Stress, a plague of the modern world. With so many demands on our time these days, from working to raising children, caring for parents and seniors, to keeping up with a deluge of global information from myriad media sources, combined with our disconnection from our natural circadian rhythms thanks to electric power (it is early in the morning, it is dark outside, and my children are asleep as I type this, so I know what I am talking about firsthand!). But should you use reishi mushroom for anxiety?
Do Reishi Mushrooms Help With Anxiety?
Reishi mushroom is considered the number one outstanding tonic herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
It has been used in Asia for over 2000 years and is the most researched fungi in the world.
Preliminary research suggests that Reishi mushroom can help with anxiety, as well as improve people’s quality of life. Its stress-relieving quality is due to its high amounts of polysaccharides and triterpenoid chemicals, according to early studies.
A reishi mushroom supplement for anxiety and stress is excellent because it works in our lives in a variety of ways.
You can find our favorite capsules, powders, and tincture’s on the following pages of our website and learn more about each individually:
Best Reishi Mushroom Supplement
Best Reishi Mushroom Mushroom Gummies
The class of herbs that may support our ability to grow stronger under pressure are adaptogens, so called because they help us to adapt. One shining star which stands out in this category is red reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum “derma lucidum” refers to their glossy skin). Reishi has health benefits that are broad-ranging in effects, in addition to supporting our stress response.
Reishi seems also to be working on the HPA, improving the functioning of the adrenals themselves. This makes Reishi a wonderful herb to choose to help quiet the mind, reduce anxiety, promote sleep, ground and center us, and cultivate greater resistance to stress over time.
It is an antimicrobial for viruses, bacteria, and other fungi like candida. It is anti-inflammatory and supports the immune system, and it also promotes heart, liver, and kidney health. But reishi is focused on its ability to improve our ability to deal with life’s curve balls for this discussion.
Exercise stresses our muscles, joints, and cardiovascular systems to make us stronger, more flexible, and more durable. Most people are familiar with the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder, but there is also a lesser-known phenomenon called post-traumatic growth, wherein major stress (war, terrorism, imprisonment) is a catalyst for positive changes.
If we can recognize that stress is always going to be present, sometimes mild, sometimes disastrous, sometimes negative, sometimes positive, sometimes real, sometimes perceived, sometimes voluntary, and sometimes external, the physical and mental health strategy then becomes supporting our capacity to react to stress in our systems, so we are stronger and resilient in advance of the next event. The stress from physical activity becomes a positive when we give our bodies time to recover before we repeat an activity, while bad coaching may result in injuries rather than strength. Similarly, the goal is to help ourselves to gain the benefits from mental and emotional stress instead of being knocked down by it.
Reishi Calms Your Nervous System
Reishi mushroom for anxiety has the unique ability to reduce stress by nourishing and relaxing the central nervous system.
Reishi mushroom has a long history in Asia, and it has been used for its soothing qualities as well as nerve-strengthening properties.
Anyone who is suffering from anxiety or depression might benefit from eating foods that support the central nervous system and balance neurotransmitters. Reishi mushroom is one of those options.
Many processes in the body, including communication throughout the body and brain activity, as well as every cell, tissue, and system in the body, are regulated by neurochemicals. Neurotransmitter imbalances have been linked to a variety of mental illnesses, including sadness, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and norepinephrine are four important neurotransmitters that are thought to control emotions.
Neurasthenia is a mental, physical, and emotional weariness illness that is often linked to depression, anxiety, or emotional strain. Symptoms include lassitude, tiredness, head pain, irritability, and unhappy mood. Chronic fatigue syndrome is often mistaken for this illness. This issue stems from the depletion of the central nervous system’s energy reserves, which is due to contemporary life.
A research of 132 persons with neurasthenia discovered that taking a Reishi supplement for 8 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in fatigue and an overall improvement in well-being.
Reishi mushroom has a soothing effect on everyone. Its effects appear to accumulate with time, improving your nerves and outlook on life over the long term.
Reishi fungus, when ingested, puts one in a calm yet trance-like state. Some people have likened the experience to meditation. For this reason, monks and spiritual sages have been using Reishi for millennia as part of their meditation practice to enhance it.
The Reishi mushroom is one of the most potent mushroom teas for anxiety. Enjoy a hot cup of tea and feel more at peace and centered.
Reishi Adrenal Benefits and Support
Stress is perceived by the nervous system, and a signal is sent to the command centre of the brain (the hypothalamus), which, in turn, sends the message to the adrenal glands, stimulating release of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine (a.k.a. The targets of stress response modulation, thus, involve both the nervous system as well as the HPA, or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Reishi Helps Alleviate Insomnia
Reishi covers the bases on everything. It is a nerve tonic that relieves alarm signals from reaching your brain. In particular, reishi may relieve insomnia, especially if sleep problems stem from a busy mind that refuses to shut down. The same mind-agitation that impedes sleep at night causes anxiety in the wake hours, making reishi useful all day long.
Additional Resources:
Does Reishi Mushroom Increase or Decrease Testosterone?
Updated 10/19/2022
