Reishi mushroom: effects, compounds, uses, and what to look out for

Short answer: Reishi is a hard, shiny wood-growing mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum, called the lacquered bracket fungus in English and lingzhi in China) that has been used in Chinese and Japanese traditions for more than 2,000 years. It is best known for its beta-glucans and bitter triterpenes, but most research into reishi’s effects has been conducted in laboratories and animals. If you take blood thinners, are pregnant or have surgery planned, consult your doctor first.

Last updated: November 3, 2026 · Written by Florian Fermin

Of our mushrooms, reishi has the most pronounced flavor. So it’s no surprise that reviews often describe the powder as earthy, while all sorts of claims about reishi are made online. That’s why I’m simply listing here what is known, and what isn’t.

What is the reishi mushroom?

Reishi is the Japanese name for Ganoderma lucidum, called the lacquered bracket fungus in English and lingzhi in China. It is a hard, woody mushroom with a shiny, reddish to dark brown cap that grows on deciduous trees. The Latin word lucidus means shiny, which you can see right away in the cap’s lacquered surface.

How do you recognize reishi?

• A shiny, reddish to dark brown cap in a fan or kidney shape
• No gills under the cap, but a porous underside
• Hard and woody, so you don’t cook or eat reishi like a mushroom
• A distinctly bitter taste, which comes from the triterpenes

Where does reishi come from, and how long has it been used?

Reishi grows naturally on deciduous trees in warm, humid regions, especially in Asia. It has been used in Chinese and Japanese traditions for more than 2,000 years (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011). It was rare in the wild, but since the 1970s, reishi has been widely cultivated on grain, sawdust and logs.

Lingzhi is mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, one of the oldest Chinese herbal texts, from the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD). For a long time, it was available only to the wealthy elite (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011).

Reishi comes in red, black, blue-green, white, yellow and purple forms. In Japan, red reishi is traditionally preferred, while in southern China, black reishi is preferred (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011).

What compounds are in reishi?

Three groups of compounds in reishi are studied most: polysaccharides, peptidoglycans and triterpenes. More than 100 triterpenes have been described, mainly ganoderic acids and lucidenic acids (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011). They don’t all dissolve in the same substances, which partly determines what ends up in a supplement.

Beta-glucans are chains of sugar molecules from the cell walls of mushrooms. Triterpenes are compounds with a 30-carbon skeleton, and ganoderic acids A and B were first isolated from reishi in 1982.

It also contains chitin, a tough fiber that your body barely digests. That is why reishi is often extracted rather than simply ground.

Effects of reishi: what does research say?

A great deal of research is underway on the effects of reishi, but most of it has been conducted in cell cultures and laboratory animals, especially on polysaccharides and triterpenes. Human studies are small, and results are still limited. So what is found in the lab does not automatically tell us what reishi does in your body.

A review chapter from Hong Kong Polytechnic University describes human studies with 4 to 134 participants. The authors conclude that better, larger studies are needed (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011). The chapter does not specify a recommended daily dose.

No health claims for reishi have yet been definitively approved in the EU. Some claims are awaiting European assessment. We are allowed to use them, and we adhere strictly to the wording: Reishi contributes to the body's natural defences* and Reishi helps support the immune system*. Reishi remains a dietary supplement, not a medicine.

What are the side effects of reishi?

Reported side effects of reishi include nausea, difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, constipation, itching and dizziness (Memorial Sloan Kettering, 2026).

Because human studies are small and often short, little is known about rare side effects or use over several years. According to the same source, reishi may affect blood clotting, so caution is advised when taking it with medication.

Be cautious and consult your doctor or pharmacist first if you:

• take blood thinners
• take other medications
• have surgery scheduled soon
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• are allergic to mushrooms

If you notice anything unpleasant after starting reishi, stop taking it and consult your doctor. Never exceed the daily dose stated on the package.

You can read all about reported side effects and who should be cautious in our article about reishi side effects.

Why do cultivation and extraction matter for reishi?

Cultivation and extraction determine which compounds are in a reishi product. A product made from the fruiting body has different proportions than grain-grown mycelium, and hot water primarily releases polysaccharides, while alcohol mainly dissolves triterpenes. The triterpene content also varies by part of the mushroom and by growth stage (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011).

Fruiting body or mycelium

The fruiting body is the mushroom you can see. Mycelium is the threadlike network from which it grows, and mycelium grown on grain often still contains a large amount of grain starch.

I’d always look for the fruiting body, and that’s what we use too. Read more about this in fruiting body or mycelium.

Dual extraction

Beta-glucans dissolve in water, while triterpenes dissolve in alcohol. That’s why many producers use a dual extraction: first hot water, then alcohol. So an extract made with water alone may contain few triterpenes. Read about how it works and what to look for in dual extraction explained.

What does 20:1 or 10:1 mean?

A ratio such as 10:1 means that 10 kg of dried mushroom has been reduced to 1 kg of extract. This tells you something about the concentration, but not the content of specific compounds. A percentage of polysaccharides or triterpenes on the label tells you more.

Reishi powder or reishi extract: which form is right for you?

You can buy reishi as powder, capsules, extract capsules, or as a traditional tea or decoction. Powder and capsules contain the whole ground mushroom, while an extract is more concentrated. If you don’t want to taste the bitterness, I’d simply take capsules; if you want to add it to your coffee or tea, choose powder. Read more about this in reishi powder, capsules, or extract.

What is reishi powder?

Reishi powder is the dried and finely ground fruiting body of the mushroom. So you’re consuming the whole mushroom, including its tough cell wall. Most of the powder is fiber: according to our label, 86.4 g per 100 g. It tastes earthy and bitter, and most people mix it into coffee, tea, a shake, yogurt, or oatmeal. Our label recommends 2-3 scoops (2-3 g) once a day.

What is reishi extract?

With a reishi extract, the compounds are first extracted from the mushroom using hot water, alcohol, or both, and then concentrated. This means they are no longer trapped in the hard-to-digest cell wall. Our reishi extract capsules contain 400 mg of 20:1 extract per capsule, made with water and ethanol, with a stated content of 30% beta-glucans and 40% polysaccharides. The label recommends 1 capsule once or twice a day.

Find all the forms side by side at buy reishi.

How much reishi per day?

There is no universal answer, as it depends on the form and concentration. An extract is more concentrated, so you take less of it. Always follow the daily dosage on the package.

When should you take reishi?

Many people take reishi in the evening as part of their nighttime routine. There is no research identifying the best time to take it. Consistency in your own routine matters more than the precise timing.

How do you recognize a good reishi supplement?

A good reishi supplement lists the species, the part used, the extraction method, and the polysaccharide or triterpene content, and is tested for heavy metals. This isn't an unnecessary precaution, because quality varies from product to product. When researchers tested 11 random reishi products from shops in Hong Kong, triterpene content ranged from undetectable to 7.8%, and polysaccharide content from 1.1 to 5.8% (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011).

A customer once asked us where our mushrooms come from and whether they contain lead. That's a fair question. Our ingredients come from China, which is exactly why we have a certificate of analysis (CoA) for every batch.

• Fruiting body instead of just mycelium grown on grain
• Extraction method: water, alcohol, or both
• Stated content of polysaccharides and/or triterpenes
• Certified organic
• Lab testing for heavy metals and other contaminants, preferably with a certificate of analysis (CoA) for each batch. Here's how to read a CoA for a mushroom supplement
• The right species: Ganoderma lucidum is the most extensively studied

See how different brands score on these points in our comparison of the best reishi supplement.

What are users' experiences with reishi?

People who use reishi mainly mention practical things: the powder's earthy flavor, the convenience of capsules, and how it fits into their day. On getgoyu.com, the three reishi products have a total of 36 reviews (Judge.me, October 2026). Experiences, of course, say nothing about what reishi does in your body; that requires research.

Another recurring point is that the paper packaging fits through the letterbox. And, to be honest, some users noticed nothing after a short time.

Which GOYU reishi is right for your routine?

We sell reishi (Ganoderma lucidum, fruiting body) in three forms, each with its own usage instructions on the packaging. The powder and capsules are certified organic (NL-BIO-01, non-EU agriculture); the extract is not organic. We have a certificate of analysis (CoA) for every batch, which you can request from support@getgoyu.com.

