How Reishi Mushrooms Can Help You De-Stress and Relax

Many of us are in a constant state of stress without even realizing it. Juggling the never-ending demands of work, family, health, and finances in our fast-paced society without carving time to de-stress can quickly lead to burnout.

The health consequences of unchecked stress cannot be overstated, as chronic stress can seriously impact your physical and psychological health. Research has shown that chronic stress is linked with increased chronic disease and psychological factors like anxiety and depression.^[1]

While it's unrealistic to ditch your many day-to-day obligations, finding ways to relax, breathe, and de-stress as you move through your day is helpful. Thankfully, a growing body of research shows that adaptogens, like Reishi mushrooms, may help combat feelings of stress to help you relax and unwind.^[2] 

Let's explore what stress is and how adaptogen mushrooms like Reishi work to help you feel more calm and relaxed, enabling you to tackle all of life's challenges with ease.

What is Stress?

Stress is a normal reaction to change that may cause physical, emotional, or psychological pressure. When you experience stress, your body will often go into fight-or-flight mode.

This stress response triggers the release of hormones, including cortisol which increases your heart rate, slows digestion, and increases your blood sugar to give your body a burst of energy.

Unfortunately, when your stress response can't turn off, you'll be left with excess cortisol, which can wreak havoc on your physical and psychological well-being. 

What are Reishi Mushrooms?

Reishi mushrooms, known as Ganoderma lucidum, are known for their health-promoting effects and have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years.

Studies show that these powerful mushrooms contain various compounds, including polysaccharides, peptides, and triterpenoids, all of which may help counteract the negative effects of stress on your body.^[3]

How Reishi Can Help Combat Stress

Reishi acts as a functional mushroom and adaptogen. Adaptogens are naturally occurring substances that help to increase your body’s resistance to various stressors and may help protect your body from the damaging effects of stress. 

When your body is in a heightened state of stress, cortisol is released, which triggers the flight-or-fight response. On the other hand, Reishi can support your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the rest and digest system, which can slow down your heart rate, relax your muscles, and slow your breathing.

Emerging research is beginning to show us how the unique compounds found in Reishi may help relax and de-stress.

One randomized, double-blind study sought to examine the efficacy and safety of Reishi mushrooms in patients with neurasthenia, a condition similar to chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers found that Reishi positively influenced feelings of normal stress and fatigue levels among study participants.^[4] 

Another recent study found that Reishi extract may help reduce stress through the central nervous system. When given Reishi extract to mice, it appeared to have a positive effect on the central nervous system, helping to reduce the feeling of stress compared to the mice that weren't given any Reishi.^[5] 

Reishi also appears to help facilitate quality sleep which can work wonders in combating stress. Reishi was found to promote healthy sleep duration and quality in one animal study.^[6]

Choosing the Right Reishi Supplement

Stress is a normal part of life. We may not have control over what life throws our way, but we can control how we respond to life stressors. Adaptogens, like Reishi mushrooms, can help support your overall health and well-being by mitigating the effect of stress on your body.

You can find Reishi in a variety of forms, including capsule, extract, and powder; however, we prefer gummies since they are convenient and mess-free.

Each of our Reishi gummies contains the equivalent of 500mg of Reishi mushroom, and all our formulas are gluten-free, gelatin-free, and vegan-friendly. Did we mention that they're delicious too?

So, grab a bottle (or two) and experience how Reishi can help you relax and de-stress while supporting your overall health and well-being.

References

1. Crielaard, L., Nicolaou, M., Sawyer, A. et al. BMC Med. 2021. 19(242).doi:10.1186/s12916-021-02106-1.
2. Liao LY, He YF, Li L, Meng H, Dong YM, Yi F, Xiao PG. Chin Med. 2018;13:57. doi: 10.1186/s13020-018-0214-9.
3. Jones C, Gwenin C. Physiol Rep. 2021;8(24):e14644. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14644.
4. Batra P, Sharma AK, Khajuria R. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(2):127-43. doi: 10.1615/intjmedmushr.v15.i2.20.
5. Hossen SMM, Islam MJ, Hossain MR, Barua A, Uddin MG, Emon NU. Biochem Biophys Rep. 2021;27:101062. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101062.
6. Cui XY, Cui SY, Zhang J, Wang ZJ, Yu B, Sheng ZF, Zhang XQ, Zhang YH. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;139(3):796-800. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.020.