DOSSIER #090 // functional-mushrooms
Evidence: Traditional useReishi
Ganoderma lucidum • Lingzhi • Ganoderma
COMPOUND PROFILE Triterpenes, beta-glucans
THE 30-SECOND VERDICT
Long culinary/herbal history. Human sleep RCTs are small. Not an insomnia drug.
Reishi is a woody mushroom, usually extracted. Fruiting-body dual extracts differ from mycelium-on-grain biomass.
WHAT PEOPLE USE IT FOR
- ✓ Evening cacao
- ✓ Low-caffeine night drinks
WHAT THE EVIDENCE ACTUALLY PROVES
- ● Beta-glucan chemistry is documented; clinical sleep claims are not robust.
- ✕ Does not treat immune disease. Bitter taste is a feature, not a defect.
REGULATORY JURISDICTION BLUEPRINT
🇪🇺 EUROPEAN UNION (EFSA) Authorized food / supplement depending on form
Ganoderma products sit at the food/supplement border. Novel concentrated isolates may need review.
🇺🇸 UNITED STATES (FDA / DSHEA) Dietary supplement
Dietary supplement. Structure/function immune wording is tightly policed.
Forms
Dual extractSpore oilCacao mix
Sources
- Wachtel-Galor et al. — Ganoderma lucidum monograph chapter (2011)
Last reviewed 2026-08-12 · Lab desk