Do you have trouble sleeping at night? If so, taking reishi mushroom supplements could be an ideal solution. Reishi mushrooms are known for improving sleep quality and energy levels, making them a popular choice for people struggling with insomnia or fatigue.
This blog post will discuss the benefits of reishi mushrooms for sleep and outline how you can use them to get the most out of your slumber. Keep reading to learn more!
Reishi Mushroom Benefits: Reishi Does More Than Giving You Restful Sleep
Reishi mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional medicine that dates back to 4000 years. Red Reishi mushroom, scientifically known as Ganoderma Lucidum, grows naturally on dried tree trunks of oak, pisonia, and plum.
Initially found in the Asian continent, the mushroom is now widely distributed over North America. As fresh mushrooms are expensive, the demand for their supplements is rising.
The rising demand for Reishi is primarily because of the health benefits the compounds of the mushroom carry. From boosting the immune system to helping with stress, Reishi is one of the few foods with many positive effects.
Read More: See how Reishi fights depression and stress.
Reishi mushroom has many benefits, including immune-boosting, cancer-protecting, and lowering blood sugar, among others. Nicknamed the mushroom of immortality, Reishi has gained widespread popularity in treating anything from flu to diabetes and even high blood pressure.
Many research studies(1) have explored the numerous benefits of Reishi, and the results have been impressive. For example, researchers have explored the reishi benefits for cancer.
A detailed research study(2) on cancer patients showed that several compounds in reishi mushrooms boost the activity of natural killer cells, a subset of white blood cells. A 2014 research study(3) showed that infections and cancer are combated by natural killer cells in the body.
Reishi helps people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. A research study conducted in 2019(4) showed that reishi mushroom tea—and other reishi supplements—can be used to treat diabetes and insulin resistance.
Read More: Learn more about Reishi's diabetes benefits.
In a research study conducted in 2018(5), scientists concluded that Reishi had a better impact on high blood pressure than losartan, one of the most widely used blood pressure medicines.
In addition to the above benefits, the Reishi mushroom has sleep-boosting abilities. Below, we will examine this benefit.
When Is The Best Time To Take Reishi Mushrooms For Sleep?
It is not uncommon for people new to functional mushrooms to wonder about the best time to take Reishi. Some mushroom enthusiasts take the mushroom in the morning, while others cannot stop raving about the reishi mushroom sleep benefits.
The best time to consume Reishi depends on the benefits you need. For example, if your goal is to enjoy an afternoon shut-eye, power nap, or siesta, taking the mushroom with your lunch meal is a good idea. However, if your goal is to enjoy a deep nighty-night sleep that leads to rejuvenation, taking the mushroom with dinner should offer you the best results.
However, you can take the reishi mushroom at any time throughout the day. Once the adaptogens and other active ingredients in reishi extract or product accumulate in your body, you can enjoy restful sleep anytime.
What Are Reishi Mushroom Sleep Benefits?
Have you ever had trouble sleeping? If you have, you're not alone. Millions of people worldwide have difficulty getting a good night's sleep.
There are many different reasons someone might have trouble sleeping, but one popular solution is to take a supplement that contains the reishi mushroom. Let's explore some of the benefits of reishi mushrooms for sleep and how they could help you get the rest you need.
Using Reishi before bed reduces anxiety and depression and boosts calmness, helping you get a good night's sleep.
Read More: See how Reishi fights anxiety.
The sleep-enhancing properties of the mushroom can help you maintain a natural biorhythm. Taking reishi tea for sleep promotes deep sleep so that you wake up refreshed.
The reishi mushroom powder is a superhero of Non- REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. NREM sleep, or light sleep, is the phase in which the body recovers and recharges. It is essential for daily focus, productivity, and performance.
Numerous studies have determined the relationship between the reishi mushroom and sleep. Seeking to answer the question "does reishi help with sleep?", these studies have proven that taking Reishi before bed is one of the best things anyone can do.
Read More: Should you take Lion's mane mushroom before bed?
In the following section, we will look at some of the studies that give a more profound answer to the question, "does reishi help you sleep?" or "do reishi mushroom extracts eliminate the difficulty in falling asleep?"
Study #1: Impact Of Reishi Functional Mushrooms On Chronic Fatigue
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that extracts of Ganoderma Lucidum help battle chronic fatigue(6). An eight-week supplement of the mushroom significantly lowered the scores for fatigue. The study also reported an increase in the sense of well-being by up to 38.7%.
Chronic fatigue is one of the leading causes of poor sleep—diagnosis and treatment of this problem can improve sleep quality.
Research shows that reishi extract can treat chronic fatigue and improve well-being. Therefore, the mushroom can eliminate irregular sleep patterns.
Study #2: Effect Of Reishi On Time To Fall Asleep
A study(7) looking at the effects of taking the reishi mushroom before bed determined that its extract decreased sleep latency and the length of time that it takes to transition from fully awake to being asleep.
The mushroom increased NREM time and sleeping time. The herb may have some benzodiazepine-like hypnotic activity and may potentiate phenobarbital-induced sleep—this is one of the few things that make reishi mushroom sleep aid so effective.
Study #3: Effects Of Reishi Medicinal Mushroom On Non-REM Sleep Time
Another 2012 study(8) found that Reishi mushroom extract significantly increased non-REM sleep and total sleep time without influencing slow-wave sleep.
