STACK_RATINGSby NERD_PROTOCOLS
< LEADERBOARD/s/reishiAdaptogens & mushrooms

Reishi

Also sold as: Ganoderma lucidum · Lingzhi · Reishi mushroom

A medicinal mushroom marketed for fatigue, immunity and relaxation. Small human studies use non-interchangeable extracts; robust benefits for sleep, cardiometabolic risk or human cancer survival are unproven.

Energy Anxiety

COMMUNITY_STACK_RATINGlive · n=0

Community

Not enough ratings yet: 0 of 10

Scores appear after 10 ratings, so that one or two reports can't dominate. Tried it? Your rating counts.

+ Rate your experience (30 sec, anonymous)

NERD_PROTOCOL // EVIDENCE_MATRIXper goal

Research

AnxietyLimited · benefitEnergyLimited · benefit
  • Anxiety: Small population-specific stress findings in female students are preliminary and do not establish treatment of an anxiety disorder.
  • Energy: One 8-week trial in 132 patients with neurasthenia reported less fatigue and improved well-being; this is not established athletic energy enhancement.

REALITY CHECK // An extract ratio such as 12:1 is not a standardized clinical dose. Small fatigue/stress studies do not establish a sleep or general immunity benefit, and negative cardiometabolic results matter. A liver-injury case report prevents blanket claims that natural reishi is harmless.

Levels: how we grade evidence. Grey = evidence of no benefit; amber = evidence it makes this goal worse.

Ratings are self-reported by a self-selected group of users: how it felt, not proof that it works.

CHECK_YOUR_BOTTLE.EXEruns in your browser · nothing is sent or stored

Check your bottle

Compare what your label says with what was used in trials. This is a trial range, not a personal prescription.

Try a common label:
The label number is the…

Enter the amount from your label to see the result.

How it was studied

01 // STUDIED_DOSE_RANGE
Extract-specific trials
The dossier spans 1.4-5.4 g/day extracts and a distinct 6 mg/day LUTS extract; no shared conversion target exists.
02 // TIMING_&_MATRIX
Water and ethanol differ
Water extraction favors polysaccharides; ethanol extracts different fractions. Neither ratio nor dual-extraction branding proves clinical superiority.
03 // EVALUATION_WINDOW
8-16 weeks, narrow populations
Fatigue evidence includes one 8-week trial; cardiometabolic work includes a negative 16-week RCT.
04 // SAFETY_&_QUALITY_GATE
Liver and bleeding review
Check species, part, extract specifications and quality testing. Liver-injury reports are a stop-signal context, not proof of frequency or comparative risk.

UPPER LIMIT // No established EFSA/NIH UL is supplied. Trial doses and duration are not a universal safety ceiling. Product heterogeneity and rare liver-injury reports limit reassurance.

NERD'S NOTENerd Protocols · a clinical and sports dietitian based in the EU

Summary

A fatigue signal comes from a single polysaccharide-extract trial. Cardiometabolic Cochrane/RCT results were negative or insufficient. Oncology evidence concerns uncertain adjunctive effects, not cancer treatment or longer survival; hepatic injury has been reported.

Mechanism

Beta-glucan/polysaccharide immune signaling and triterpene pathways are plausible mechanisms. Antiandrogen/5-alpha-reductase findings are mainly preclinical and do not prove hair growth or a predictable libido effect.

Typical studied dose

The dossier lists roughly 1.4-5.4 g/day of various extracts in RCTs up to 16 weeks, with an 8-week neurasthenia trial. A specialized LUTS extract was studied at 6 mg/day. These form-specific exposures cannot be converted into a generic mushroom dose.

Upper limit

No established EFSA/NIH UL is supplied. Trial doses and duration are not a universal safety ceiling. Product heterogeneity and rare liver-injury reports limit reassurance.

POPULAR_STACKScombos with n ≥ 5

Popular stacks with Reishi

Not enough stack data yet. A combination with Reishi appears here once 5 people rate the same set.

