What is the recommended dose of Reishi?

- **Look for:** Dual extract (hot water + alcohol); fruiting body; beta-glucan content >30%; triterpene content >2%; organic - **Avoid:** Mycelium-on-grain products (55-65% starch, not mushroom); s...

Is Reishi safe to take daily?

Reishi is rated "Generally Safe" based on clinical evidence. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

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Ingredient Research

Graded against 173,636 supplements + 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD

Reishi

MODERATE EVIDENCEAdaptogenLast updated

AVELOR SUMMARY

Reishi is the most revered medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine ("The Mushroom of Immortality") with moderate evidence for immune modulation and emerging evidence for sleep and anxiety support. Our research shows it reliably modulates immune function — enhancing NK cell activity and cytokine profiles in cancer patients — but a 2016 Cochrane review found insufficient evidence to recommend reishi as a first-line cancer treatment. The hepatotoxicity signal (powdered reishi caused liver injury in case reports) means quality and form matter significantly.

WHAT IT DOES

Reishi contains two pharmacologically distinct compound classes: (1) polysaccharides (primarily beta-glucans) — which activate immune cells (macrophages, NK cells, dendritic cells) through pattern recognition receptors (Dectin-1, TLR-2), enhancing innate immune surveillance; and (2) triterpenes (ganoderic acids) — which are anti-inflammatory (NF-κB inhibition), hepatoprotective at moderate doses but hepatotoxic at high doses, and bind GABA-A receptors (calming/sleep effect). Dual extraction (hot water + alcohol) captures BOTH compound classes — water alone misses triterpenes, alcohol alone misses polysaccharides.

OPTIMAL DOSAGE

Look for: Dual extract (hot water + alcohol); fruiting body; beta-glucan content >30%; triterpene content >2%; organic
Avoid: Mycelium-on-grain products (55-65% starch, not mushroom); single extraction (misses half the compounds); "reishi spore oil" as sole product (lacks polysaccharides)
Minimum effective dose: 500mg standardized dual extract OR 1,500mg dried mushroom equivalent
Third-party tested brands: Real Mushrooms, Four Sigmatic (fruiting body), Host Defense (controversial — uses mycelium-on-grain)

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SAFETY PROFILE

Critical Interactions (Do Not Combine Without Medical Supervision)

Moderate Interactions (Monitor Closely)

Theoretical/Low-Risk Interactions

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Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:

Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.

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