Mushroom tea is an irresistibly flavorful beverage made from functional mushrooms like chaga, reishi or lion’s mane – each known for their adaptogenic properties which may help improve sleep, cognitive performance and other aspects of health.

Psychotropic mushroom tea dates back to pre-biblical times, with evidence of hallucinogenic mushrooms surfacing in Australian and North American cave paintings. Recent research has demonstrated the benefits of medicinal mushrooms in treating many different ailments.

Chaga

Chaga, like its medicinal cousin reishi, contains many preventive and curative properties that may benefit health in many ways. Notable among these benefits are increased immunity, anti-inflammation and cancer fighting properties as well as supporting cardiovascular and digestive health systems. Furthermore, it serves as an excellent source of antioxidants necessary for overall wellbeing.

Chaga was recently shown in a study to inhibit the growth of oral cancer cells while acting as an antioxidant, blocking free radicals within cells, reducing inflammation, and protecting from cell damage.

Chaga’s anti-inflammatory effects are due to its abundance of betulinic acid, inotodiol, and other antioxidant compounds which aid the immune system. Chaga can also help balance blood sugar levels naturally while its antioxidant compounds protect against radiation damage and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Chaga has long been recognized as an effective natural aphrodisiac, believed to increase libido in both men and women alike. This may be a result of its rich content of antioxidants which protect against oxidative stress while increasing cell energy production and glycogen synthesis – helping prevent fatigue during exercise sessions.

As with any medicinal plant, it’s wise to consult a healthcare practitioner prior to using chaga. While its effects may be minimal, caution must be exercised if taking prescription drugs, pregnant or breastfeeding, overdoing it or overeating this superfood as its high oxalate content could harm kidneys if taken too frequently.

Chaga can be found growing naturally on birch trees and is consumed to promote overall wellness. A popular addition to many alternative medicine lineups, Chaga can be purchased in various forms such as tea bags, capsule supplements and even coffee blends containing it. Recently it has also become trendy ingredient in granola bars and smoothies as well as becoming trendy coffee blend additions with its cork texture being extracted via alcohol and heat extraction to become bioavailable compounds.

Reishi

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is one of the world’s most potent and versatile mushrooms, having long been considered an integral component of Eastern medicine. Long celebrated for its ability to strengthen immunity, combat fatigue, alleviate depression and promote cardiovascular wellbeing, it’s also been demonstrated as an effective natural anti-inflammatory thanks to polysaccharides, beta d-glucans, triterpenes and other bioactive components found within it that offer numerous health advantages.

Reishi’s natural polysaccharides stimulate helper T-cells, which play a critical role in fighting infection and disease. Furthermore, Reishi is known to enhance white blood cell activity – specifically natural killer (NK) cells – specialized immune system cells that target abnormal cells such as cancerous ones.

Reishi has also been proven to effectively decrease inflammation in the body by lowering nitric oxide levels and inhibiting production of pro-inflammatory compounds, while attenuating liver damage and increasing viral clearance of Hepatitis B virus. Reishi may even help prevent the onset of autoimmune conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma, or Diabetes altogether.

Reishi can help people suffering from insomnia sleep better, as studies have demonstrated its natural sedative qualities to induce deep slumber without interfering with normal nervous system or metabolic functioning or metabolism. Furthermore, Reishi is used to treat symptoms related to bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses.

Reishi can be found in many forms, from dried powders and capsules to tinctures and tea bags – although tinctures and tea bags tend to be the most potency forms. As Reishi takes some time to take effect, taking it consistently may provide greater benefits.

Although reishi is associated with few side effects, it is still wise to consult your physician prior to starting any new supplements or medications, especially if taking prescription medicines already. Aiming for accurate doses by seeking advice from practitioners.

Lion’s Mane

Closely examined, Lion’s Mane or Hericium erinaceus or “Monkey’s Head Mushroom”, appears as a shaggy ball of tightly packed threads that appear dense. This curious-looking fungus belongs to the Hericium Genus of mushrooms that also include Bearded Tooth Fungus and Pom-Pom Fungus; these share an symbiotic relationship with trees by protecting against damage or decomposition.

Lion’s mane is classified as a nootropic, which refers to medicinal compounds that enhance brain function and cognitive abilities. Nootropics work by stimulating nerve cell growth and encouraging new connections within the brain – improving mental functioning, alleviating symptoms of depression and even strengthening immunity systems. Studies indicate lion’s mane as particularly helpful for memory enhancement and focus improvement.

This mushroom also boasts anti-inflammatory properties, providing additional support in relieving anxiety and stress. A small clinical study concluded that participants who consumed lion’s mane extract experienced significant reduction in feelings of anxiety and depression after taking just two doses.

Lion’s mane provides digestive aid. It may help soothe peptic ulcers and gastritis symptoms while simultaneously improving overall GI health by decreasing inflammation and encouraging the development of good bacteria within the stomach.

Lion’s mane has a mild flavor and soft texture, making it an excellent addition to stews, stir fries, or roasted for mushroom steaks. Additionally, supplements featuring this mushroom have been proven to increase mood and cognitive performance.

Nutrients recently conducted a research study analyzing the effects of lion’s mane supplements on healthy young adults. Participants received either placebo capsules or three lion’s mane capsules daily and their results were assessed via psychological tests and questionnaires; their reactions time and mood improvement could be observed within 60 minutes after consumption of the supplements.

When looking for a lion’s mane supplement, it is important to select one that is pure and organic. Some companies use mycelium grown on grains which may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Furthermore, third-party testing should ensure the ingredients listed on its label have been present in your purchase.

Turkey Tail

Turkey tail mushrooms have quickly become one of the newest additions to our gut health obsession, quickly becoming a prebiotic (fibre that feeds good bacteria in your digestive system) and an immunomodulatory. They contain PSP and PSK compounds which act as non-specific immune support agents by helping balance immune function without targeting specific pathogens or inflammation processes.

As with other medicinal mushrooms, turkey tail is an excellent natural source of antioxidants and contains various vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids; its nutrients include iron, zinc, copper manganese niacin b-carotene Vitamin D which all help support immune health and good bodily function.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has used it successfully for various conditions, including cancer risk reduction and immune wellness promotion. Furthermore, it has proven itself an effective anti-stress and sleep aid supplement; and can reduce stress while improving quality. Furthermore, as an effective anti-inflammatory, it can help ease arthritis and joint pain symptoms significantly. Moreover, studies have also demonstrated it to boost blood sugar levels while strengthening insulin resistance – making this supplement especially valuable to those living with diabetes.

While turkey tail may not have much evidence in terms of curing cancer, it has long been used alongside chemotherapy and radiation to lessen side effects and build immunity resilience. Studies have also revealed its ability to help the body absorb more anticancer substances for use within chemotherapy or radiation treatments (60).

Enhancing Athletic Performance

Functional mushrooms might not immediately come to mind when thinking about athletic performance enhancement, but studies have demonstrated that Turkey Tail can significantly enhance endurance by increasing oxygen uptake during exercise and decreasing blood lactate production, leading to less post-workout fatigue.

Purchase of Turkey Tail mushrooms should come from reputable vendors as their appearance can often resemble other species. When shopping around, be sure to have good eyesight and magnifying glasses at hand; look out for tiny pores on their underside – approximately 2-4 per millimetre.