Reishi mushrooms for stress and anxiety

Stress is one of the reasons for most of the modern age diseases and health conditions. Between raising children, caring for parents, and working, coupled with our detachment from natural circadian rhythms, it is completely understandable stress creeps in our everyday life.

Stress is an external influence that causes a mental, physical, or emotional reaction within us. This happens for the purpose of maintaining balance. Stress can be both negative and positive state. Doing something exciting, like for example planning a birthday party, can involve an element of stress. Another example is exercising. It puts stress on our muscles, cardiovascular system, and joints, but at the same time make us stronger. Stress may be the catalyst for positive change. There are many cases of people experienced a great deal of stress (war, terrorism, near death experience), that causes them to grow mentally and physically. (1)

Adaptogens are a class of herbs that can support our ability to grow stronger while facing stress. Reishi mushroom is one of the most effective adaptogens. Its health benefits are not limited to supporting our stress response. This mushroom holds antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immune system support, and promotion of heart, liver, and kidney health properties. You can read more for Reishi mushrooms, but now let’s focus on its ability to enhance our capacity of coping with stress.

Our nervous system perceives stress and signals the hypothalamus (the command center of the brain). Then it relays the message to the adrenal glands stimulating the release of stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline). Reishi mushroom is like a nerve tonic that eases the signal sent to the brain. Reishi can solve your insomnia problems, particularly when it is provoked by an active mind that won’t turn off. This same reason that keeps you awake at night triggers anxiety during waking hours. This makes reishi really helpful.

Reishi improves the functioning of the adrenal glands. This makes it the perfect herb for easing the anxiety and calming the mind, promoting sleep and makes us adaptive to stress over time.

If you ask yourself is it safe, the answer is pretty much positive. Just keep in mind that it can improve blood sugar levels and lower high blood pressure, so there are possible drug interactions with diabetic or antihypertensive medications. Also, if you have a mushroom allergy, reishi wouldn’t be your best choice of herb for fighting stress. There is some evidence of Reishi spores causing skin sensitivity, too. (2)

Reishi is not an edible mushroom. Common delivery methods are capsules and tinctures. Depending on the strength of the final product and the individual needs, the appropriate dosage may vary. Nowadays, there are beverages like reishi coffee, hot chocolate, and reishi tea which contain reishi mushroom powder. By drinking it, people can get it in a dose without changing their current routine.

So if you feel pressured by life or you’re heading into an exciting new stage of your life and want to be at your best, reishi mushroom is an excellent choice. It will help you thrive and enhance many aspects of your mental and physical health.