Medicinal Mushrooms 101: Reishi, Chaga and Lionsmane… OH MY!
With over 1.5 million different varieties of mushrooms in our world, humans have only begun to dive deeper into their healing and medicinal qualities. Medicinal mushrooms have been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years and have gained even more popularity as of late. The list of health benefits medicinal mushrooms provide is lengthy (think: brain booster, hormone helper, antioxidant powerhouse). But each mushroom is unique and provides its own distinct health advantages.
At Raw Elements we carry one of the best mushroom-fuelled brands, FOUR SIGMATIC! Their protein powders and tea mixes are high quality and at the top of the industry. So we thought we’d go over three mushrooms commonly used in their products and provide you with more information around the benefits of each.
REISHI, which translates to “spirit plant”, is so esteemed that in ancient scroll paintings, it’s often depicted as the “bridge between Earth and Heaven”. This mushroom can help the body become more resilient to changes internally and externally when faced with stressful situations. All of these calming properties are thanks to the compound triterpene which reishi mushrooms are packed with. This mood-boosting compound may alleviate anxiety, ease depression and encourage better sleep. It is no surprise that many call these mushrooms nature’s Xanax!
We Love: Four Sigmatic’s Reishi Mushroom Elixir Mix. With 1,500 mg of extracted reishi mushroom per serving, we sip this one an hour before bed to relax and unwind!
LION’S MANE, a brain boosting mushroom that has been studied for centuries! Given its name because of its similar look to that of a lion’s mane, it was long used by Buddhist monks to help focus during meditation. It has been widely used to increase mental clarity, often being hailed as the mental pencil sharpener as it allows you to be “on point”. Lion’s Mane mushrooms are commonly known to boost creativity and productivity on days where you might feel sluggish and unmotivated!
We Love: Four Sigmatic’s Lion’s Mane Mushroom Elixir Mix! Whether you are activating the artist in you or need a brain boosting “study buddy” for the day, this blend is what you’ll be reaching for everytime!
CHAGA, grown predominantly in cold environments around Siberia, North Korea and Canada is an antioxidant powerhouse! Known as the “King of Mushrooms” due to its energy-enhancing properties, chaga is commonly used as a caffeine replacement, which comes as no surprise because it tastes delicious! This black mushroom is grown on birch trees and is one of the highest sources of antioxidants found in nature. Offering immunity boosting properties, every sip can stimulate the production of white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off harmful bacteria or viruses. Studies point to this shroom being good for you — inside and out!
We Love: Four Sigmatic’s Chaga Mushroom Elixir Mix! Whether you drink it straight up as your morning coffee or add it to a smoothie, this powder is a go to! Just MIX, SIP and DEFEND!
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With so many beneficial properties being brought forth by researchers, we only hope that more support is given to them in order to extend their studies on these magical fungi so that we can further unlock all their true wonders!
In the meantime take a look at our Four Sigmatic offerings and try their wide range of products: elixirs, coffees, protein powders and lattes for yourself. Being at the forefront of the mushroom industry, with their top quality ethically sourced elixirs, we are sure you won’t be disappointed!
