We like to think of each medicinal mushroom having its own personality with individual benefits for body, mind and spirit. We often get asked, can I combine medicinal mushrooms? Do they work together? Are there certain synergies between them? In this journal entry, we will explore the world of medicinal mushrooms and provide insights into whether it is beneficial to combine different varieties.
Understanding Medicinal Mushrooms:
Medicinal mushrooms are a diverse group of fungi that possess unique bioactive compounds, including beta-d-glucans, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and other phytonutrients. As an added note, we’re one of the few companies that test our medicinal mushroom extracts for the all-important beta-d-glucans and guarantee a minimum of 30% beta-d-glucans in each and every batch.
The medicinal mushroom extracts we offer in our range include Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, Tremella and Turkey Tail. Our team here at Inner Atlas enjoy working with each of the mushrooms in very intentional ways depending on the outcome we’re seeking.
Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms:
The potential benefits of medicinal mushrooms are vast. Different medicinal mushrooms have been linked to immune system modulation, improved cognitive function, stress reduction, enhanced energy levels, reduced inflammation and increased antioxidant activity. Some of the key benefits of each medicinal mushroom are:
Reishi Benefits – Stress and anxiety support, immune health, calm mind, skin health, anti-inflammatory.
Lion’s Mane Benefits – Cognitive support, memory and focus, mood, digestive health, immune health.
Cordyceps Benefits – Energy support, athletic performance, libido, reduced recovery time, immune health.
Chaga Benefits – Energy support, endurance, skin health, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich.
Tremella Benefits – Skin hydration, cognitive health, immune health.
Turkey Tail Benefits – Immune health, digestive health, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich.
Can You Combine Medicinal Mushrooms?
You can absolutely combine medicinal mushrooms. There are no known reasons to avoid mixing any of the popular varieties of medicinal mushrooms like Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail or Tremella. While this is the case we always recommend working with medicinal mushrooms in a mindful way. When combining medicinal mushrooms it’s a good idea to keep the following factors in mind:
Take it Slow Baby:
If you’re new to medicinal mushrooms we would recommend potentially starting out with just one or two. When you’re trying something for the first time there can be a tendency to get excited and take all the mushies all at once. We get it. And excitement is a good thing! But when we’re introducing several new substances at the one time whether that be mushies, herbs or supplements it can be hard to distinguish what we’re getting the most benefit from. Starting with just one gives us the opportunity to really observe, listening to our body and the benefits we might be experiencing.
Take Note of the Total Amount of Mushrooms You’re Consuming Daily:
We recommend working with ¼ to ½ tsp of our medicinal mushroom extracts as a guide daily. Depending on your constitution or how long you’ve been working with medicinal mushrooms a slightly larger amount might work best for you. Our Inner Atlas extracts are quite concentrated and potent in comparison to other brands you might find out there so a little goes a long way. If you’re working with several mushies at once just be sure to not exceed the recommended serving size by a significant amount.
Use Medicinal Mushrooms with Intention:
Be clear on what benefits you’re seeking from working with specific medicinal mushrooms. How are you feeling and what state do you want to cultivate within yourself? In our experience, this approach allows us to not only enjoy the experience of nourishing ourselves with these potent tonics but also be more in tune with ourselves and notice any changes that may be taking place.
Synergies Between Medicinal Mushrooms:
Different medicinal mushrooms have different synergies. One can amplify the use of another allowing you to support multiple areas of your health at the same time, like cultivating energy while also managing stress levels. We recommend considering the individual benefits of each medicinal mushroom and taking it from there.
Some of our favourite medicinal mushroom combinations are:
Stress Relief, Mood and Focus – Reishi and Lion’s Mane.
The combination of Reishi and Lion’s Mane is one of our go-to’s. In times of overwhelm or when we're rising to meet a challenge, Reishi can help to keep us calm and centred while Lion’s Mane has been shown to support mood and cognitive function [1].
