September Supplement of the Month: Reishi

Supplement of the Month: Reishi, The Mushroom of Calm

 In our journey to understand and manage stress, we often look for tools that can help our bodies find balance in a demanding world. While we've talked about the HPA axis—our body's "fire alarm" system—this month, I want to highlight one of my favorite natural allies for keeping that alarm in check: Reishi mushroom.

What is Reishi? 

Known for centuries in traditional medicine as the "mushroom of immortality," Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a powerful adaptogen. In functional medicine, we love adaptogens for their unique ability to help the body adapt to and resist the negative effects of stress. They don't just force a single action; they help modulate and balance your system.

How Reishi Calms the Stress Response

 Think of your nervous system as having a gas pedal (the "fight or flight" response) and a brake pedal (the "rest and digest" response). Chronic stress keeps the gas pedal floored, leaving you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and eventually, exhausted.

Reishi works by helping you gently press the brake. It has a calming effect on the central nervous system, which helps to:

• Soothe an overactive mind: It can quiet the mental chatter and racing thoughts that often accompany stress.

• Support the HPA Axis: By promoting a state of calm, Reishi helps to turn down the constant alarm signals being sent to your adrenal glands, giving them a much-needed break from producing excess cortisol.

• Promote Restful Sleep: Many people find that Reishi is incredibly effective for improving sleep quality. By calming the nervous system, it helps you fall asleep more easily and stay asleep, which is when your body does its most important repair and recovery work.

• Support Immune Function: Chronic stress can weaken the immune system. Reishi contains compounds called beta-glucans that are known to support and modulate immune health, which is a crucial benefit when you're feeling run down.

How to Use Reishi

 Reishi is incredibly versatile and easy to incorporate into your daily routine. It's most commonly found as a powder or in a capsule.

• As a Calming Tea: A popular way to use it is to mix the powder into a warm, caffeine-free tea in the evening to help you unwind before bed.

• In a Capsule: For a more convenient option, it can be taken as a supplement in capsule form.

If you're looking for a gentle, natural way to support your body's ability to handle stress and find a greater sense of calm, Reishi mushroom is a wonderful and well-researched place to start.

Disclaimer: As with any supplement, it's important to talk with your healthcare provider to see if Reishi is a good fit for your individual health goals and to ensure you're choosing a high-quality product.