Autumn has arrived, but the Indian summer remains fierce. The dry heat and restlessness greatly reduce the quality of sleep at night. Even after waking up, one feels groggy. 

How to get a good night’s sleep? This is a question for modern people. Compared to melatonin and sleeping pills, more and more health-conscious individuals are favoring nutritional supplements with fewer side effects, better results, and a more palatable taste. Reishi mushroom is among these preferred options.

Reishi is inherently a spirit-tranquilizing medicine. Its function lies in tonifying qi and tranquilizing spirit.

As early as in the ancient text, the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica), Reishi was documented for its abilities to tranquilize the spirit, increase wisdom, and aid in memory retention. The effects of Reishi in tranquilizing spirit and aiding sleep have been recognized since ancient times.

Today, a large amount of pharmacological research has been conducted on the effects of Reishi in tranquilizing spirit and aiding sleep.

Professor Zhang Yonghe, a specialist in the central nervous system at the Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, has demonstrated through a chronic stress model in rats that the oral administration of Reishi mushroom fruiting body water extract (at a dosage of 240 mg/kg per day) can not only shorten sleep onset and extend sleep duration but also increase the amplitude of delta waves during deep sleep. Delta waves are a crucial measure of sleep quality, and their enhancement indicates an improvement in overall sleep quality. 

▲ Evaluating the Effects of Oral Administration of Reishi Mushroom Fruiting Body Water Extract (at a dosage of 240 mg/kg) on Sleep in Rats Under Chronic Stress at Different Time Points (15 and 22 days)

In other words, Reishi not only aids sleep but also enhances sleep quality.

“Generally speaking, noticeable therapeutic effects of Reishi can be observed within 1-2 weeks after administration. These effects manifest as improved sleep, increased appetite and weight, alleviation or disappearance of palpitations, headaches, and dizziness, invigorated spirit, enhanced memory, and increased physical strength. Other comorbidities also show varying degrees of alleviation. The efficacy of Reishi preparations is related to the dosage and course of treatment. Higher doses and longer courses of treatment result in higher efficacy.” — Excerpted from pages 73-74 of Lingzhi: From Mystery to Science by Lin Zhibin. 

The mechanism of Reishi’s sleep-enhancing effects is different from that of sedative sleep medications.

“Reishi improves sleep by rectifying the disorder of the neuro-endocrine-immune system caused by long-term insomnia in individuals with neurasthenia, thereby breaking the vicious cycle that arises from this condition. Among this, the ‘adenosine’ in Reishi plays an important role. ‘Adenosine’ can stimulate the pineal gland to secrete melatonin, deepen sleep, and reduce the accumulation of free radicals in the body.” — Excerpted from pages 156-159 of Healing with Ganoderma by Wu Tingyao.

How can one consume Reishi to maximize its benefits? The key lies in “large doses” and “long-term use”.

Some users have reported that they initially experienced great results when consuming Reishi, but after a few months, they started having trouble sleeping again. Additionally, there have been inquiries from users asking if it’s possible to reduce the dosage, such as “Is it too much to take four capsules at once? Can I cut the dose in half?” These questions pertain to the effects and dosage of Reishi.

Whether you’re drinking the decocted Reishi slice water or taking processed Reishi products such as sporoderm-broken Reishi spore powder, extracts, or spore oil, the keys to realizing the therapeutic effects of these products are “large doses” and “long-term use”. If you consume intermittently or arbitrarily reduce the dosage, it can be difficult to achieve the ideal medicinal effects of Reishi.

Does this mean one has to consume Reishi for a lifetime?

Indeed, the majority of individuals frequently work on improving their health, while simultaneously depleting it. Furthermore, as we age, our physical capabilities and functions inevitably decline. Therefore, just as we hydrate and replenish our vitamins daily, it’s essential to consume Reishi regularly and over an extended period to ensure the maintenance of our health.

Adhering to a regular daily schedule and enhancing sleep quality with the aid of Reishi can lead to gradual improvements in your physical condition. Over time, the consistent routine and the beneficial effects of Reishi can result in a progressively healthier state of being.