Mushroom tea is an easy and accessible way to reap the health-promoting benefits of functional mushrooms. From soothing reishi tea before bed, immune-enhancing chaga tea, or turkey tail brew to enhance focus in the morning, mushroom tea brewing is customizable according to your desired outcome.

Reishi

Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), also referred to as “lingzhi”, or the “herb of immortality”, is one of the oldest Chinese herbal medicines and revered as an effective healing herb, used for millennia to treat fatigue, asthma, liver ailments and to promote longevity. More recently it has been studied for its cancer preventative properties; recent laboratory studies show it inhibited tumor growth while stimulating natural killer cells which attack cancerous cells directly.

Reishi mushrooms contain beta-glucans, complex sugars which have been shown to both slow or stop tumor growth as well as prevent cancer cells from spreading. They may also reduce inflammatory reactions associated with high blood pressure and diabetes; reduce triglycerides; improve cardiovascular health by raising good cholesterol levels in blood; and possibly even prevent high blood pressure or diabetes from worsening over time.

Reishi can also help treat chronic fatigue syndrome, an ailment not relieved by adequate rest. Reishi is believed to strengthen immune function and may help lessen symptoms associated with myasthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis autoimmune conditions, as well as helping treat viral infections, high blood pressure, altitude sickness and ulcers.

Reishi is generally safe for healthy adults; however, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it as well as people who have bleeding disorders, those undergoing surgery, or are taking blood thinning drugs (blood thinners). Furthermore, its consumption may increase the risk of side effects from medications that influence blood clotting.

For Reishi Tea, bring two to three cups of water to a boil in a pot or kettle and simmer mushrooms for 20 to 30 minutes before straining through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to separate solids from liquid. Depending on how long and how many mushrooms are used in your tea-making session, the strength will depend upon the length of time spent simmering and amount of solids left behind after separating out liquid from solids; you can reuse strained solids again later.

Chaga

Chaga is a parasitic fungus found on northern climate birch trees that looks similar to burnt bark in appearance and often misinterpreted for cancerous growths. Although intimidating at first sight, Chaga can actually provide immense health benefits to humans by way of immune boosting compounds as well as protection from cell damage. Enjoying Chaga in tea form is one of the best ways to enjoy this mushroom!

Chaga can be turned into tea by simmering chunks in a crockpot for several hours – this process may take time, but the rewards are well worth your efforts – producing an aromatic and potency tea you can enjoy alone or mix into other drinks. Chaga’s strong antioxidant properties help reduce inflammation while simultaneously balancing blood sugar levels; additionally it provides energy as well as being rich in minerals such as potassium, zinc, iron selenium copper and magnesium – not forgetting its source of nourishment for energy production!

Chaga can also be taken in supplement or tincture form for added benefits. To make a tincture, combine chunks or powder with vodka or another alcohol; let sit for one month, and then take daily as needed. It can also be found as an ingredient in many energy drinks and coffee blends as well as at local health food stores or online.

Though chaga has become trendy recently, it is actually an ancient herb with numerous health benefits. One impressive aspect is its high level of antioxidative activity – some reports estimate chaga to score over 36,000 on the ORAC scale (the more antioxidants a food has, the better). Chaga also boasts antibacterial, fungal, viral, hypoglycemic and antimutagenic properties – additional bonus!

As well as enjoying Chaga tea, its healthful properties can also be utilized in smoothies and granola bars, or brewed into coffee for its rich flavor and additional health benefits. If this is your first experience with mushrooms, start small by experimenting with various flavor profiles, dosage amounts and brewing methods until you find your preferred method and mushroom-related product(s).

Lion’s mane

Lion’s mane is an easily recognized wild sight, often appearing as clusters of white spined spheres resembling a lion’s mane (hence its name). Wild Hericium erinaceus grows on hardwood trees like ash, beech and oak while it is widely cultivated and sold at stores and farmers markets worldwide for consumption or retail sale. A favorite edible mushroom that can be found throughout North America Europe Asia it has meaty texture similar to scallops or lobster in flavor as well as beneficial properties that help protect liver spleen and lung health while traditional Chinese medicine values its benefits for liver, spleen and lung health as well as consumption for cognitive health and focus benefits – much-appreciated edible mushroom!

Studies conducted to date indicate that Lion’s Mane may help promote healthy nerve cells and inhibit amyloid plaque formation associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, it could reduce oxidative stress while improving cognition through stimulating nerve growth factor production – however more clinical trials must take place before these claims can be verified.

Lion’s mane is generally safe for most individuals; however, it may interact with medications, such as blood thinners, or cause stomach upset or other digestive symptoms in some individuals. As it can alter blood sugar levels, however, lion’s mane should not be recommended to people living with diabetes.

Mushroom tea is an easy and tasty way to reap the therapeutic properties of these remarkable fungi, with the added advantage of being gentle on your digestive system. Explore various combinations of mushrooms and brewing methods until you find something perfect for yourself – you might create teas that perk you up, calm you down or help focus depending on your mood, needs or preferences – have fun experimenting!

Turkey tail

Mushroom tea is an enjoyable way to reap the health benefits of functional mushrooms, from immune support and stress relief, cognitive enhancement and gastrointestinal wellbeing – it’s the ultimate beverage that satisfies these health objectives! To create the most potency possible from mushroom tea brewing experience, dry or fresh mushrooms must be properly prepared prior to infusing with water; this will maximize their bioactive compounds during brewing process and give maximum bioactive compounds release during brew process.

To properly prepare mushrooms for tea-making, it’s essential that they be ground into a fine powder or broken into smaller pieces – this increases surface area and allows more water to absorb into them during brewing. When using dried mushrooms it’s also good practice to pre-hydrate them by placing them on a baking tray in an oven set at the lowest temperature setting with only the door slightly open – this allows more of them to absorb into their surroundings during brewing.

Turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) make stunning additions to forest ecosystems, adding color and vibrancy. As part of nature’s recycling team, these colorful fungi break down tough materials like lignin and cellulose into nutrients for new plant life to grow from. Turkey tail mushrooms serve as colorful reminders that healing and regeneration occur naturally – serving as colorful bridges between life and death that connect natural cycles of renewal and repair.

Turkey tail mushrooms are an effective medicine with multiple health-giving benefits, including immunomodulatory, antiviral and GI protection properties. It has proven especially helpful to those undergoing cancer treatments as it reduces side effects while strengthening immunity. Furthermore, turkey tail’s prebiotic properties help promote gut health by feeding beneficial bacteria to help increase digestion.