Reishi
Also known as: Ganoderma lucidum, lingzhi, ling zhi, reishi mushroom
Reishi is a hard, woody, reddish mushroom that's been a cornerstone of East Asian herbal traditions for over two thousand years (Chinese: lingzhi). Too tough to eat, it's taken as a tea, powder, or extract. People use it mainly for immune support, a calmer stress response, and better sleep. It's one of the most-studied medicinal mushrooms, though results vary by preparation and dose.
What it is
Ganoderma lucidum owes its activity to two compound classes that require two different extraction methods: water-soluble polysaccharides (beta-glucans), which drive most of the immune-modulating effects, and alcohol-soluble triterpenes (ganoderic acids), linked to its calming and other effects. This is why quality reishi extracts are often "dual-extracted."3
Commonly used for
Sleep: a 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis concluded reishi can improve sleep quality in people with insomnia; mechanistic work in animals points to gut-microbiota and serotonergic pathways rather than direct sedation.12
Immune support: controlled trials and reviews report that reishi can up-regulate immune-surveillance cells (NK cells, T-lymphocytes) at the doses used in studies.3
Typical dosing
Study doses span roughly 1.5–3 g/day of extract (crude-mushroom-equivalent doses run higher and vary enormously by preparation). For sleep, it is taken in the evening. Potency depends heavily on extract type — a gram of crude powder, a gram of hot-water extract, and a gram of 8:1 concentrate are not interchangeable.13
Route of administration
Oral, as tea, powder, capsules, tinctures, or dual-extracted concentrates.
Storage & handling
Store at room temperature, away from heat, light, and moisture.
Common considerations
Reishi can interact with blood thinners and may lower blood pressure and blood sugar — relevant if you take anticoagulants, antihypertensives, or diabetes medication. Human studies span a very wide dose range, reflecting how different the preparations are. Consult your provider before use.
References
- 1. Effect of Ganoderma lucidum on sleep quality in insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Front Pharmacol, PMC) Systematic review
- 2. Ganoderma lucidum improves sleep via gut-microbiota and serotonergic pathways (mechanistic, mice; PMC) Review
- 3. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) monograph (StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf) Fact sheet
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Individual needs, contraindications, and responses to supplementation vary, and decisions about starting, stopping, or modifying any supplement or medication should be made in consultation with a physician, pharmacist, or other appropriate professional. References are provided to authoritative sources; STACK Tracker does not endorse any specific product or brand.