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Reishi

Adaptogen ·Moderate evidence ·Reviewed May 2026

The 'mushroom of immortality' in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Premier immune-modulating mushroom with calming, sleep-promoting properties. Ideal evening adaptogen.

Evidence tier
Moderate
Indexed sources
17 2003–2025
Interactions
7
Cost / month
$10.50 budget
Read the sources → Compare profiles
What it's good for
  • Immune modulation6,5
  • Sleep quality7,11
  • Stress reduction
  • Anti-inflammatory3
What to watch for
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • GI upset
  • Blood thinners
  • Upcoming surgery

The bottom line

Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: immune modulation, sleep quality, stress reduction. 17 sources indexed (2003–2025), with 7 interaction records on file.

The science

How it works, mechanistically.

Core mechanism

Triterpenes (ganoderic acids) inhibit histamine release and modulate inflammatory cytokines. Beta-glucans (polysaccharides) activate innate immune cells (macrophages, NK cells, dendritic cells) via Dectin-1 and TLR receptors. Triterpenes also inhibit 5-alpha reductase and support liver detoxification.12

Class
Medicinal Mushroom
Found in food
Not palatable as food; too bitter and woody
Low-status signs
Not applicable
Dosing

Dosing & protocol.

Common range
1,000–3,000 mg daily (or 500mg concentrated extract)
Recommended form
Dual extract (hot water + alcohol) capturing both polysaccharides and triterpenes

Best taken in the evening for sleep support

Dosing protocol

Maintain · 1-3 g/day extract; 200-1000 mg of standardized hot water extract

Rare hepatotoxicity case reports; check ALT/AST if used long term.

No cycling requiredNo tolerance buildup
Forms

Forms & what to buy.

Ranked by evidence and value.

Dual Extract Reishi Recommended
Rank 1: water plus alcohol extract for beta-glucans and triterpenes. Limited direct form-comparison evidence; ranking is based on review or mechanistic data (PMID: 40427395). Often best practical full-spectrum choice.
Premium500-1500 mg/day
Hot Water Reishi Extract
Rank 2: beta-glucan focused extract. Look for beta-glucan testing.
Mid500-1500 mg/day
Reishi Spore Oil or Powder
Rank 3: spore-derived specialty form. Cracked spores are more usable than intact spores.
PremiumUse label dose
Cost

What it actually costs.

Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Dual Extract Reishi.

BudgetBest value
$10.50 /mo
$0.35 per dose
Mid
$21.00 /mo
$0.70 per dose
Premium
$42.00 /mo
$1.40 per dose

Assumes 1,000-3,000 mg/day. Vendor basis: iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon marketplace, and specialty mushroom brands; dual extracts and fruiting-body products drive premium pricing. Updated 2026-05-28.

From food

The same dose, as food.

How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.

1,000-3,000 mg reishi
About 1-3 g dried reishi powder, 1-3 cups reishi tea, decocted reishi slices, mushroom coffee blends, or reishi broth can approximate the powder dose.

Reishi is woody and bitter, so it is usually consumed as tea, powder, or extract rather than food.

Goals

Goal-based dosing.

Immune Support

Dose: 1,000-3,000 mg daily5,6

Timing: With food

Clinical dose evidence: PMID 22696372.

Lab work

Markers to track.

What to test, the optimal window inside the conventional range, and how long a response takes.

Salivary Cortisol Diurnal Slope Cortisol Slope

Ganoderma lucidum (1 to 3 g per day) shows modest effects on subjective stress and sleep quality; cortisol effects are inconsistent.1,2

Optimal
3–6 ratio (AM/PM)
Conventional
2–7 ratio (AM/PM)
Responds in
Subjective endpoints over 4 to 8 weeks; cortisol shifts variable.

Track sleep quality (PSQI) and subjective stress scales alongside cortisol. Reishi can rarely cause LFT elevation; check ALT/AST if used long-term.

ALTAST
Safety

Full safety detail.

Side effects

  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • GI upset
  • Hepatotoxicity (rare but potentially fatal; risk increases with alcohol use)

Contraindications

  • Blood thinners
  • Upcoming surgery
  • Liver disease
  • Autoimmune conditions
Interactions

Interaction records.

InfoSynergy

Ashwagandha

Both support immune modulation and stress adaptation through complementary mechanisms.

Recommendation: Combine for immune support plus stress reduction. Reishi at night pairs well with ashwagandha's calming effects.

ModerateCaution

Melatonin

Both have sedative properties. Reishi contains triterpenes that modulate GABAergic signaling. Combined with melatonin, may cause excessive drowsiness.

Recommendation: If combining, start with low doses of both and use only at bedtime. Monitor for excessive sedation.

InfoSynergy

Chaga

Chaga and reishi are both medicinal mushrooms providing beta-glucan polysaccharides, often stacked for complementary immune-modulating and antioxidant support.

Recommendation: Reasonable to combine. Note that both may have mild antiplatelet activity, so monitor for bruising or bleeding if also using anticoagulants or before surgery.

InfoSynergy

Turkey Tail

Turkey tail and reishi are both beta-glucan-rich medicinal mushrooms that modulate innate immune cell activity through complementary mechanisms, supporting an additive immunomodulatory effect.

Recommendation: Can be taken together as part of a mushroom blend for immune support. No timing restriction is needed.

InfoSynergy

Cordyceps

Cordyceps and reishi are medicinal mushrooms commonly stacked for immune-modulating and adaptogenic support, providing overlapping beta-glucan content.

Recommendation: Reasonable to combine. Reishi in particular may have mild antiplatelet activity, so monitor for bruising or bleeding if also using anticoagulants or before surgery.

InfoSynergy

Lion's Mane

Reishi and lion's mane are frequently stacked in nootropic and wellness blends, pairing calming and immune support with neurotrophic cognitive support.

Recommendation: Reasonable to combine. Reishi may have mild antiplatelet activity, so monitor for bruising or bleeding if also using anticoagulants or before surgery.

InfoSynergy

Acyclovir

Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) polysaccharides have antiviral activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in vitro, and a small clinical study reported faster recovery of herpes labialis and genitalis with reishi-containing formulas. Evidence for additive benefit with acyclovir is preliminary, but no pharmacokinetic interaction is established, and the combination is biologically plausible.

Recommendation: Reishi may be used as a low-risk adjunct during HSV outbreaks while taking acyclovir, but it should not replace antiviral therapy. Be aware reishi has mild antiplatelet activity at high doses; stop before surgery.

Search all 7 interaction records for Reishi →

Sources

Sources, by evidence tier.

Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.

Meta-analyses & systematic reviews

5

Randomized controlled trials

4

Reviews & position papers

6

Reference material

2
Keep exploring

Deep dives & adjacent profiles.

Goal hubSleepGoal hubImmune Support
Turkey TailHerbChagaHerbApigeninOtherLion's ManeAdaptogenCordycepsAdaptogenAshwagandhaAdaptogen

This page is educational. Do not start, stop, or change a supplement or medication based on it without checking with a qualified healthcare professional.

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NutriStack is an informational and organizational tool, not a medical service, and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.