The Reishi Mushroom is highly regarded as the most important mushroom in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and in the original TCM textbook was ranked highest out of 365 healing plants and fungi. At the end of Reishi mushrooms growth cycle, it produces spores which are tiny seeds that serve as the reproduction of the fungi. It releases these spores over the course of a few minutes, quickly covering the whole micro-environment.
Where are they found?
Reishi are polypores, hard and woody in nature and tend to grow on trees. Polypores have thousands of pores on the underside of their fruiting body where spores are produced and released. Reishi mushrooms produce millions of spores and release them into the environment when the fungus is ready.
How are they extracted?
Reishi spores are impossible to digest due to their hard coating made of chitin and they must have their cell wall cracked, exposing the inside of the spore and ensuring high bioavailability. They must be cracked at low temperatures to preserve the highest concentration of triterpenes.
What are the active compounds?
Reishi spores are prized for their medicinal benefit and are chemically very different from Reishi mushroom. Reishi spores contain 300% more triterpenes than the fruiting body as well as being rich in polysaccharides. Reishi spores also contain adenosine, amino acids, minerals, alkaloids and polypeptides.
Why should you use it?
Triterpenes and polysaccharides are major healing constituents in Reishi mushroom. Reishi spores contain much higher levels of triterpenes which support organ health and have anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Allergy sufferers may benefit from Reishi spores combination of high immune-modulatory and anti-histamine activity. Triterpenoid compounds may support sleep improvements, by promoting calmness and helping to bring the body into balance.
How should you take it?
Adults can take 2 Reishi Spore capsules, 1-3 times a day with or without food or try adding the powder from the capsules into a smoothie. You can also combine with cacao and almond milk to make a tasty hot chocolate using the powder. We recommend using Reishi during the evening for best results.
Fungi Fact
Reishi spores are made of chitin which is one of the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth.