfectly catered to the needs of women, but I’d be missing an opportunity if I left out these two additional mushrooms. Chaga and Tremella. For women who are interested in natural beauty Chaga and Tremella are the perfect fit!

Chaga is technically not a mushroom, it's a different part of the fungal organism called a sclerotia. Chaga is fantastic for the skin, hair and nails. Like reishi, chaga also works both inside and out to support healthy skin and hair. Chaga is rich in antioxidative compounds like fungal melanin. When applied topically, antioxidants help protect skin from pollution and other environmental damage. Chaga is also rich in beta glucan, which has been shown to be a better moisturizer than hyaluronic acid as well as support an even skin tone. Amino acids from chaga can help to support wrinkle reduction and protect the skin. As for hair, chaga has been used as a hair rinse and soak for centuries. There are incredibly promising studies showing that alcohol soluble compounds (triterpenes) from chaga can help with hair growth and quality.

Check out our Chaga Skin Cream

Tremella mushroom has been used to achieve glowing skin for centuries. You may also hear it called “Witches Butter” as it was thought to be the secret to the youthful appearance of “witches.” You’ll find tremella included in many lotions, creams and serums for its ability to moisturize and support a healthy skin barrier. It can be tough to find in the ingredients panel, as some skincare items list this mushroom as; mushroom extract, tremella sp extract, snow mushroom, silver ear mushroom, white jelly fungus and more. The polysaccharides in tremella are small enough to permeate the skin and are renowned for their benefits, supporting a youthful glow and hydration from the inside out. This one is a rarer find in our area, but an interesting mushroom for beauty nonetheless!

Learn more about Mushrooms for the Hair, Skin and Nails