Mushroom tea is made by steeping various functional mushrooms in hot water for several minutes until their flavour emerges, known as adaptogenic properties and helping relieve various types of stress naturally.

Certain mushrooms, like chaga, are highly valued in Eastern medicine for immune support and adrenal health, while others like lion’s mane have been shown to improve cognition in small human studies while cordyceps may aid exercise performance.

Chaga

Chaga has recently seen an incredible surge in interest, with online postings touting its health benefits and suggesting it can treat cancer and all manner of ailments. Unfortunately, there’s a limited amount of reliable information on the subject; most studies quoted come from Russia and are over 40-60 years old – we simply can’t know whether they are valid.

At first glance, chaga may not seem beneficial; for one thing it doesn’t taste pleasant like some herbal beverages do. Chaga is actually an inedible woody fungus with cork-like qualities that requires extraction for edible consumption – though most commonly seen as tea and/or tincture but can also be enjoyed in soups, smoothies, granola bars and baked goods.

To consume chaga, it should be soaked or cooked in hot water until all its beneficial compounds have been extracted. You can purchase chunks that need to be either boiled or ground into powder for easier processing; alternatively, many tea blends offer it.

Chaga contains antioxidants such as polyphenols, triterpenoids, beta-D-glucans and betulinic acid – these can all have antibacterial, antiviral and immune enhancing properties as well as UV damage protection and liver detoxification support. Chaga also contains vanillin which gives its subtle vanilla taste.

Before taking any herbal remedies, it is recommended to speak with a licensed doctor or physician, especially if you suffer from diabetes or are taking prescribed medications. Also, those allergic to Birch trees should refrain from consuming these products.

Reishi

Reishi mushrooms have long been revered in traditional Chinese medicine as a symbol of health and longevity. Reishi offers many health-enhancing benefits that help balance and nourish our bodies, such as strengthening immunity, lowering blood pressure, protecting against cell damage from free radicals, and supporting overall body balance and wellbeing.

Reishi’s health-enhancing effects can be attributed to its composition of compounds, including polysaccharides and triterpenoids that support natural immunity in the body. Furthermore, Reishi can stimulate key immune cells such as macrophages and natural killer cells as well as increase cytokine production through its presence of peptidoglycans that activate them and help increase production of cytokines.

Reishi mushrooms contain natural sedative compounds that promote restful sleep patterns, helping promote healthier sleeping patterns. This effect is caused by their interaction with GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) pathways in the brain reducing neural activity to create healthy sleeping cycles while increasing both quality and quantity of sleep.

Reishi, also known as the “Mushroom of Immortality,” has become one of the go-to remedies in Traditional Chinese Medicine for immune support and cancer treatment protocols in China. Reishi can help boost and balance immunity while simultaneously mitigating side effects related to chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

Reishi is an essential adaptogen, providing vital support to balance the nervous system and reduce stress levels. This is essential as overstimulation or under-stimulation of the nervous system can lead to various symptoms or diseases.

Reishi mushroom supplements are generally safe when taken in moderate dosage, however it can cause digestive discomfort for some individuals. For optimal results, start slowly increasing your dosage to prevent side effects. Reishi can interact with several commonly-prescribed medications like statins, and may reduce effectiveness of blood thinners like warfarin; furthermore it may slow blood clotting and increase risk of bleeding; always consult your healthcare provider prior to using Reishi mushrooms as a dietary supplement.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps is one of the most beloved adaptogenic herbs for improving energy and physical performance, often known as the Emperor’s Mushroom in ancient China. Cordyceps helps nourish endocrine, immune, kidney, reproductive systems as well as blood flow and oxygen utilization throughout the body. There are over 20 species in its genus; Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris are two popular species used for health supplements as they’re easier to grow and harvest than wild Cordyceps varieties found elsewhere.

Cordyceps polysaccharides found both naturally and cultured have been shown to promote cellular antioxidant activity and protect cells against diseases and free radicals that promote aging, thus protecting cells and prolonging lifespan. A study performed on mice demonstrated how Cordyceps taii polysaccharides significantly enhanced immune system functioning while also reversing age-related changes in gene expression levels.

Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of both natural and cultured Cordyceps to boost energy and endurance as well as increase oxygen uptake by the body, making it ideal for athletes looking to enhance their cardiopulmonary health as well as anyone seeking cardiovascular improvements.

Another notable advantage of Cordyceps herb is its anticancer effects. Studies show that Cordyceps can effectively stop human cancer cell growth in vitro and may have antitumor effects due to its antitumor properties, likely thanks to cytotoxic polysaccharides and cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine).

Cordyceps may help improve lung health and support normal pulmonary function when taken regularly, as well as increase oxygen absorption for those suffering from respiratory illness. Furthermore, this fungus is believed to reduce inflammation while strengthening immunity systems.

Recent research compared the effects of Cordyceps blend supplementation to those of placebo on aerobic performance among young healthy subjects. Researchers discovered that three weeks of supplementation resulted in significant increases in maximum oxygen consumption, time to exhaustion and ventilatory threshold.

Researchers acknowledge this is the first study examining the ergogenic effects of cordyceps in humans, and recommend further investigation with larger sample sizes and longer duration studies. If you want to maximize its benefits from an herbal remedy like Cordyceps supplementation, choose an organic Cordyceps product without fillers such as binders. Afterward, read your label carefully and always take your herbs according to directions on your label.

Turkey Tail

Turkey Tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) are polypore mushrooms found worldwide, in both temperate and tropical zones. Commonly seen on dead logs, stumps, and decomposing wood in forests as they help break down organic matter while playing an essential role in forest ecosystems, Turkey Tail mushrooms have also attracted medical researchers who are investigating its healing properties.

Like Chaga and Reishi, Turkey Tail can act as a powerful immune-system booster and provide protection from viral illnesses like colds and flu. Furthermore, Turkey Tail extracts have also been found to assist with digestive conditions, reduce oxidative stress levels in the brain, improve mental wellbeing by relieving anxiety symptoms as well as help protect against sexually transmitted diseases like HPV (which cause genital warts and cervical cancer) in recent studies.

Traditional Western herbal medicine utilizes Turkey Tail for its ability to strengthen immunity, making it useful for those suffering from chronic fatigue, seasonal allergies, or recurring infections. Furthermore, Turkey Tail can serve as an adaptogenic herb – meaning that its purpose is not simply suppressing immunity – rather it balances it out by maintaining balance within our own immune systems rather than suppressing them altogether.

Turkey tail fungus stands out among health benefits for its anti-inflammatory capabilities, proven to reduce inflammatory responses associated with chronic conditions like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, turkey tail is an antioxidant which means it protects brain tissue against any possible oxidative damage.

Turkey Tail can be found as either a powder or liquid supplement and when combined with hot water can form an effective immune-boosting tea that can be drunk throughout the day to maintain a healthy immune system or as part of an overall wellness program. Studies also indicate it may help manage chemotherapy-related side effects while possibly helping stop cancer cells from spreading further while improving survival rates in some patients(4)