Lion's Mane vs Reishi: Which To Choose Based on Your Needs
Shopping for supplements can be overwhelming, to say the least. You start off with a basic idea of what you need, but then you see the vast selection of supplements available, each claiming to be the best at their job. It’s enough to make anyone need to take a literal chill pill.
For instance, if you’re shopping for a mushroom supplement, you might be unsure whether you need reishi or lion’s mane mushroom. You might be tempted to just pick up one and call it a day — they’re all mushrooms, right?
The answer is actually a little more nuanced than you might expect. Read on for a guide on which mushroom might be best for your needs, as well as some tips on how to pick the highest-quality mushroom supplement.
What Is Lion’s Mane?
Lion’s Mane looks like a big, white puffball with cascading, icicle-like strands. Native to North America, Europe, and Asia, this fungus has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to support memory, sharpen focus, and support nerve regeneration.
These benefits are thanks to two incredible compounds: hericenones and erinacines. Both of these compounds can support the body’s synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that’s key for brain health.
What Is Reishi?
Reishi mushrooms don’t mess around, and their glossy, reddish-brown caps and fan-shaped bodies do more than just look funny. Found on decaying hardwoods in hot, humid forests of Asia, these mushrooms have earned nicknames like “the mushroom of immortality.”
Reishi’s chemical makeup includes triterpenes and polysaccharides, which may support immune function, reduce inflammation, and basically help your body chill the heck out. Used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine, reishi is the adaptogen for anyone riding the burnout train.
Lion’s Mane vs. Reishi Mushroom: Benefits Breakdown
Both of these adaptogens are mushrooms, and they have similar benefits. However, they also each bring their own strengths to the table.
1. For Mental Health
Feeling foggy, frazzled, or like your brain is running Windows 95? Lion’s mane may be able to help. Research shows it can support mood regulation and may ease mild feelings of anxiety and depression by promoting neuroplasticity and encouraging overall brain health.
Meanwhile, reishi brings emotional support by calming the nervous system and lowering stress hormone levels. It’s like a weighted blanket for your brain.
2. For Cognitive Function
Need help remembering where you left your phone… while talking on your phone? The hericenones and erinacines in lion’s mane mushroom can support NGF production, which helps regenerate brain cells and support memory, learning, and focus.
Reishi isn’t exactly known for brain gains — it may support cognitive function indirectly by reducing stress and inflammation, but it’s not the star student here. So, if you're chasing clarity, focus, and sharper thinking, lion’s mane might just be the mushroom for you.
3. For Immune Support
Reishi basically moonlights as your immune system’s personal trainer. It contains beta-glucans and triterpenes, compounds that help modulate immune responses, enhance white blood cell activity, and reduce inflammation.
Lion’s mane comes with some immune perks of its own, but it’s more of a sidekick in this department. Reishi’s long history in Traditional Chinese Medicine for immune support gives it the upper hand here. So if you’re looking to stay well during flu season (or just survive your coworker’s coughing fits), Reishi may be a better option.
4. For Sleep
As a powerful adaptogen, reishi can help regulate cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone, which plays a big role in sleep quality. It’s also linked to better rest, deeper sleep, and less nighttime tossing and turning.
Lion’s mane is another great supplement for sleep. By supporting brain health and reducing mild feelings of anxiety, lion’s mane may help you wind down at night — especially if you take it regularly enough for its effects to build up in your system.
5. For Gut Health
Lion’s mane is the heavy lifter when it comes to gut health. Studies suggest it can support the gut lining and minimize irritation in the digestive tract. It may also support a healthy gut microbiome thanks to its prebiotic fibers, which is key since gut health = total health.
Reishi also offers prebiotic effects that may help feed good bacteria and reduce GI inflammation. However, lion’s mane’s neuroprotective and gut-supporting properties give it the edge here.
Lion’s Mane vs. Reishi Side Effects
Lion’s mane is generally safe but might cause an upset stomach or skin rash for the mushroom-sensitive crowd. If you’re allergic to mushrooms or lion’s mane in particular, sit this one out.
Reishi, on the other hand, has a bigger “may cause” list: dry mouth, dizziness, and digestive upset can all occur with long-term use. It also might play poorly with blood pressure or blood-thinning meds.
Remember, these are medicinal mushrooms, not sprinkle-on-your-salad mushrooms. If you’re on any prescriptions or have underlying health conditions, talk to your doctor before diving headfirst into the world of functional fungi.
So, Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between lion’s mane and reishi is like choosing between coffee and tea — it depends on what kind of vibe you're going for. Want to level up your mental game, support focus, and possibly remember where you left your keys? Lion’s mane is the winner of this category.
Feeling fried, frazzled, or one annoying email away from a breakdown? Reishi has your back — although lion’s mane can also help in this department (especially when it’s combined with other stress-relieving supplements). You can also go wild and use both, since they work well together.
How To Pick a Good Mushroom Supplement
Not all mushroom supplements are created equal. Some are basically overpriced mushroom-flavored sludge, while others might sound fancy but don’t contain anything your body can actually use.
Here are some rules to follow when picking a mushroom supplement:
- Rule #1: Pick wood-grown mushrooms (not grain-grown) for higher potency.
- Rule #2: Go for 100% fruiting bodies — that's the real mushroom, not just mycelium (which are basically mushroom roots).
- Rule #3: Double extraction (alcohol + hot water) pulls out both water- and fat-soluble goodies.
- Rule # 4: Choose something you’ll actually take daily.
When it comes to rule #4, you can’t go wrong with our Mushroom Coffee+. Our blend is smooth, delicious, and made with 100% fruiting bodies of wood-grown, double-extracted mushrooms. If you remember to drink coffee every day, you’ll remember to take your Daily Dose.
This blend of mushroom coffee is made with coffee extract, which helps provide a robust coffee flavor. Alongside that are lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms, as well as L-theanine to support feelings of relaxation and sleep, and collagen powder to support hair, skin, and gut health.
Each dose is formulated to contain only 45 mg of caffeine — it’s enough to give you motivation on Monday morning, but not enough to send you to jitter-town. However, if you like a little more kick to your coffee, you can always opt for our Bold Coffee+ blend.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re chasing mental clarity or calming your inner chaos, lion’s mane and reishi both bring serious benefits to the table. Just make sure you're getting the good stuff, not crappy fillers and under-extracted mushrooms.
You might’ve heard that no supplement will check all your boxes, but we’d like to challenge that idea. Our mushroom collection makes it easy (and oh so tasty) to get your daily dose of mushroom magic. Here at Everyday Dose, we believe wellness shouldn’t feel like a chore — it should feel like a morning cup of “we’ve got this.”
Sources:
