Mushrooms such as chaga, reishi and turkey tail have seen an increased popularity for their ability to alleviate stressors such as immune support and mood regulation. Although all mushrooms contain medicinal benefits, adaptogenic varieties help support your body in managing these stressors for balance and longevity.

These functional mushrooms differ from psychoactive or hallucinogenic varieties that produce altered states and vary legally in legality, as GT’s Living Foods offers uplifting mushroom tea elixirs designed to boost immunity, calm your mind and improve cognitive performance.

Chaga

Chaga is an adaptogenic herb and mushroom widely recognized for its immune-enhancing benefits, long used by people across Northern Europe, Russia, Siberia, Alaska and Canada for centuries. Chaga grows on the bark of birch trees like an “scab”, with charcoal-black exterior with cork-like interior.

Chaga extracts can be purchased in various forms such as tinctures, tea bags and powders. When selecting one of these products it’s essential to understand how its extraction process affects its nutritional value – for instance choosing a tincture with both alcohol and hot water extraction is best as this will allow your body to absorb all compounds dissolved by both processes; not the case with many products using only alcohol extraction alone.

An effective chaga tincture should contain a ratio of one part alcohol/chaga to two parts hot water. This ratio allows beneficial compounds in chaga to quickly be absorbed into your bloodstream, and as an infused beverage rather than raw. Raw chaga can be bitter or unpleasant depending on its quality of alcohol or hot water used during processing.

Brewed chaga tea has an exquisite, sophisticated flavor profile that balances sweetness with floral and earthy tones, creating an experience similar to cacao with less bitterness, neutrality of rooibos but without floral sweetness, and full body of black coffee without acidity. While not every palate will find this a pleasing experience, all who taste it appreciate its balanced complexity of taste.

Chaga is an incredible tonic that’s best enjoyed with other nourishing herbs and spices. At our wellness tonic bar, we’ve combined this potency-boosting mushroom with Lion’s Mane and Turkey Tail to craft an exceptional herbal infusion to strengthen immunity, increase mental focus, and extend endurance for winter wellness tonic.

Reishi

This fungus, popularly referred to as the “Mushroom of Immortality,” has been utilized for millennia as part of traditional medicine, symbolizing immortality. Indeed, more revered than ginseng itself at one point; some even believed it held magical qualities. Said to contain antiviral and immunomodulating properties and has even been shown to strengthen immune system function, its use has long been utilized.

Reishi has a long and rich history, yet only recently has the scientific research behind it begun to take off. Ganoderic acids and glucans found in mushrooms thought to boost immune system response while studies have confirmed increased white blood cell production; in addition to helping prevent tumor growth while aiding cellular healing.

Reishi tea can also help relieve stress and is often recommended to those suffering from insomnia or anxiety. Reishi has been found to reduce heart rate, blood pressure, support a healthy liver, improve sleep quality and fight fatigue – making it the perfect accompaniment before meditation sessions or as an evening wind-down routine.

Reishi fruiting bodies contain triterpene, which gives them their bitter flavor and may have been evolved as a deterrent against animals eating them naturally. They’re also covered with sticky spores which may irritate sensitive lungs. For these reasons, many consumers turn to supplements containing reishi powders, capsules or liquid drops which are easily mixed into beverages for easy absorption.

Reishi can inhibit blood clotting, making it vitally important to refrain from taking it during surgery, the weeks preceding and postpartum of childbirth and pregnant women taking warfarin (blood thinner). As always, before beginning any supplement regimen it is wise to consult a healthcare provider prior to doing so – particularly those living with chronic illnesses and taking any medications.

Lion’s Mane

Have you taken ginseng, ginger or ginkgo biloba for stamina, circulation or focus improvement? These ancient remedies date back centuries; in recent years however, another herbal medication known as “lion’s mane” mushroom is becoming popular because of its purported abilities to enhance brain functioning and enhance immunity.

Hericium erinaceus, commonly referred to by its Latin name Hericium erinaceus, grows on tree trunks or forests throughout North America and Europe, eventually producing clusters of white spines that resemble either the mane of a lion or bear’s teeth when fully developed. Minnesota hosts three Hericium species related to Hericium erinaceus: bear’s tooth fungus (Hericium americanum) and coral tooth fungus (Hericium coralloides).

Scientific research into the health benefits of hericium erinaceus is still evolving; however, laboratory experiments have demonstrated its ability to promote neural growth in cultured brain cells and support cognitive function.

Animal studies have also demonstrated hericium erinaceus’ antioxidant and immune-supportive properties, as well as its presence of beta-glucans which fuel beneficial bacteria within the gut and promote overall digestive health.

Though small clinical trials indicate that Hericium erinaceus could potentially help improve cognitive performance, results of such trials have been mixed and doses used were much higher than what is typically consumed as a supplement.

Consuming hericium erinaceus as food or supplement is generally safe; however, those allergic to mushrooms should avoid this herb, along with those suffering from autoimmune diseases and pregnant women taking blood thinners should steer clear, according to Messer.

Hericium erinaceus can significantly affect blood sugar levels, so it should not be consumed by people with diabetes. Furthermore, this supplement could have adverse interactions with certain medications – including antidepressants and cholesterol-lowering agents – so starting at a lower dosage and gradually increasing it would be ideal to decrease any risk. As always when beginning something new it’s wise to seek medical advice first before making decisions regarding supplements.

Turkey Tail

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) is an adaptogenic mushroom known for promoting immune system health and gut wellness, as well as its antiviral properties which may help manage conditions like herpes or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Turkey Tail Fungus (Chlamydosporium turkestanicus) is an extremely tough bracket fungi species found on decayed logs. With its fan-shaped appearance and vibrant concentric bands of color that earned it its moniker, its true appeal lies within its medicinal uses.

Beta-glucans present in mushrooms have been demonstrated to enhance immune system performance and decrease inflammation, acting as powerful detoxifiers and decreasing symptoms associated with leaky gut syndrome, including intestinal permeability and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

As with other mushrooms in this category, Turkey Tail can help support healthy cholesterol levels and blood sugar management, and contains several B vitamins that may support energy production and normal nerve function.

Turkey Tail can help boost immunity as well as detoxify the liver. It may assist with treating hepatitis and fatty liver disease as well as aiding digestion so your body absorbs nutrients more efficiently.

Though commonly employed in herbal medicine, this fungus has only recently been studied scientifically. Some studies have demonstrated its potential use as a support system in cancer treatments by mitigating side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation while simultaneously building immune resilience.

Because turkey tail fungus grows similarly to Microporus, they may often be mistaken for each other. But there are distinct differences in coloration, texture and pore structure which help differentiate them. Turkey tail has vibrant multicolored bands with velvety textures while Microporus features muted brown-beige tones on a smooth or leathery surface – characteristics which help identify both of them easily.

Always ensure your identifications of wild mushrooms is certain when gathering them, whether using trusted field guides or joining local foraging groups. In case of uncertainty, experts advise examining the underside of each mushroom to understand its pore structure.