Reishi Mushrooms: Whole vs. Extract and What You Need to Know

Z Natural Foods is dedicated to providing our customers with a diverse range of high-quality medicinal mushrooms in their most versatile forms. 

Our carefully produced Organic Reishi Mushroom products preserve their potent compounds, earthy flavor profile (with complex cacao-like notes), and trademark calming effects, reflecting our commitment to quality. 

Reishi mushroom is not only considered one of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s (TCM) top tonics, but also a highly undervalued Shen tonic that supports the mind, heart, and spirit. 

Today, we aim to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Reishi mushroom and mushrooms in general, so you have all the information you need to make an informed purchase decision.

1) What is the difference between medicinal and culinary mushrooms, and where does reishi fit into this range? 

In simple terms, Reishi is a woody, tough polypore medicinal mushroom that is inedible raw; it must be extracted to get its true benefits. People traditionally simmer reishi for hours into a bitter tea or process it into dual-extracted tinctures and powders.

However, to answer this question correctly, I need to clarify an important point. Culinary and medicinal mushrooms overlap in their properties and uses. For example, the culinary button mushroom is commonly used in many recipes. However, although they are not studied specifically as potent sources of medicinal compounds, they still contain reasonable amounts of antioxidants and other compounds. 

In contrast, Maitake and shiitake are medicinal mushrooms widely used in the culinary world and have been extensively studied as potent sources of a wide range of non-starch polysaccharides, including chitin, beta-glucans, alpha-glucans, hemicellulose, mannans, xylans, and galactans. That said, three specific qualities seem to draw a line between the two:  

1. Primary purpose: Culinary mushrooms like button, portobello, and oyster are often chosen for flavor, aroma, and texture, while medicinal mushrooms like chaga, lion's mane, and turkey tail are valued for potential therapeutic, adaptogenic, immune-modulating, and cognitive health benefits. 
2. Active compound concentration: As noted above, both forms contain a wide range of active, nourishing compounds. Culinary mushrooms provide basic nutrition, vitamins (like Vitamin D), and minor antioxidants, but at lower levels relative to medicinal mushrooms. Although they are technically a complete protein (containing all 9 essential amino acids), they have a low protein density of 2-4 grams per 100 grams. Medicinal mushrooms possess dense concentrations of targeted bioactive agents such as beta-glucans, triterpenes, and polysaccharides.
3. Form, administration, and regulatory status: Culinary mushrooms are regarded primarily as whole foods and dietary staples and are usually cooked, sautéed, roasted, or added fresh to meals. The vast majority of medicinal mushrooms are often woody, bitter, or unpalatable to eat whole. Therefore, they are typically processed into concentrated extracts, powders, capsules, tinctures, or teas. In traditional herbal practices (such as Traditional Chinese Medicine) and clinical/scientific research, they are categorized by their specific health-supportive actions. 

2) What are some unique qualities of Reishi mushrooms?

Red Reishi primarily consists of complex carbohydrates, including water-soluble polysaccharides, triterpenoids, proteins, and amino acids. Thanks to modern tissue-culture techniques, we know reishi has around 16,000 genes that code for more than 200,000 compounds, and 400 are active constituents. 

Reishi acts as a natural forest decomposer. It is a selective white-rot fungus that decays wood and produces specialized extracellular enzymes that target and degrade lignin and hemicellulose.

While red is the most common color of reishi mushrooms, black, white, purple, green, and yellow also exist.  Finally, according to TCM, Red Reishi could arguably be one of the greatest tonics on earth, supporting a healthy immune response and liver function, and is highly revered for its ability to promote wisdom. 

3) What is the most common misconception about polysaccharides found in medicinal mushrooms?

To answer this question correctly, you first need to understand what polysaccharides are. In simple terms, 

• Polysaccharides are large carbohydrate molecules made of many small sugar molecules (monosaccharides) bonded by a glycosidic linkage (a bond that joins one carbohydrate molecule to another). They are the most abundant carbohydrate found in food. 
• Polysaccharides consist of more than ten monosaccharide units linked together. 
• Polysaccharides form when monosaccharides and disaccharides link together (resulting from a dehydration process). The sugars participating in this bond are called residues. 

Mushrooms contain a wide range of non-starch polysaccharides (carbohydrate fractions excluding starch and free sugar), such as chitin, beta-glucans, alpha-glucans, hemicellulose, mannans, xylans, and galactans. Non-starch polysaccharides are divided into soluble and insoluble fractions, with up to 90% insoluble. Most (around 80%) of insoluble polysaccharides are chitin, including beta-glucans bound to chitin or protein. 

However, until recently, researchers believed that the primary polysaccharides in fungi are beta-D-glucans, which come in various forms (beta 1-3 and beta 1-6) and are the powerhouse that makes mushrooms work. Other polysaccharides in mushrooms include alpha-glucans like glycogen, dextran, pullulan, and starch, which long were thought not to provide the same nourishing qualities as beta-glucans. Modern research has shown that this belief tells only part of the story and may be based on flawed science. 

Beta-glucans are potent compounds, but they come in hundreds of forms; some are biologically active, while others are not. Furthermore, not all are immunologically active. 

