Functional Mushroom Capsule Guide

Functional mushrooms are a special class of fungi used not just for flavor, but for their measurable effects on the mind, body, and immune system. Unlike culinary mushrooms (like button or straw mushroom) that are eaten mainly as food, functional mushrooms are rich in bioactive compounds—molecules that interact with human physiology in complex and beneficial ways.

What’s in Each Capsule?

Each capsule contains 400 mg of a 16:1 extract standardized to over 45% beta-glucans — the active compounds responsible for immune, neurological, and stress-supporting effects. This is the standard marker for extraction efficiency.

That means every capsule contains the equivalent of 60–70 grams of whole mushroom, in a precise, bioavailable, concentrated form, making these the most powerful extracts available today.

How and when to take it?

Take 1–2 capsules per day of one or more varieties depending on your goals. While these extracts are very safe, exceeding 6 total capsules per day may cause mild digestive upset or restlessness.

For best results, take your mushrooms daily and give your system a short reset. Either one day off each week or one full week off every two months to maintain long-term effectiveness and sensitivity.

Lion’s Mane: Brain and Nerve Growth

In one landmark human trial, participants with mild cognitive impairment who took Lion’s Mane extract over 16 weeks showed significantly improved performance on cognitive scales compared to placebo.

Further recent trials using concentrated, fruiting-body extracts showed improved scores on executive function tasks in healthy adults.

Mechanistically, Lion’s Mane contains erinacines and hericenones, which stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, working via pathways like JNK/c-Jun activation.

In vitro studies also show these compounds promote neuronal outgrowth, dendrite branching, and synaptic plasticity.

What to expect / when to take:

Best used in the morning or early day, when you're engaging in mental tasks, learning, or creative work.

Over 4–16 weeks, many users report improvements in focus, mental clarity, memory retention, and “flow” states. (Effects tend to accumulate gradually.)

Reishi: Sleep and Stress Modulation

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) has been studied for its ability to support improved sleep quality and reduce symptoms of stress in human trials.

In controlled trials of insomnia, Reishi supplementation showed measurable improvements in sleep efficiency and reductions in nighttime awakenings.

Its triterpenes (lipid-soluble compounds) and polysaccharides act on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, helping lower circulating stress hormones like cortisol and modulating autonomic tone to promote a calmer, more relaxed state before sleep.

What to expect / when to take:

Best taken in the evening, 30–60 minutes before bed to leverage its calming effects when your body is winding down.

Over time, users may notice deeper, more restorative sleep, fewer nighttime awakenings, and less daytime tension or irritability.

Cordyceps militaris: Endurance and Energy

Cordyceps militaris has shown to improve aerobic performance, oxygen uptake, and ATP generation in both human and preclinical research.

In trials, supplementation with Cordyceps has been correlated with improved oxygen utilization, more efficient blood flow, and extended time-to-exhaustion.

One mechanistic study showed that Cordyceps militaris extract enhances exercise performance through upregulation of ATP generation pathways rather than simply relieving muscle fatigue.

The active compound cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine) plays a central role: it acts as a nucleoside analog, influencing cellular energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, and modulating AMPK and adenosine receptors.

What to expect / when to take:

Take in the morning or about 30–60 minutes before activity, to support energy, oxygen delivery, and endurance.

Over weeks, expect smoother stamina, reduced fatigue, better VO₂ metrics, and more efficient ATP use during workouts.