> Rate my stack

Forms and label traps

Forms compared
Form on labelActive contentStudied range / dayAbsorption & GI toleranceVerdict
Hot-water polysaccharide / beta-glucan extract
Best for: Comparing the specific fatigue-trial extract.
 Unstandardized: active content unknown no comparable trial range Extracted polysaccharide fraction; not a known systemic absorption percentage.
Generally tolerated in short studies; GI symptoms possible.		 Studied standard [REFERENCE // LABEL_CHECK]
Source gives broad extract doses without a transferable form-specific interval. Actual marker content must come from the product; no assumed 40% beta-glucans.
Dual water/ethanol extract
Best for: Reading separate beta-glucan/triterpene specifications.
 Unstandardized: active content unknown no comparable trial range Includes chemically distinct fractions, not a measured efficacy multiplier.
Human product-specific safety varies.		 Caution [CAUTION // LABEL_CHECK]
No universal marker percentage, herb-equivalent conversion or human trial interval established.
Specialized ethanol extract for LUTS
Best for: Understanding the specialized 6 mg/day trial exposure.
 Extract weight · marker not quantified 6–6 mg Clinical context is a specific extract used in older men with LUTS.
Small trial tolerance does not establish safety of arbitrary products.		 Caution [CAUTION // LABEL_CHECK]
Full extract mass only; the 6 mg target applies to that specialized LUTS extract and cannot be applied to ordinary reishi capsules.
Raw fruiting-body powder
Best for: Distinguishing powder from standardized extracts.
 Unstandardized: active content unknown no comparable trial range Release of constituents differs from extracted material.
GI symptoms possible; a formulation-associated liver-injury case is reported.		 Caution [CAUTION // LABEL_CHECK]
Case reports do not quantify incidence or prove powder is riskier than all extracts. No generic clinical dose target.
Cracked-wall spores
Best for: Evaluating premium spore marketing.
 Unstandardized: active content unknown no comparable trial range Wall breaking is a delivery claim, not proven outcome superiority.
Clinical data sparse.		 Caution [CAUTION // LABEL_CHECK]
No established target or conversion to fruiting-body extract.

Common label traps

  • TRAP_01 // REISHI TREATS CANCER
    Five low-quality trials suggested adjunctive signals; response RR about 1.50 had CI 0.90-2.51, crossing no effect. Survival extension is not established and it must not replace cancer treatment.
  • TRAP_02 // REGULATES SUGAR AND CHOLESTEROL
    The cardiovascular Cochrane review and a 16-week metabolic-syndrome RCT did not establish meaningful improvements.
  • TRAP_03 // 12:1 MEANS TWELVE TIMES STRONGER
    Extraction ratio is not beta-glucan/triterpene content or clinical equivalence. No generic 12-fold dose conversion is valid.
  • TRAP_04 // ANTIANDROGEN MEANS HAIR REGROWTH
    5-alpha-reductase findings are mainly preclinical. Human hair-growth and predictable libido effects are not established.

Other outcomes studied

Outside the five leaderboard goals. Same evidence levels as above.

  • Cardiometabolic risk markers Limited · no benefit
    Cochrane: five RCTs, 398 participants; insufficient benefit evidence. A 16-week trial in 84 metabolic-syndrome participants found no significant improvement.
    PMID 25686270 PMID 27511742
  • Adjunctive oncology outcomes Limited · benefit
    Five low-quality RCTs, roughly 373 patients: uncertain tumor response and immune/quality-of-life signals. RR about 1.50 (0.90-2.51) crosses no effect; no survival benefit established.
    PMID 27045603 PMID 22696372 PMID 29256841
  • Lower urinary tract symptoms Limited · benefit
    Small trials in older men, including n=88 dose-ranging study, reported improved IPSS; specialized 6 mg/day extract cannot be generalized to ordinary products.
    PMID 18097503 PMID 18097505
  • Physical fitness / stress Limited · benefit
    Small studies in women with fibromyalgia and female college students; not representative of all healthy athletes.
    PMID 26545669 PMID 39241163
  • Hair growth / androgen pathways No established evidence
    Antiandrogen effects are preclinical; no human hair-regrowth benefit established. This is missing clinical evidence, not a negative hair RCT.
    PMID 16029938 PMID 17499997 PMID 19235153
  • Liver injury Limited · makes it worse
    A formulation-associated human case report is a safety signal. It does not establish incidence or comparative powder-versus-extract risk.
    PMID 15464254
  • General infection prevention No established evidence
    Immune-marker and mechanistic findings do not demonstrate fewer colds in healthy people.
    PMID 23557365 PMID 27045603

Reader questions

Will reishi help me sleep?

The dossier has no established healthy-adult sleep RCT evidence. Fatigue and stress outcomes in narrow populations do not prove an insomnia treatment.

Does it lower libido?

Antiandrogen mechanisms are mainly preclinical and reader reports cannot establish causation or reversibility. Review new symptoms and other medicines with a clinician.

How do I identify a good product?

Check species, plant part, independently tested identity and actual beta-glucan/triterpene specifications. A high extraction ratio or spore label alone is insufficient.

Is it safe with autoimmune disease or liver problems?

Immunomodulation and reported hepatic injury warrant individualized medical review; jaundice or dark urine require prompt assessment.

