🧠 Mental Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane and Reishi: Clarifying the Research

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 🧠 | Lion’s mane and reishi show early mental health promise

• 🎯 | Turkey tail boosts cancer survival

• 🩸 | Maitake cuts blood sugar naturally

Hi Shroomer. This week’s roundup reveals how mushrooms are stepping into the spotlight of serious medicine. Whether you’re rethinking your morning capsules or just curious what lion’s mane is actually doing in your coffee, this issue’s for you.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Corrected Article Text: May 5, 2025

Mental health boost 🧠 Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and maitake (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms showed promising potential in reviewed studies, improving BDNF levels, lowering brain inflammation, and modulating gut-brain pathways. However, it's important to clarify that these studies did not demonstrate a definitive 50% reduction in depression or anxiety symptoms. The research cited was not peer-reviewed and noted significant limitations, including small sample sizes and mixed results. I apologize for the oversight and appreciate our readers' diligence in ensuring accurate information.

Mental health boost 🧠 Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and maitake (Grifola frondosa) reduced depression and anxiety symptoms by up to 50% in reviewed studies. They improved BDNF levels, lowered brain inflammation, and modulated gut-brain pathways.

Cancer care ally 🎯 Polysaccharopeptides from turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), specifically PSK and PSP, improved survival rates in colorectal cancer patients when combined with chemotherapy, showing a 10% higher 5-year survival rate across 2,397 patients. These extracts enhanced immune responses, reduced tumor spread, and helped overcome treatment resistance, making them promising adjuncts in conversion therapy.

Blood sugar defense 🩸 Polysaccharides from maitake (Grifola frondosa) significantly lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats by boosting glucokinase (GCK), a key enzyme in glucose metabolism. The extract, called GF5000, also influenced insulin pathways and amino acid metabolism, making it promising for naturally managing type 2 diabetes​.

Cancer companion 🧸 Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and maitake (Grifola frondosa) were shown to slow cancer growth, reduce treatment side effects, and support immune response. This comprehensive review highlights how their bioactive compounds, especially β-glucans and triterpenes, induce apoptosis, inhibit metastasis, and boost chemotherapy outcomes without harming healthy cells.

Reversing inflammation 🫁 Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) helped immune cells recover under low-oxygen stress by reducing inflammation, restoring energy levels, and reversing cell damage. This makes it a promising support for people dealing with chronic inflammation or autoimmune flare-ups.

Immune boost 🛡️ A special sugar from matsutake (Tricholoma matsutake) activated immune cells in lab tests. It raised key signals like nitric oxide and cytokines, helping the body fight off illness. These benefits come from β-glucans, complex fibers unique to fungi that aren’t made by our bodies but can train and strengthen our immune systems when consumed.

Fungi-induced cancer death 🧬 Tumor-dwelling fungi may help kill cancer cells by disrupting shared survival pathways. This review reveals how fungal infections alter immune responses, trigger inflammation, and activate oncogenic signals while certain antifungal treatments can actually induce apoptosis (cell death) in tumors.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Calming fear 🔁 Psilocybin and MDMA helped reverse stress-induced fear by stopping inflammatory immune cells from invading the brain and restoring balance in key fear circuits. The study shows psychedelics may ease trauma by rewiring how the brain and immune system interact.

Cancer care relief 🌿 Psilocybin quickly eased depression and anxiety symptoms in cancer patients. A single 0.3 mg/kg dose—about 21 mg for a 154 lb adult—significantly reduced depression and anxiety scores within one day, with anxiety relief lasting at least two weeks. This moderate-to-high dose supports psilocybin’s promise as a rapid-acting therapy in palliative and end-of-life care.

Use rising 📈 Psilocybin use nearly doubled in the U.S. from 2014 to 2023, with the biggest increases among adults aged 35–49. Emergency visits and poison control calls remained low, suggesting growing interest without a major spike in harm.

Mystical experience reduces drinking 🍷 In a randomized trial of 93 people with alcohol use disorder, those who had stronger mystical experiences during psilocybin sessions reduced their heavy drinking by nearly 14% more than those in the control group (9.7% vs. 23.6% heavy drinking days). The psychedelic experience itself—especially feelings of unity, bliss, and insight—was directly linked to better outcomes, suggesting that how a trip feels may matter more than how strong it is.

Questions remain 💊 Across 9 trials with 602 participants, psilocybin significantly reduced depression symptoms. But smaller, lower-quality studies showed stronger effects, and most didn’t clearly report harms or explain how it works.

Low-dose potential 🤏 Psilocybin doses too small to alter perception (1–3 mg or 0.1–0.2 g) showed modest benefits for depression and anxiety in a handful of small studies. Some participants improved, but effects were short-lived and inconsistent.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Arsenic defense 🍚 Earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) teamed up to help upland rice (Oryza sativa) survive arsenic-contaminated soil. The co-treatment reduced arsenic in rice shoots by 38%, boosted nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by over 100%, and improved plant antioxidant activity by 40%. It also strengthened soil health and locked arsenic in safer forms.

Protecting soil and water 💧 Mycorrhizal fungi reduced nitrate loss by up to 58.9% in karst soils by helping mulberry trees absorb more nitrogen and shifting how microbes cycle nutrients underground. The fungi boosted ammonium levels and cut down on nitrate leaching.

Versus crop disease 🌾 Certain mushrooms, especially basidiomycetes, naturally fight pests and diseases in crops through bioactive compounds that suppress pathogens through antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral actions. They can be applied directly to leaves or soil, offering an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides.

Fortifying herbs 🌱 Mycorrhizal fungi helped Anoectochilus roxburghii, a prized medicinal herb, grow stronger, boost nutrients, and fight off stalk rot. The symbiosis triggered plant defense genes and improved yield, showing fungi's power in sustainable herbal medicine.

Climate resilience fungi 🥒 Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) help plants survive drought, salinity, and poor soil by boosting water uptake, stress tolerance, and root growth. One species, Rutstroemia calopus, let cucumber plants thrive with 80% less fertilizer.

Water cleanup 🌊 Biochar made from artist’s conk (Ganoderma applanatum) mushrooms removed nearly 89% of ketoprofen—a common pharmaceutical pollutant—from water using a process powered by peroxymonosulfate.

Surviving space 🚀 Fragments of Antarctic rock containing fungi were exposed to open space and Mars-like conditions for 18 months aboard the ISS. Despite harsh radiation and vacuum, key biological pigments—like melanin, carotenoids, and chlorophyll—remained intact. This resilience suggests fungal biomarkers could survive on Mars, strengthening the case for searching for life deep beneath the Martian surface.

GROWING & GOURMET

Tilapia eats mushrooms 🐟️ Spent oyster mushroom substrate (SOMS)—the leftover material from cultivating Pleurotus mushrooms—has emerged as a promising, bioactive feed ingredient for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Rich in β-glucans, antioxidants, and amino acids, SOMS offers both nutritional and immunostimulatory benefits. Studies show that SOMS can safely replace up to 20% of traditional feed, improving fish survival rates, gut health, and antioxidant response while promoting a circular food economy.

Oysters for beginners 🦪 This beginner-friendly manual walks through every step of cultivating and adding value to oyster mushrooms. From spawn production and disease management to drying, packaging, and cooking—it's a hands-on guide for anyone looking to grow mushrooms or turn them into meals and income.

Apple tree resilience 🍎 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi helped apple rootstock tolerate salt-alkali stress by improving leaf structure, regulating hormone levels, and keeping harmful sodium in check. The fungi boosted chlorophyll function and balanced stress-related hormones, making them a powerful ally for growers in tough soils.

Healthier lettuce 🥬 Lettuce treated with Funneliformis mosseae (a type of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus) grew faster, developed more biomass, and had significantly higher levels of nutrients, antioxidants, amino acids, and even antidiabetic compounds. These mycorrhizal lettuces showed a 38.8% increase in biomass and up to 270% boosts in key amino acids, making the crop more functional for health-conscious eaters and a win for sustainable agriculture.

Low-purine beer 🍺 An enzyme from the button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) was used to reduce purines in beer by over 33%, a potential game-changer for those concerned about gout. When added during brewing, the mushroom-derived enzyme helped break down purine nucleosides in the wort, leading to healthier beer without sacrificing taste or fermentation quality.

Light-tweaked nutrition 💡 Low-intensity artificial light changed the fatty acid profile of king oyster (Pleurotus eryngii) mycelium. Blue LED light especially boosted healthy omega-3 fats like α-linolenic acid, while reducing less desirable saturated fats. The lipid ratios after blue light exposure hit ideal dietary values, showing how light exposure during cultivation could enhance mushrooms as a functional food.

Shimeji pickle juice 🧃 Fermented with Lactobacillus bulgaricus, this shimeji mushroom (Hypsizygus sp.) pickle retained probiotics, reduced nitrite levels, and delivered complex flavors from volatile compounds. With a stable pH (3.7) and increased lactic acid, the product showed promise for gut health and mushroom preservation, especially in tropical regions like Indonesia, where it was developed.

Urban mushrooms, toxic metals ⚠️ Researchers in St. Petersburg, Russia, found high levels of arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals in wild mushrooms and berries gathered from forests near the city. Even in protected zones, many samples exceeded safety limits, raising concerns for urban foragers. A good reminder that mushrooms are bioaccumulators.

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Medicinal mushrooms for mood. Certain edible and medicinal mushrooms, including reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), and cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris), and other edible fungi may act as natural antidepressants by rewiring brain chemistry, easing inflammation, and supporting gut health. This review maps out how their bioactive compounds influence mood regulation, stress resilience, and emerging food-based interventions.

• 🧬 Shifted brain chemistry through the tryptophan-kynurenine and dopamine pathways

• 🌿 Reduced stress-induced inflammation and helped regulate cortisol levels

• 🧁 Opened the door to antidepressant snacks, mushroom supplements, and precision-printed foods

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