Ultimately, they are just one variable among the many compounds that contribute to a mushroom's nourishing qualities. From tradition to science, medicinal mushrooms have proven to be potent, versatile tonics. 

You may have noticed that most medicinal mushroom product labels focus on only beta-glucan levels; therefore, some important points must be clarified. Here are accurate facts about beta-glucans:

• Beta-glucans are a classification of compounds known as polymers. 
• Beta-glucans come in hundreds of shapes and sizes, and while some are biologically active, others are not. Furthermore, not all are immunologically active.
• Each fungal species may contain a different beta-glucan. 
• Beta-glucans can differ in function, solubility, and how they interact with other molecules. 
• While beta-glucans are potent compounds, they are just one of many factors that contribute to a mushroom's nourishing qualities. 
• Ultimately, Beta-glucan levels are not necessarily the telltale sign of a product's effectiveness. 

Therefore, it is misleading to say beta-glucan levels determine a mushroom product's effectiveness. Beta-glucans work best when paired with other constituents found in mushrooms, and if one or more are missing, the end product may work less effectively. 

4) Are Reishi mushrooms considered a Traditional Chinese Medicine tonic?

To answer this question, let’s first look at what Traditional Chinese Medicine tonics are.  

In simple terms, a tonic supports general well-being by enhancing energy and regulating function. The focus isn't on healing, but on gently promoting health. 

Tonics provide adaptive Qi, helping us handle daily stressors more efficiently. Ultimately, this helps us grow as human beings. In simple terms, four primary fundamental aspects define a tonic:

1. They create and support physical, mental, and emotional well-being by balancing Yin and Yang energy to promote vibrant health. 
2. They can be used for an unlimited period with no adverse effects
3. No matter how long an individual uses tonic herbs, they never build a tolerance.
4. True tonics come from their authentic source and spiritual homeland. Daoist herbalism calls this principle Di Tao, and it makes a vital difference in potency and efficacy. 

Furthermore, all tonic herbs nourish at least one of TCM's three treasures. The Three Treasures are interconnected and support overall health and well-being. They are as follows.

• Jing is essence, primarily stored in the kidneys. Jing is one’s constitution, regulates the body’s growth and development, and works with Qi to protect the body from harmful external conditions. Poor constitution, blood loss, and excessive sexual activity can cause Jing essence deficiencies.
• Qi is the life force, or vital energy, stored in the kidneys. Both the physical and emotional aspects are manifested as Qi. Qi in our body comes from two sources. First, we inherit it from our parents; second, we derive it from essential substances like air, food, and water. Deficiencies can come from poor nutrition and digestion, chronic stress, and restricted breathing.   
• Together, Jing and Qi are believed to form the foundation for Shen.
• Shen is the emotional and spiritual layer of our being and reflects the state of our nervous system. Shen lives in the heart and is said to “preside over the activities that take place in the spiritual and mental planes.” Because Shen lives in the heart, people with disturbed Shen may experience anxiety, stress, difficulty breathing, and insomnia. In such cases, the primary weakness is from the spleen, which cannot generate enough blood to nourish the heart and anchor the Shen.  

However, red reishi is known as “The Mushroom of Immortality” and has a long and well-documented history in traditional Chinese medicine. It is known for its potential to support healthy aging by nourishing all three treasures. 

5) What are some of Reishi’s underrated effects?

A) Reishi Mushroom is one of TCM’s great Shen tonics: 

In TCM, Shen is the spirit, mind, and consciousness, representing the most refined level of human vitality that governs all mental, emotional, and spiritual functions. Shen resides in the heart and relies on heart blood and Qi to ground its energy. As one of TCM's three primary treasures, Shen transforms Jing and Qi into consciousness and character and manifests through the eyes, complexion, and speech. When Shen is disturbed by chronic stress, emotional trauma, poor diet, or external factors, it manifests in specific patterns such as the following: 

• Agitated Shen caused by internal heat causes signs of excessiveness like insomnia, excessive dreaming, anxiety, palpitations, racing thoughts, and, in severe clinical cases, mania or delirium.  
• Deficient Shen results from blood or Qi deficiency and includes signs like lethargy, poor memory, brain fog, lack of enthusiasm, and an overall absence of vitality. 

TCM has no direct anatomical equivalent to a "nerve tonic" because classical TCM does not map the body using Western concepts of the nervous system. However, while Western herbalism considers Shen tonics a form of nerve tonic, modern neuroscience translates shen-tonifying actions into the following biochemical mechanisms. 

• GABAergic Pathway Activation: Reishi mushroom helps calm the mind by shifting the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, dampening over-excitation in the cerebral cortex to induce tranquility.
• A disturbed shen creates a depleted state from chronic stress. While Reishi is not a member of the exclusive club of “True Adaptogens”, it does target the HPA axis by stabilizing cortisol through Ganoderic Acid A Activity (a major bioactive triterpenoid compound found in reishi that crosses the blood-brain barrier)
• Rooting the spirit through the gut-brain axis and sleep architecture by helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, as reishi may alter the gut microbiome and increase serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) levels in the hypothalamus. 