• Reishi powder (60 g, organic): "Take 2-3 scoops a day (about 2-3 g)." 60 g lasts 20 to 30 days.
• Reishi capsules (60 x 500 mg, organic): 2-3 capsules once a day, so 1000 to 1500 mg and 20 to 30 days per jar. Reishi contributes to the body's natural defences*. Reishi helps support the immune system*. Reishi contributes to healthy circulation*.
• Reishi extract capsules (60 x 400 mg, 20:1, water and ethanol, of which 30% beta-glucans and 40% polysaccharides): "Take 1 capsule once or twice a day with water." That’s 30 to 60 days per jar. Reishi contributes to the body's natural defences*. Reishi helps support the immune system*. Reishi contributes to healthy circulation*.

*Health claim pending approval by the European Commission.

Can you combine reishi with other mushrooms?

Reishi is often used together with other mushrooms, such as lion's mane, chaga, and cordyceps. Each contains different compounds, so one does not replace another. If you combine them, follow the daily dosage on each product's packaging and consult your doctor or pharmacist before use if you take medication.

Whether you take everything at once or alternate from day to day is another question we get. There hasn't been any research on that, so I'd simply choose what fits best into your routine.

Also read our articles about chaga and lion's mane, or browse all the varieties in our mushroom collection.

Summary in 3 points

• Reishi (varnished conk, Ganoderma lucidum) mainly contains beta-glucans and more than 100 triterpenes. Extraction with water and alcohol determines which compounds end up in a product.
• Research has mainly been conducted in the lab and on animals. Human studies have had 4 to 134 participants, too few for firm conclusions.
• Side effects have been reported. Consult your doctor if you take blood thinners or other medications, have surgery planned, or are pregnant.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the fruiting body and mycelium?

The fruiting body is the mushroom itself, while the mycelium is the thread-like network it grows from. Mycelium grown on grain often contains a large proportion of starch and therefore relatively fewer mushroom compounds.

Why does reishi taste so bitter?

That's due to triterpenes, such as ganoderic acids. A reishi product that isn't bitter at all may contain few triterpenes. Read more about this in why reishi is so bitter.

Is reishi extract better than powder?

An extract is more concentrated, and extraction releases compounds that would otherwise remain in the hard-to-digest cell wall. Powder contains the whole mushroom and can be added to anything. Which form is right for you simply depends on your preference and routine.

What are the effects of reishi?

Reishi mainly contains beta-glucans and triterpenes, but what they do in your body has only been studied to a limited extent in humans. Most research has been done in the lab and on animals, and human studies have had 4 to 134 participants, which is too few for firm conclusions (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011). No health claims for reishi have yet been definitively approved in the EU. The following claims are awaiting European assessment: Reishi contributes to the body's natural defences* and Reishi helps support the immune system*.

How do you use reishi powder?

Stir it into coffee, tea, a shake, yogurt or oatmeal. Since it tastes earthy and bitter, I would add it to something with a strong flavor of its own, such as coffee. Our label recommends 2-3 scoops (2-3 g) once a day. If you would rather not taste it, choose capsules.

Is reishi safe to take every day?

Follow the daily dosage on the label. There has been little research on daily use over several years, and side effects such as nausea and dry mouth have been reported. Consult your GP if you take medication, are pregnant or have surgery planned.

Is reishi the same as lion's mane or chaga?

No. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) and chaga (Inonotus obliquus) are different mushrooms, each with its own composition.

Which reishi species has been studied the most?

Ganoderma lucidum. There are more than 200 species in the genus Ganoderma, and the naming is not always clear-cut.

DNA research showed that the "lingzhi" cultivated in China is the same species as G. sichuanense (Wang et al., 2012). So choose a product that clearly specifies the species.

Sources

1. Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, Benzie IFF. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi). In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. 2nd ed. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 9. NCBI Bookshelf NBK92757
2. Wang XC, Xi RJ, Li Y, Wang DM, Yao YJ. The species identity of the widely cultivated Ganoderma, 'G. lucidum' (Ling-zhi), in China. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e40857. Europe PMC 22911713
3. Customer reviews of reishi powder, capsules and extract capsules on getgoyu.com. Judge.me, October 2026.
4. Memorial Sloan Kettering. Reishi Mushroom (About Herbs). Page updated May 5, 2026. mskcc.org

You can find all forms of our reishi on the buy reishi page. Reishi is also included in our collection, which also includes spirulina, chlorella and turmeric.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If in doubt, or if you are pregnant or taking medication, consult your GP or pharmacist.