Stack interactions

  • Caution Anticoagulants / antiplatelets [CAUTION // REVIEW]
    Platelet-inhibition findings support caution, but these papers do not quantify clinical bleeding risk for every product. Discuss perioperative supplement management with the clinical team.
    PMID 2098581 PMID 4085058
  • Caution Immunosuppressants [CAUTION // REVIEW]
    Immune-marker effects in oncology are not a direct drug-interaction trial; antagonism of immunosuppression is a theoretical concern requiring specialist review.
    PMID 27045603
  • Caution Glucose- and BP-lowering medicines [CAUTION // REVIEW]
    Additive effects are conjectural; the review did not establish cardiometabolic efficacy. Do not cite negative efficacy data as proof of a clinical interaction.
    PMID 25686270
  • Caution Other platelet-active / 5-alpha-reductase supplements [CAUTION // REVIEW]
    Potential additive endocrine or platelet effects are mechanistic concerns. No clinical stack benefit or quantified risk is established.
    PMID 17499997

Red flags: interactions and who should avoid it

Interactions

Potential platelet inhibition warrants review with anticoagulants/antiplatelets and other platelet-active supplements. Immunomodulation could theoretically conflict with immunosuppressive therapy. Glucose/BP interactions are speculative because cardiometabolic benefit was not established.

Avoid or ask a doctor first if

Avoid unsupervised use in pregnancy/lactation, bleeding disorders, perioperative care, liver disease or with immunosuppressants. Stop and seek assessment for jaundice, dark urine, severe nausea or unusual bleeding. Autoimmune disease or a new libido change needs individualized review rather than an assumed mushroom effect.

Sources (PubMed, 17)

  1. A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia.
    PMID 15857210 · 2005 · randomized controlled trial
    Single 8-week polysaccharide-extract trial in 132 neurasthenia patients: fatigue/well-being signal.
  2. Ganoderma lucidum mushroom for the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors.
    PMID 25686270 · 2015 · meta-analysis
    Cochrane cardiovascular-risk review did not establish meaningful glycemic, lipid or BP benefit.
  3. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of Ganoderma lucidum for the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors of metabolic syndrome.
    PMID 27511742 · 2016 · randomized controlled trial
    Negative 16-week metabolic-syndrome RCT.
  4. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatment.
    PMID 27045603 · 2016 · meta-analysis
    Cochrane oncology review: low-quality adjunctive evidence and no established survival benefit.
  5. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatment.
    PMID 22696372 · 2012 · meta-analysis
    Earlier Cochrane oncology review; not support for replacing standard treatment.
  6. The Efficacy and Toxicity of Using the Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes), and Its Products in Chemotherapy (Review).
    PMID 29256841 · 2017 · systematic review
    Review of adjunctive chemotherapy efficacy/toxicity, not proof of cancer cure.
  7. Effect of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized and dose-ranging study.
    PMID 18097503 · 2008 · randomized controlled trial
    Small male LUTS dose-ranging study using a specialized extract.
  8. Randomized clinical trial of an ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.
    PMID 18097505 · 2008 · randomized controlled trial
    Ethanol-extract male LUTS trial; does not establish equivalence of other forms.
  9. GANODERMA LUCIDUM IMPROVES PHYSICAL FITNESS IN WOMEN WITH FIBROMYALGIA.
    PMID 26545669 · 2015 · randomized controlled trial
    Population-specific physical-fitness findings in women with fibromyalgia.
  10. Efficacy of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) Supplementation on Psychological Stress and Selective Fitness Profile Parameters in Female College Students in West Bengal, India.
    PMID 39241163 · 2024 · randomized controlled trial
    Female college-student stress/fitness study; narrow generalizability.
  11. Anti-androgenic activities of Ganoderma lucidum.
    PMID 16029938 · 2005 · animal study
    Preclinical antiandrogenic findings.
  12. The anti-androgen effect of ganoderol B isolated from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum.
    PMID 17499997 · 2007 · animal study
    Ganoderol B antiandrogen mechanism, not human hair efficacy.
  13. Anti-androgen effects of extracts and compounds from Ganoderma lucidum.
    PMID 19235153 · 2009 · animal study
    Extract/compound antiandrogen evidence, largely preclinical.
  14. Hepatotoxicity due to a formulation of Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi).
    PMID 15464254 · 2004 · peer-reviewed research
    Human formulation-associated hepatotoxicity case report.
  15. Experimental and clinical studies on inhibitory effect of ganoderma lucidum on platelet aggregation.
    PMID 2098581 · 1990 · peer-reviewed research
    Experimental/clinical platelet aggregation inhibition; interaction magnitude unquantified.
  16. Isolation of an inhibitor of platelet aggregation from a fungus, Ganoderma lucidum.
    PMID 4085058 · 1985 · peer-reviewed research
    Isolation of platelet-aggregation inhibitor; mechanistic caution.
  17. Probing Lingzhi or Reishi medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (higher Basidiomycetes): a bitter mushroom with amazing health benefits.
    PMID 23557365 · 2013 · narrative review
    Review of immune mechanisms; not established healthy-person infection prevention.

Community comments

No approved comments yet. Comments are held for moderation.

+ Rate this