If you want the full benefits of mushroom supplements, consistency is key. Think of mushrooms like a great diet or workout routine—the more regularly you use them, the better the long-term results. Most people notice a difference in 2-4 weeks of daily use, though some feel effects sooner!  Your hair and nails will grow faster, you’ll have more energy because of improved sleep quality and more patience and less stress.

Mushroom extracts are concentrated, making them much stronger and more bioavailable than raw mushroom powder. The active compounds (like beta-glucans and triterpenes) are pulled out using hot water and alcohol extraction, ensuring you get the maximum health benefits in every drop or capsule.  Mushroom powder, on the other hand, is simply ground-up mushrooms so not nearly as beneficial.

Many of the important compounds in mushrooms dissolve in water, but some can only dissolve in alcohol. When alcohol is added in a high enough amount (more than 25%), it causes the water-dissolvable compounds to separate. Research shows that alcohol extracts from mushrooms, like Reishi and Cordyceps, have health benefits. For example, hot water extracts from Reishi mushrooms have been shown to fight cancer growth, while water extracts can help protect our DNA from damage. By using both water and alcohol extracts together, you get two different kinds of beneficial compounds. Alcohol also helps preserve the extracts, so they last longer without going bad.

Mushrooms are powerful sources of medicine, but they can also absorb harmful substances like heavy metals.  Pollutants from the air and water can end up in the soil, and mushrooms can take them in. That’s why it’s so important that mushrooms for supplements are grown in clean, pollution-free environments and follow organic growing practices. Mushrooms reflect the quality of the environment they grow in, so choosing mushrooms grown organically can help ensure their safety and effectiveness.  Always ask your supplier questions like: "Where are your mushrooms grown?" or "Do you test for pesticide residues?" The answers to these questions will give you an idea of how safe and high-quality the mushrooms are.

Research has shown that using a blend of different medicinal mushrooms is the most effective way to support the immune system. A mix of polysaccharides and other compounds from different mushrooms works together to boost immune cells, like macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells. Each mushroom has unique components that activate a wider range of immune receptors, which helps the body’s natural defenses. For example, a case study showed that using a blend of four different medicinal mushrooms helped a breast cancer patient fully recover. In addition to immune support, mushrooms have other health benefits—like fighting tumors without harming healthy cells, improving liver and kidney function, and even supporting nerve regeneration in some cases. Overall, using a blend of mushrooms can offer a strong, natural approach to improving health, especially for those dealing with stress or illness.

Yes, mushrooms should always be cooked before eating. When raw, they don’t offer much nutritional or medicinal benefit. Many experts, including nutritionists like Andrew Weil, agree on this. The cell walls of mushrooms, especially certain important compounds like protein-bound polysaccharides, are difficult to digest without heat. For example, raw shiitake mushrooms can pass through your system undigested, but once cooked, they become digestible. This is because their tough structure is made of chitin, a hard substance found in the mushroom's exoskeleton. To get the most benefit from medicinal mushrooms, always cook them first. Mushrooms can even cause infections if eaten uncooked, especially in people with weak immune systems. Cooking helps prevent this and ensures the mushrooms are safe to eat.

It’s important to first talk to your oncologist or a qualified healthcare provider before trying any treatments. Cancer is different for everyone, so it’s hard to say which mushroom is the best. While there are only a few clinical studies done so far, we know that certain mushrooms contain special compounds that can help boost the immune system and fight tumors. Research has shown that a combination of several different mushrooms can have a stronger effect on the immune system than just one type on its own.  The five “hero mushrooms are chaga, reishi, lions mane, cordyceps and turkey tail and are generally considered to be the most effective as a blend.

Yes, many studies show that medicinal mushrooms can help people who are going through chemotherapy or radiation. Several mushroom species, such as Maitake and Reishi, have been found to protect and help regenerate cells damaged by these treatments. In one case, a woman with advanced breast cancer fully recovered after using chemotherapy along with alternative therapies, including a daily 4-mushroom tea blend. Research also shows that using a mix of different mushrooms can help boost the immune system, increase natural killer (NK) cell activity, and even extend survival in cancer patients. So, if you're undergoing treatment, it may be helpful to talk to your doctor about using mushroom products as part of your care.

Medicinal mushrooms, like Reishi, are known as "biological response modifiers." This means they help regulate the immune system without over activating it. While they do promote the production of cytokines and interleukins (which are part of the immune system), they don't cause too much excitement in the body. Instead, they modulate the immune response, making them anti-inflammatory. Additionally, these mushrooms stimulate the production of antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, which helps protect healthy tissue from damage while boosting the immune system. They also produce nitric oxide in macrophages, which plays a role in controlling inflammation. Some mushrooms, like Reishi, contain steroid-like compounds (lanostanic triterpenoids) that help reduce inflammation even as the immune system is activated.

Not necessarily. While many studies use hot water or alcohol extracts, newer methods have shown equal or better results. For example, research by Ghoneum, Matsui, and Ohtomo has shown that mycelium (the root-like part of mushrooms) grown on sterilized rice can be just as effective for immune health, even though it has low beta-glucan content. The mycelium converts sugars in the rice into helpful compounds, including arabinoxylanes, triterpenoids, and ergosterols (which are a form of Vitamin D). Additionally, using live mycelial extracts at low temperatures preserves its natural antibiotics, which can be destroyed by heat. These live extracts can help fight microbes and viruses, which are linked to diseases like cervical cancer, liver cancer, and certain gastrointestinal cancers. Overall, while fractionating mushrooms into specific parts can be helpful, whole mushroom extracts offer a broader range of immune benefits.