Read more about Reishi and Lion’s Mane for stress relief and mood support.
Stress Relief and Energy Support – Reishi and Cordyceps.
Reishi and Cordyceps is another potent combination for times when we might be feeling less than our best mentally and physically. Traditionally, Cordyceps has been used to nourish our primordial energy reserves in times of physical exertion or when recovering from illness[2].
Read more about Cordyceps for energy support.
Energy and Athletic Performance – Cordyceps and Chaga.
Cordyceps and Chaga are a potent combination for those looking to nourish their energy reserves or prime themselves for physical performance. Cordyceps has been shown to increase oxygen and blood flow[3] and support cellular energy production while Chaga is well known for its capacity to support endurance and resistance to fatigue[4].
Read more about Cordyceps for athletic performance and Chaga for endurance.
Immune Support – Reishi and Turkey Tail.
Reishi and Turkey Tail is our favourite combination when it comes to supporting immune health. They’ve been shown to enhance both innate and adaptive immunity which is key for bolstering our inner resilience.
Read more about Reishi and Turkey Tail for immune support.
Skin Radiance – Chaga and Tremella.
Chaga and Tremella are popular medicinal mushrooms for supporting skin radiance. Chaga is known to work against free radical damage to the skin helping with dark spots, fine lines, wound healing, and sun damage. Tremella is renowned for bringing deep hydration to the layers of our skin helping to promote a plump, youthful glow[5].
Read more about Chaga and Tremella for skin health.
Digestive Health – Turkey Tail and Chaga.
Turkey Tail, Chaga and Lion’s Mane each have their own set of unique benefits when it comes to supporting digestive health. Turkey Tail is a well-known prebiotic and can help restore the diversity and population of beneficial bacteria in the gut[6]. Chaga has been used traditionally for a wide range of gastrointestinal issues while in recent times it's been shown to help reduce digestive inflammation, support gastro-intestinal healing and healthy gut mucosa, as well as help to heal and prevent stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori[7].
Read more about Turkey Tail and Chaga for digestive health.
Sleep Support – Reishi and Lion’s Mane.
Our favourite combination to promote a peaceful night’s sleep is Reishi and Lion’s Mane. Reishi has been shown to not only alleviate symptoms of mental and physical stress but also increase the quality of our deep sleep[8]. While on the other hand Lion’s Mane has been studied for its potential to help us fall asleep, reducing stress and alleviating insomnia[9].
Read more about Reishi and Lion’s Mane for sleep support.
Cognitive Support – Lion’s Mane and Tremella.
Lion’s Mane and Tremella are both classed as nootropics. Nootropics are substances that improve cognitive function, memory, creativity or motivation in healthy individuals in addition to strengthening bodily systems against cognitive decline. Lion’s Mane has been studied for its ability to protect existing neurons and stimulate new neuron growth[10] while the polysaccharides and beta-d-glucans unique to Tremella mushroom have been studied for their capacity to promote brain cell growth[11].
Read more about Lion’s Mane and Tremella as nootropics.
We hope this journal entry has shed some light on synergies between different medicinal mushrooms and identifying a combination that might be right for you. We encourage you to observe, use your intuition and most of all enjoy! If you have a favourite medicinal mushroom combination, we’d love to hear about it! Leave us a comment below. As always if we can help with any questions at all please don’t hesitate to get in touch at hello@inneratlas.com.au
References:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20834180/
[2] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1749-8546-2-3
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5236007/
[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254627215301266
[5] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305078746_Mushroom_Cosmetics_The_Present_and_Future
[6] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/gmic.29558
[7] https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/708ae68d64b17c52,7004d4be6a1d3b42,14a4547841aed819.html
[8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3255119/
[9]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276152143_The_effects_of_Hericium_erinaceus_AmylobanR_3399_on_sleep_quality_and_subjective_well-being_among_female_undergraduate_students_A_pilot_study
[10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24266378/
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3763079/