There was an observed increase in the levels of Transforming Growth Factor-Alpha (TGF-a), a key molecule of sleep regulation. The elevated levels were seen in the blood, in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the brain that controls learning and memory, and in the hypothalamus which regulates the sleep-wake cycles.
Study #4: Reishi Helps With Stress Relief
Reishi reduces stress, facilitating improvement in light sleep time and eliminating insufficient sleep.
A research study conducted in 2011(9) showed that 48 breast cancer survivors who took reishi powder for four weeks reported feeling less tired and having a better quality of life. Additionally, the participants in the study reported lower anxiety and depression.
Read More: See how Lion's mane fights depression.
Study #5: Effects Of Reishi On Quality Sleep And Sleep Duration
Ganoderma Lucidum promoted sleep in the phenobarbital-treated test subjects(10). Researchers gave mushroom doses for 28 days, decreasing the time to fall asleep and increasing the total sleep duration.
The researchers found that administration of the mushroom extract increased the sleep-promoting neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine. It was also evident from the study that the mushroom influenced the sleep-regulating serotonergic synapse pathway.
Additional Reishi Fights Sleeping Problems
From the research studies mentioned above, it is easy to see that Reishi is one of the mushrooms that help with sleep. Undoubtedly, using the proper reishi mushroom dosage can help you improve your sleep routine. However, how does the mushroom improve your sleep?
Reishi Influences Delta Wave Activity
The active compounds in the Reishi mushroom eliminate sleep problems by influencing delta wave activity. Delta waves are high-amplitude brain waves that are associated with deep sleep.
Reishi Suppresses Motor Activity
The use of the Reishi mushroom as a sleep aid can be justified by its initial supersession of motor activity which leads to a night of natural and sound sleep.
Reishi Improves Overall Health
Reishi mushroom is also known to improve general health. When you make a daily dose of Reishi a nightly routine, the mushroom should help enhance your immune function and fight diseases and symptoms that make a good night's sleep impossible. When you are in optimal health, increased sleeping time should be possible.
How To Take Reishi Mushroom Before Bed?
One of the most asked questions regarding medicinal mushrooms for sleep is how one can make them part of their sleep supplements.
The reishi mushroom is best taken in the evening, around or after dinner. While the mushroom can be consumed raw, the bitter taste and chewy texture might not appeal to everyone.
Read More: What's the Reishi mushroom taste?
Fresh Reishi can be added to a pot of boiling water and left to simmer. You can enjoy the cooked chicken-like texture of the mushroom with dinner. You can also mix it with other mushrooms, vegetables, and meat.
You can also boil the fresh mushroom until a dark coffee-like brew is ready. Mix this brew with honey, ginger, lemonade, or your favorite vodka. It is, however, difficult to find fresh mushrooms in supermarkets.
The dried forms of the mushroom are more readily available and more popular. You can add dried Reishi mushrooms to tea, smoothies, and prepared meals. The dried mushroom is also available in readymade tea bags.
Since the powder-dried mushroom is more concentrated and potent than the fresh mushroom, it is the best way to take the fungus before bed.
So if you have insomnia or want your sleep routine enhanced, take the Reishi mushroom every evening before bedtime. On average, most people get their sleep benefits from a dose of about 1 gram daily.
However, the reishi mushroom dosage for sleep may vary from one person to the other. For this reason, talking to a health practitioner can help you determine your ideal dosage.
FAQs About Reishi Mushroom Sleep Benefits
Will Reishi Keep Me Awake?
Reishi mushroom does not make you drowsy like over-the-counter or prescription sleeping pills. Also, the mushroom does not keep you up at night.
It can help you recharge and rejuvenate by assisting in sleep during bedtime. It can also provide you with an energy burst the following day. Reishi mushroom is neither a sedative nor a stimulant.
Key Takeaways
The Reishi mushroom is one of the most celebrated mushrooms in the history of traditional medicine. This is well-deserved, considering the mushroom's positive results in fighting disease, improving mood, and helping with other issues.
The reishi mushroom balances the sleep cycle and improves sleep quality. It reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation and focus. Reishi increases the NREM phase of sleep and the total sleep time. Ultimately better sleep is associated with a long and healthy life.
Have you ever tried reishi mushrooms for sleep? Let us know how they work for you in the comments!
References
- Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi), (1)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
- Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients, (2)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12916709/
- Natural killer cells: In health and disease, (3)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25571788/
- Mushrooms of the Genus Ganoderma Used to Treat Diabetes and Insulin Resistance, (4)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6891282/
- Hypotensive and neurometabolic effects of intragastric Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) administration in hypertensive ISIAH rat strain, (5)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29519314/
- A Randomized, Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Study of a Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharide Extract in Neurasthenia, (6)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15857210/
- Extract of Ganoderma lucidum potentiates pentobarbital-induced sleep via a GABAergic mechanism, (7)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17383716/
- Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats, (8)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22207209/
- Spore Powder of Ganoderma lucidum Improves Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Pilot Clinical Trial, (9)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22203880/
- Ganoderma lucidum promotes sleep through a gut microbiota-dependent and serotonin-involved pathway in mice, (10)https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-92913-6
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