Functional mushrooms such as chaga, lion’s mane and cordyceps are becoming increasingly popular as powdered extracts that can be added to tea or coffee beverages. Their benefits have been touted to range from increasing energy levels to even helping prevent cancer.

Four Sigmatic’s Reishi Mushroom Hot Caca Mix (10 packets for $20) and Reishi Elixir make specific health claims, such as supporting liver function and helping you sleep more soundly, as well as general wellness and heart health claims.

Ingredients

Reishi mushrooms are a key component of Four Sigmatic’s products, including their elixir, hot cocoa mix and tea powder. According to Four Sigmatic research, Reishi supports sleep cycles as an adaptogen (a natural substance that helps the body adapt to stressful situations). Furthermore, Reishi is touted for its liver-detoxifying abilities that reduce risk of heart disease. They harvest them from southeast China where they boil them for several hours until all water and alcohol has been removed before sprinkling them with pressurized hot air before leaving behind only polysaccharides and triterpenes as their two main constituents: polysaccharides and triterpenes as main constituents of Four Sigmatic products.

Elixir and hot cocoa mixes from Reishi Labs contain dried reishi powder, providing approximately 500 milligrams per serving, while tea powders incorporate it with other mushrooms and botanicals such as lion’s mane mushroom, chaga and turkey tail for additional benefits. Each tea product from Reishi Labs targets specific goals like stress management and cognitive enhancement.

Reishi Mushroom Tea Is an Encounter Between Science and Tradition

Few functional foods combine science with tradition as effectively as Reishi mushroom tea does. Backed by decades of scientific research, its long history includes healing properties. Reishi mushrooms have long been recognized in Asia as a superfood; Four Sigmatic has built upon this reputation by offering consumers robust scientific credibility with messaging that doesn’t alienate consumers with overly complex messages.

Benefits

Four Sigmatic offers mushroom-infused beverages like coffee, tea and cacao as healthier alternatives to traditional caffeine sources. Their products contain functional mushrooms like chaga and lion’s mane which have been touted to improve immune health, boost focus, support memory retention and decrease stress levels while potentially treating various illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression.

Reishi products from this company claim to have a calming effect and aid sleep quality, according to their maker. Reishi acts as an adaptogen, helping the body deal with stress more easily while encouraging relaxation of both mind and body. Reishi has also been said to promote cardiovascular health, detoxify livers and protect against seasonal allergies.

Reishi mushrooms have long been used as part of Chinese medicine to increase energy levels and mental function, with research yielding mixed results; for instance, one human study demonstrated it helped strengthen immunity and reduce frequency of colds; other research did not produce similar findings. Reishi contains high concentrations of oxalates that can inhibit nutrient absorption as well as damage kidneys over time.

Four Sigmatic’s Reishi comes from southeast China, where it’s prepared in water and alcohol before passing it through a spray-drier to remove liquids through pressurized hot air pressure. Four Sigmatic claims this process concentrates its key active ingredients – polysaccharides and triterpenes – making their product distinct from others on the market that use whole or ground reishi and do not extract its main active components in this way.

Yeung frequently receives inquiries from cancer patients regarding using mushroom products while going through chemotherapy because the effects on their immune systems remain unclear, however he advises these consumers against doing so due to potential interactions with certain medications and supplements, plus that such products contain chaga and lion’s mane mushrooms which haven’t been scientifically proven beneficial in any form.

Directions

Four Sigmatic grows reishi mushrooms in southeast China and uses a spray-drying process to concentrate their key components of polysaccharides and triterpenes, adding herbs and natural ingredients for enhanced palatability and interactions with medication such as antidepressants and anti-hypertensives. Their hot cocoa and elixir brochures tout its effectiveness as contributing to general wellbeing, lower blood pressure, reduced heart disease risk reduction, insomnia relief, as well as helping promote overall wellbeing.

Recipe

Reishi mushroom tea may taste bitter, but it’s an effective way to boost immunity and fight disease, including cancer. Reishi can be found at some Chinese herbalists; however, its easy enough for anyone at home to make. Just add dried mushrooms to boiling water for 30 minutes before letting the tea steep for another 30.

Tea can be stored for up to one week in a glass bottle. You can drink it warm or cold; though ideally in the morning would be best. Furthermore, other herbs like licorice root or peppermint can be added for increased flavour while decreasing bitterness.

Reishi can also be made into a tincture that will last from months to years, which you can find online health stores selling. Unfortunately, however, not every store carries it and the tincture can be expensive; therefore it is essential that the highest-grade reishi is chosen.

Four Sigmatic’s reishi products contain organic ingredients without using sugar or artificial sweeteners, and do not include artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Furthermore, Four Sigmatic sells teas tailored for specific benefits – focus, energy and sleep being among them – made with ingredients like lion’s mane mushrooms (lion’s mane and chaga), turkey tail mushrooms (chaga) as well as L-theanine and lemon balm.

Reishi has long been utilized in traditional and holistic medicine, providing natural immune system benefits such as natural immunity boost, antiviral properties and antioxidant protection. Unfortunately, Reishi should not be taken by those taking blood thinners, chemotherapy drugs or diabetic medication because it could interfere with treatment; similarly it’s best avoided in cases of liver disease or diabetes as it could reduce glucose levels significantly.