Yewwww, it has been a good few months! Over the last couple of weeks, I have been trying out a variety of medicinal mushroom blends from my pals at Harmonic Mycology, and to sum it up in one word, it has been “dazzling“. Their Lucidity blend, charged with lions mane, was the first one I sampled. You can read the review here, learn all about the benefits of lions mane, how it helps with brain health and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) production, as well as how mushrooms - aka adaptogens - work. After two weeks of giving lions mane a good run for its money, I proceeded to try their Vitality mushroom capsules (which Harmonic Mycology suggested I actually try out first, but due to popular vote on Instagram, Lucidity won). I then finished off the trial with the Stamina blend.

So what makes up the Vitality medicinal mushroom blend? Each capsule contains the following shroomies:

60% Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
20% Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
10% Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis)
10% Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

The Stamina blend is much simpler - but still powerful - and is made up of two mushrooms:

70% Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis)

20% Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
10% Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

The Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms

A summary on the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms

it’s all about vitality [review]

Literally meaning spirit or energy, “vitality” refers to one’s life force energy. Vitality is also associated with libido and sex drive, so yeah, let’s bring it on! This beautiful blend had a more subtle effect than the Lucidity blend, nonetheless I felt energised, awake, happy and ready to groove - on the dance floor, across mountain passes, and at my desk. I was getting it down basically everywhere.

I was busy (physically and emotionally) over that time period, working, cooking on retreats, going away on weekends, ending things with my therapist and life coach, preparing to leave Durban, and grieving a loss of a friend, and I got through it without getting sick or feeling rundown.

chaga: the cornerstone of the blend

Referred to as the King of medicinal mushrooms, chaga is a fungus that grows mainly on the bark of birch trees in cold climates, and is the center point of this blend (making up 60% of the mushroom mix). Chaga is highly regarded for its antioxidant and anti-tumor properties. For centuries, chaga has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to boost immunity, reduce inflammation and improve overall health.

By promoting the formation of cytokines (proteins that regulate the immune system), chaga stimulates the creation of white blood cells which are required for fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses.

reishi: the supporter in the blend

Also making up this blend is reishi. I love reishi for its beautiful calming effects. When I take it on its own, I feel super chilled out but without feeling drowsy. It’s not a sedative but can help you fall asleep quicker and support the body’s sleep cycles.

It is highly revered in Chinese and Japanese medicine for centuries and is believed to nourish all three components that make us up as human beings: the Jing (‘essence’), Qi (‘life force’) and Shen (‘spirit’). These three components are called the Three Treasures in Chinese medicine. You can read more about this super interesting topic on Medium.

Reishi produces over an astounding 200 polysaccharides and 150 triterpenes and is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. It is radioprotective, guarding against harmful effects of UV radiation to skin and DNA. It is an exceptional heart tonic as it is able to lower cholesterol levels and improve coronary artery function. Reishi is also able to decrease the side-effects of chemotherapy drugs and protects healthy tissues.

For us busy bees, this Vitality blend of four medicinal mushrooms has been created to support optimal immune function while offering adaptogenic, antiviral and antibacterial effects.

it’s all about stamina [review]

Stamina is what it says it is. It’s all about endurance, staying power, improved energy and fitness. The Harmonic Mycology Stamina blend fights against asthma, anxiety and depression as well as supports heart health and boosts energy levels. I felt proper pumped while taking this and can honestly say my athletic performance improved, as did my recovery time. I was running faster, lifting heavier and feeling energized through it all!

cordyceps: the powerhouse of the blend

The powerhouse of this blend are cordyceps mushrooms. Cordyceps species are entomopathogenic fungi, meaning they act as an insect parasite and essentially kill them. They then grow from and on the bodies of dead insects. Pretty hardcore. Over 200 such species are known to science.

Considered a medical treasure in China, the cordyceps mushroom is well-known for its ability to counteract stress and fatigue and increase libido (sex drive) and/or sperm count.

It also improves stamina and blood oxygen levels. They work by increasing the body’s production of the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is essential for delivering energy to the muscles. This improves the way our bodies use oxygen, especially during during exercise.

Additionally, the mushroom contains Cordycepin which has shown anti-tumor, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral effects. It also is an antioxidant thus helping out with anti-aging. So much of anti!

Research has shown both the cordyceps and reishi mushrooms (both found in the Stamina blend by Harmonic Mycology) increase oxygen uptake, enhance immune response in the lungs and support a healthy heart.

Will I continue micro-dosing with medicinal mushrooms?

Without a doubt! The science backing these adaptogens are well-proven and I truly feel the difference when using them. I look forward to experimenting more with teas, tinctures and other blends in the future.

A big thank you to Harmonic Mycology for jumping on board and sharing such awesome information with me! To read the rest of the series, see the links below:

Healing with Medicinal Mushrooms: An Introduction [Part 1]

The History of Mushrooms: Ethnomycology [Part 2]

Lucidity: Lions Mane Mushroom Effects [Harmonic Mycology Review]

Vitality and Stamina: Chaga, Cordyceps and Reishi Mushroom Benefits