Learn More About Reishi For a Natural Transition to Sleep and Healthy Relaxation*

Learn How to Use Reishi for a Natural Transition to Sleep*

Who doesn’t want a good night’s sleep? Instead of a midday siesta or prioritizing our eight hours of shuteye each night, too many people push through and focus on productivity instead of rest or even a regular balance. Sleep is such an important part of our body’s natural cycle, and it’s how we are naturally programmed to rest and revive our mind and body. Supporting normal rest is one of the many ways that Reishi, often called ‘mushroom of immortality’ may help support your overall health and well-being.* In this blog, we’ll explore how you can use Reishi to support relaxation and prepare the body for a good night's rest.*

Most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each and every night, depending on their health, physical and mental requirements, and constitution.* We spend almost a third of our lives sleeping, and it is what helps us stay healthy during our days! Many important processes take place during this time, including detoxification, bone and blood production, as well as healthy cognitive processing.* Studies show that adequate, healthy sleep will support healthy memory, concentration, and cognition.*

Before the invention of electricity, people lived by the sun, sleeping and waking with natural light. Our circadian rhythm is our body’s internal clock that responds to light, both natural and artificial. Other than the soft light of fire and candles, humans’ circadian rhythm was overall much closer to that of the natural world before disruption of modern blue light. It is important to keep our circadian rhythm as steady and natural as possible as it impacts sleep, hormone regulation, eating habits, cell regeneration, and brain wave activity. At night, melatonin (a hormone that regulates sleep) is triggered by the darkness and encourages sleep. Using artificial lights can prohibit the secretion of melatonin.*

Reishi for sleep can help support us as we move toward a more natural cycle!* Reishi mushroom supports healthy endocrine functions in the body, which regulate hormones like melatonin and cortisol.* Reishi is known as a nervine, a type of herb that supports the nervous system, promoting relaxation and preparing the body for a good night's rest.*

Reishi isn’t the only mushroom to support relaxation and prepare the body for restful sleep!* Discover how Lion’s Mane can also promote healthy rest!*

Fast Facts About Reishi Mushroom

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a reddish brown mushroom that typically grows in humid, coastal parts of China and North America on decaying stumps of chestnut, oak, and other broad-leafed trees. Known as the Queen of Mushrooms as well as the 10,000-year mushroom, Reishi has been used in China and Japan for over 4,000 years. Traditionally and in modern times, Reishi has been used to potentially support heart health as well as immune health.* And, of course, there’s another use for Reishi: relaxation support from occasional stress!*

Reishi has a distinctively bitter taste unlike some other functional mushrooms. Scientific studies show that the bitterness comes from its triterpenoid compounds, which are aromatic and active.* 

In Traditional Chinese Herbalism, Reishi is considered a Shen tonic. (Shen refers to one’s consciousness and emotional balance.) According to Traditional Chinese Herbalism, when the Shen is in balance, so are mood, sleep, and cognition. Modern herbalists recommend taking Reishi to support relaxation and prepare the body for restful sleep*

Support Relaxation and Your Bodies Natural Transition To Sleep With Reishi Mushroom.*

Reishi mushroom is considered to be an adaptogen. It’s part of an elite group of plants and mushrooms used in herbalism to support your body to manage the occasional stress it encounters each day.* That occasional stress can come in many forms: physical, mental, or emotional. Adaptogens, as the name suggests, may help you adapt to that occasional stress. Adaptogens help support the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands (collectively known as the HPA axis) by supporting the production of hormones like cortisol. This is why Reishi helps support relaxation and prepares the body for restful sleep.* The triterpenes in Reishi are thought to support the parasympathetic nervous system (your “rest and digest” response).* 

This mushroom is sometimes considered to be a sedative herb when taken short term; over time, it is considered to be a tonic herb.* Because of this Reishi mushroom is a wonderful choice to incorporate into your evening rituals. The easiest way to do this is by taking a few droppers of our Reishi CALM tincture as the sun sets, but if you’re looking for something a little more intentional we invite you to make our Reishi Relaxation Tonic.*

How to Make A Reishi Relaxation Tonic*

This drink is a soothing, tasty way to wind down your day and prepare your mind and body for a night of rest.* The star? Our double-extracted USDA Certified Organic Reishi CALM extract, of course!

Good quality Reishi made with fruiting bodies can be bitter, which is why this recipe for a Reishi Relaxation Tonic uses creamy oat milk, with a little sweetness from honey or maple syrup and some spice from cardamom or nutmeg. During the day, we like pairing Reishi with chocolate or coffee, but at night this is a lovely caffeine-free beverage to promote a little zen. 

Serves 1

Ingredients

Instructions:

• In a small saucepan, bring the water and oat milk to a low simmer. 
• Stir in the maple syrup or honey, then add the nutmeg or cardamom.
• Remove from heat, pour into a mug, then add a dropper of Reishi extract.
• Sit, sip, and savor, as you journal your day or plan tomorrow.

Reishi is a staff favorite here at Mushroom Revival! Our simple Reishi CALM tincture is potent with a delicious bitter chocolatey flavor.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.