Medicinal Mushrooms: Lion's Mane, Reishi and Cordyceps

Medicinal mushrooms such as lion's mane, reishi and cordyceps are popular for focus, calm and training energy, but the human research is small and early, and much of it is still in cells and animals. They can be a reasonable thing to try in your coffee, as long as you know what is in the bottle and check the safety notes first, especially for reishi if you take blood thinners. Here is what the evidence says for each one and how to read the label in Australia.

Medicinal mushrooms at a glance

Prices are live at the time of writing. None of these mushrooms has strong evidence behind it yet, so think of them as an experiment rather than a must-have.

Fruiting body, mycelium and extracts: read the label

The part of the mushroom and how it is processed changes what you get:

• Fruiting body is the mushroom you can see, the cap and stem.
• Mycelium is the root-like network. It is often grown on grain, so some mycelium powders contain starch from the grain as well as mushroom.
• Extracts use hot water, alcohol or both to pull compounds out of the mushroom, and are usually more concentrated than plain powder.

Beta-glucans are the compounds most mushroom research focuses on. Lab methods can measure beta-glucan separately from starch (McCleary and Draga, 2016), so a label that states beta-glucan content tells you more than one that just says polysaccharides.

The Life Cykel liquid extracts we stock use both mycelium and fruiting body in an alcohol-based extract (20 to 24% alcohol), with a 2 ml serve, about one full dropper, and 60 serves in a 120 ml bottle. Life Cykel sells them in Australia as natural flavourings, not medicines, so the labels do not list beta-glucan content or make health claims. NOW Cordyceps 750 mg is a capsule option, with 750 mg of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium per capsule and a serve of two capsules, for $39.95.

Lion's mane: focus and memory

Lion's mane is the mushroom most people try first, usually for focus. The research in healthy people is thin. In a 2023 pilot study of 41 young adults, 1.8 g of lion's mane a day for 28 days showed a trend towards lower stress that did not reach statistical significance. A single dose made people faster on one attention task an hour later, but other results were null or slightly negative, and the authors say the findings should be read with caution.

Life Cykel Lion's Mane+ with Kakadu Plum has been our best-selling mushroom extract over the last six months. The 60 ml bottle is $39.95 and the 120 ml bottle is $59.95, about $1.00 per 2 ml serve. It is easy to add to coffee, and our nootropics guide covers other focus supplements with stronger evidence.

Reishi: calm, with the most safety notes

Reishi has a long history in traditional Asian medicine. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's herb database says most reishi research is laboratory or animal work and the human studies are small. Some small studies measured a mild drop in blood sugar. That is a reason for care if you take diabetes medicines, not a way to manage diabetes, which belongs with your doctor.

Reishi also has the most safety notes of the three. Powdered reishi has been linked to rare cases of severe liver injury, including one death. It may increase bleeding risk with blood thinners such as warfarin, and may not be safe if you take medicines that suppress the immune system. Do not take reishi if any of these apply without talking to your GP first.

If you want to try it, Life Cykel Reishi comes in 60 ml for $29.95 and 120 ml for $59.95, both at a 2 ml daily serve.

Cordyceps: energy and endurance

Cordyceps is popular with runners and gym-goers. A 2026 review of Cordyceps militaris found five human trials with 321 active people aged 16 to 35. It concluded cordyceps may help performance and recovery, but the findings were inconsistent and the studies had weaknesses, so the authors call its use in sport investigational rather than evidence-based.

Check which species you are buying. Life Cykel Cordyceps+ uses Cordyceps militaris, the species in that review, at $59.95 for 120 ml, or about $1.00 per serve. NOW Cordyceps uses Cordyceps sinensis mycelium, a different species from the one in that review.

Who should check with a GP first

Mushroom supplements are not risk-free just because they are natural. Talk to your GP or pharmacist before you start if you:

• Take blood thinners, diabetes medicines or medicines that suppress the immune system.
• Have a liver condition, drink heavily, or are having cancer care.
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Need to avoid alcohol, as the liquid extracts are alcohol based.

Stop taking any mushroom product and see your GP promptly if you feel unwell, or if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Our verdict: are medicinal mushrooms worth it?

Medicinal mushrooms are a low-cost experiment, not a proven fix. If you want to try one, lion's mane is the easiest place to start for focus, cordyceps militaris is the pick for training, and reishi is the one to be most careful with because of its liver and blood thinner notes. Choose a label that tells you the species and the part used, start with the label serve, and give it a few weeks before you judge it.

Browse our full mushroom range, or see how other supplements fit together in our supplements guide. Orders ship Australia-wide, with free shipping on orders of $99.99 or more and Afterpay available at checkout.

How our price compares

Here is what the same products cost at other Australian supplement stores, so you can check the difference yourself.

Supps247 prices come from our website. Other prices were checked on the websites of Nutrition Warehouse, Australian Sports Nutrition (ASN), Elite Supps and Supplement Mart on 29 October 2026 (same product and size, price for one unit) and can change at any time. Not confirmed means we could not confirm the same product and size. Supps247 members can use our Price Match Guarantee against Nutrition Warehouse, ASN, Elite Supps and Supplement Mart: we beat their full price by 5% or match their sale price (conditions apply).

Shop the products in this guide

Life Cykel Lion's Mane+ 120 ml$59.95Life Cykel Cordyceps+ 120 ml$59.95Life Cykel Reishi 60 ml$29.95NOW Cordyceps 750 mg$39.95

Browse all mushroom supplements.

FAQs

Do medicinal mushrooms actually work?

The evidence is early. Lion's mane, reishi and cordyceps each have a handful of small human studies with mixed results, and much of the research is in cells and animals. A 2026 review called cordyceps investigational for sport, and a 2023 lion's mane pilot study in young adults found only small, tentative effects. If you try one, start at the label serve, read the safety notes and do not expect big changes.

Is fruiting body or mycelium better?

Neither is automatically better, but they are different. The fruiting body is the visible mushroom, while mycelium is the root-like network and is often grown on grain, so some mycelium powders contain grain starch. The most useful label tells you the species, the part used and the beta-glucan content. Life Cykel extracts use both mycelium and fruiting body.

Is reishi safe to take every day?

Many people take reishi without problems, but it has more safety notes than most mushrooms. Powdered reishi has been linked to rare cases of severe liver injury, it may increase bleeding risk with blood thinners such as warfarin, and it may not be safe with medicines that suppress the immune system. Talk to your GP before taking it daily if you take any regular medicines or have a liver condition.

Can I add lion's mane to my coffee?

Yes. Liquid extracts such as Life Cykel Lion's Mane+ are designed to be added to coffee, tea, smoothies or water, with a 2 ml serve, about one full dropper. The extract contains 20 to 24% alcohol, so a single serve adds a very small amount, but it may not suit you if you avoid alcohol completely. Start with the label serve.

Does cordyceps improve endurance?

It might, but the evidence is weak. A 2026 review of Cordyceps militaris found five small trials in active people aged 16 to 35, with inconsistent results and study weaknesses, so the authors call its use in sport investigational. Get your training, fuelling and sleep right first. If you want to try it, choose a product that names Cordyceps militaris.

Sources: Docherty et al., lion's mane pilot study, Nutrients (2023); Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Reishi mushroom; Jędrejko et al., Cordyceps militaris and exercise, Nutrients (2026); McCleary and Draga, beta-glucan in mushrooms and mycelial products, J AOAC Int (2016); product labels and brand nutrition panels, checked October 2026.

Order online with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $99.99 or more, with Afterpay available at checkout. You can also use click and collect at a store that offers it, or visit a Supps247 store in Melbourne, regional Victoria or Brisbane to compare products in person. