Reishi Vs. Lion's Mane: What's the Difference?

As their popularity has grown over the past couple years, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about reishi and lion’s mane mushrooms. Especially if you’re someone who’s interested in finding new, plant-powered ways to maintain good health and overall wellbeing.

This article will explore both mushrooms, a summary of reishi vs. lion’s mane: their advantages, uses and benefits, so you can easily decide which to try first!

What is reishi mushroom?

Reishi mushrooms are one of several superfood mushrooms that are believed to help maintain healthy immune and digestive systems.‡Leveraging the benefits of adaptogenic herbs, reishi can help your body to manage stress levels.‡

Reishi has long been used in traditional Eastern cultures as a remedy for the mind, body and soul; a bedtime aid to help create a sense of calm and contentment.‡ They grow mostly on decaying oak trees, easily spotted due to their vivid red-orange coloured rings, which stand out against a woodland background.

Reishi uses and benefits

Reishi contains certain molecules, named ‘polysaccharides’ and ‘peptidoglycans’ which are considered to be the source of its antioxidant, health benefiting effects.‡

Let’s begin with the most obvious question: what exactly is reishi? As described by WebMD, reishi mushrooms are among several superfood mushrooms that have been used traditionally for centuries in East Asian cultures to treat infections and improve bodily health.‡

Reishi also goes by the name ‘lingzhi’, and has been a staple in East Asian herbalism for generations.‡Recently, the benefits of Reishi Mushroom Powder have been studied by scientists and herbal doctors in the Western world, leading to an increase in global popularity.

What is lion's mane mushroom?

Lion’s mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) is a white fungus with long, shaggy spines. They can be consumed in full, or taken in a variety of supplement forms, tinctures and powders which are now popular and readily available in the Western world.‡ 

Find out what to look for when buying lion’s mane for a fuller understanding of how these mushrooms are grown and harvested. In Asia, these superfood fungi have been consumed for both culinary and health purposes in traditional rituals for hundreds of years.

This interesting mushroom also has a stimulating nerve growth factor (NGF) on the brain.‡The list of lion’s mane mushroom brain benefits is intriguing - however, the most commonly known unique benefit is how this plant can be used to help support growth and survival of new neurons.‡

Lion's mane uses and benefits

Lion’s mane has been coined a ‘smart’ mushroom in the world of health foods and wellbeing for being safe to eat and offering a nutrient-rich punch of power.‡These mushrooms can help your brain and body respond to stress in a healthy way.‡ They also promote mental agility, focus and overall cognitive performance.‡

Here, we’ve included a list of potential factors which are associated with lion’s mane mushroom brain benefits:

• Helps to cultivate & enhance your creativity, clarity of thought and ability to focus‡
• Supports healthy brain functioning including concentration and recall‡
• Helps to sharpen mental focus and productivity‡
• Helps to calm a restless mind and body‡

Reishi vs. lion's mane

When comparing reishi vs. lion’s mane, it’s important to understand your own needs and goals: which mushroom you take will depend on which kind of effect you are looking for.

Lion’s mane is a unique option in the available world of superfood mushrooms, due to its balancing effect on the brain and nervous system.‡If you’re looking for support for your overall cognitive health, lion’s mane is one way to go.‡ It has the most nootropic-like effects: increased concentration, improved memory and contribution to an overall balanced mood.‡ 

Lion’s mane does this by supporting the production of the Nerve Growth Factor in the brain.‡ NGF facilitates the regrowth and healing function of neurons.‡ Lion’s mane has also been found to support optimal health.‡ 

But what about reishi vs. lion’s mane? Reishi is the one superfood mushroom most closely connected to spirituality. Traditionally, people taking it often report newfound feelings of calm and wellbeing.‡

In traditional Chinese herbalism, reishi is an exalted spiritual herb, known for thousands of years to nourish the shen.‡ For those who may be overly cerebral or overthinkers, reishi can often help drop consciousness down into the heart and body, providing valuable shifts in perspective, and allowing you to “get out of your own way.”‡