Medicinal Mushrooms Benefits
By Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto | Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Wokingham
Medicinal mushrooms have been used in Chinese medicine for over two thousand years and are experiencing a significant resurgence of interest in Western integrative medicine. Unlike culinary mushrooms used purely for flavour, medicinal mushrooms contain a range of bioactive compounds — particularly beta-glucan polysaccharides, triterpenes, and ergosterols — that have clinically meaningful effects on immunity, cognition, hormonal balance, and energy. In traditional Chinese medicine, they are predominantly qi and kidney jing tonics, supporting the deepest levels of vitality and resilience.
Reishi (Ling Zhi)
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) — known in TCM as Ling Zhi — is considered the most important medicinal mushroom in the Chinese pharmacopoeia. Classical texts describe it as a tonic for the spirit (shen) and heart, calming the mind, improving sleep quality, and strengthening the immune system. Modern research confirms its adaptogenic properties, with clinical evidence for reduced fatigue, improved sleep, immune modulation, and anti-tumour activity via NK cell stimulation. It is also one of the most evidence-supported natural treatments for liver qi stagnation — it reduces liver enzymes, supports hepatic detoxification, and improves hormonal clearance, making it useful in the context of oestrogen dominance and hormonal imbalance.
Lion's Mane (Hou Tou Gu)
Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) has attracted considerable research interest for its effects on cognitive function and nerve regeneration. It contains hericenones and erinacines, which stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis — promoting the growth and repair of neurons. Clinical trials have shown improvements in mild cognitive impairment, depression, and anxiety. In TCM terms, lion's mane nourishes the heart and spleen, supporting memory, concentration, and emotional stability — signs of heart blood deficiency or spleen qi deficiency.
Shiitake (Xiang Gu)
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is both a culinary and medicinal mushroom. Its principal bioactive compound, lentinan, is a potent immune stimulant that has been used as an adjunct cancer therapy in Japan for decades. Shiitake also contains eritadenine, which lowers LDL cholesterol, and is one of the few dietary sources of vitamin D2. In TCM, it tonifies qi and supports the stomach and spleen.
Cordyceps (Dong Chong Xia Cao)
Cordyceps is one of the most prized tonics in Chinese medicine — a parasitic fungus traditionally used to tonify kidney yang and lung qi, supporting energy, libido, and endurance. Modern research confirms improvements in VO2 max, exercise performance, and mitochondrial ATP production. It also has evidence for supporting adrenal function and is relevant for patients with chronic fatigue or burnout. For fertility patients with kidney yang deficiency, it is a useful component of a broader tonifying formula.
Turkey Tail (Yun Zhi)
Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) — Yun Zhi in TCM — contains polysaccharopeptides (PSP and PSK) with well-documented immune-modulating effects. It supports the gut microbiome, enhances T-cell and NK cell activity, and is used as an integrative oncology supplement. In TCM it clears dampness and heat from the lower burner and supports the spleen.
Maitake (Hui Shu Hua)
Maitake (Grifola frondosa) has become one of the most interesting medicinal mushrooms for women's hormonal health, particularly polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Its active SX-fraction — a beta-glucan polysaccharide complex — improves insulin sensitivity, and because insulin resistance is one of the central drivers of PCOS (insulin stimulates the ovaries to overproduce testosterone), improving it reduces the androgen excess that disrupts ovulation. A clinical study by Chen et al. (2010) found that the maitake SX-fraction induced ovulation in women with PCOS at a rate comparable to clomiphene citrate, and that combining the two restored ovulation in several women who had not responded to clomiphene alone. In TCM terms, maitake tonifies the spleen and resolves damp and phlegm — precisely the accumulation that underlies PCOS in Chinese medicine — which makes it a natural fit alongside acupuncture and Chinese herbs for restoring regular cycles. It can be eaten as a culinary mushroom or taken as a standardised SX-fraction extract.
How I Use Medicinal Mushrooms in Practice
I incorporate medicinal mushrooms as part of tailored Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions or recommend high-quality standardised extracts as supplements. They work particularly well alongside acupuncture for conditions involving qi deficiency, immune dysregulation, cognitive decline, and fertility support. As with all supplements, quality matters enormously — look for hot-water extracted products standardised for beta-glucan content, from the fruiting body rather than the mycelium.
To discuss whether medicinal mushrooms are appropriate for your situation, contact me or book a consultation in Wokingham.