B) An Underappreciated Heart Tonic

Some mycologists believe that rather than acting through a single drastic mechanism, Reishi has adaptogen-like qualities that promote metabolic balance and systemic wellness through the following actions. 

• Reishi contains sterols and beta-glucans (prebiotic fibers) that help lower overall lipids and manage "bad" LDL cholesterol.
• The triterpenes (specifically ganoderic acids) found in reishi mimic natural compounds that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE), helping to improve vascular tone and smooth blood flow.
• Reishi’s high antioxidant content protects blood vessels and heart tissue from oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, reducing the risk of arterial plaque formation.
• Reishi contains nucleosides like adenosine, which help modulate vascular smooth muscle relaxation, reduce platelet aggregation (clumping), and support smoother blood flow.

TCM views reishi as supporting heart health by tonifying heart qi, nourishing blood, and calming the Shen (spirit/mind). Unlike Western medicine, which views the heart strictly as a mechanical pump, TCM integrates the person's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. In TCM, the heart is considered the "Emperor" or "Monarch" of all internal organs, and Heart Qi is a core concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that refers to the heart's functional vitality and motive force. Heart Qi specifically helps the two crucial jobs it powers: 

• Heart Qi provides the fundamental "pumping energy" and warmth needed to propel blood through your blood vessels. When Heart Qi is abundant, circulation is strong, the pulse is steady, and your complexion is healthy and rosy.
• In TCM, your consciousness, mental clarity, memory, and emotional balance reside in the Heart, not exclusively in the brain. Therefore, Heart Qi helps to stabilize your mind and anchor your emotions.

When someone's heart qi is low due to overwork, stress, and weak digestion (AKA, spleen qi deficiency), not only are the typical physical signs apparent (palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue), but potent emotional signs like anxiety, mental fog, and a lack of joy or motivation manifest. So, how specifically does Reishi support heart health according to TCM?

• Reishi tonifies heart Qi and blood by strengthening the cardiovascular system's fundamental energy and building and stabilizing these reserves.  
• As stated earlier, the Heart houses the Shen (spirit, mind, and consciousness). As a potent Shen tonic, reishi helps quiet mental restlessness and alleviate physical and emotional symptoms associated with heart qi deficiency.
• Reishi has sweet and neutral-to-slightly-warm/balanced properties that allow it to gently enrich internal moisture (Yin) without causing dryness or stagnation, soothing an "overheated" or agitated Heart.

C) Manages treatment-induced muscle pain and fatigue primarily Mitigation of Treatment-Induced Inflammation

Treatments for various illnesses trigger a severe inflammatory surge that floods peripheral tissues and the central nervous system with pro-inflammatory signaling proteins. In simple terms, reishi helps negate these effects through the following mechanisms:

• Inhibition of NF-κB and TLR4 Pathways: Components like ganoderic acids (triterpenes) stop a specific cellular alarm system from triggering inflammation in the body. This downregulates the Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. 
• Suppression of Cytokines: Reishi has been shown to significantly suppress the release of systemic cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α. Blocking these specific markers alleviates peripheral muscle inflammation (the root of myalgia/muscle pain) and neuroinflammation (a major driver of central fatigue). 

Optimizing metabolic and energy pathways

Various therapies for aggressive conditions often impair mitochondrial function, leading to inefficient ATP (energy) production, metabolic waste accumulation, and structural muscle wasting. In simple terms, reishi helps negate these effects through the following mechanisms:

• Preserves glycogen and clears metabolic waste efficiently: Reishi restores glycogen in the liver and skeletal muscles by activating the AMPK and Akt signaling pathways and upregulating glucose transporters. Furthermore, reishi accelerates clearance of serum blood urea nitrogen and lactic acid, keeping muscles fueled and delaying physical exhaustion. In simple terms, it helps normalize cell signaling, conserve energy, and preserve muscle mass

In conclusion, medicinal mushrooms provide unique compounds with potent benefits. I hope that I have clearly answered your most frequently asked questions and cleared up any misconceptions regarding this extraordinary tonic herb. 

Modern research and thousands of years of usage in TCM confirm that reishi provides potent balancing tonic effects when used correctly. Reishi mushroom can transform your life. 

For more information about Red Reishi Mushroom Powder, go here: Organic Red Reishi Mushroom Powder (Lingzhi)

For more information about Red Reishi Mushroom Extract  Powder, go here: Organic Red Reishi Mushroom Extract Powder (Lingzhi)

The Author’s Bio
Michael Stuchiner is a Master Herbalist and proud graduate of The School of Natural Healing, and has worked in different areas of this field for over 25 years. He is a retired elite-level powerlifter who competed for 27 years. As an avid international traveler, he is passionate about using medicinal and tonic herbs, as well as foods traditionally found in local markets, in the 35 countries he has visited. Michael brings you his years of experience as a Master Herbalist, traveler, and athlete through the hundreds of articles he has written and his YouTube channel (A Master Herbalist Perspective). He is widely regarded as a true educator in this field. For more articles written by Mike, go here: Master Herbalist.