This doesn’t mean you should eat any ol’ mushroom you find the next time you feel anxious or sniffly. Some varieties are bioaccumulators, meaning that they absorb and store the chemicals that surround them, so you need to be super careful with sourcing the right ‘shroom. With that being said, here are a few mushroom varieties that show some promise for their calming, adaptogenic properties. In another study, the water-based extract of chaga exhibited antiviral activity against common infections2 such as the flu. Chaga is also packed with beneficial antioxidants3. About a dozen studies have been published on the neuroregenerative properties of lion’s mane so far. One small-scale study9 gave human patients four 250 mg tablets containing 96 percent lion’s mane mushroom powder three times a day for 16 weeks. Those who took the lion’s mane powder showed significantly increased scores on the cognitive function scale compared to the placebo group. Another small study found that the mushroom has the potential to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms10 in some cases. Another double-blind placebo-controlled trial on humans 12found that cordyceps acted like an adaptogen, or hormone balancer, helping people struggling with fatigue increase their levels of energy and endurance. You can add your fresh crop to everything from salads and soups to tonics and elixirs. For some inspiration, here’s my favorite adaptogenic mushroom drink recipe: A cutting-edge nutrition deep dive taught by 20+ top health & wellness experts
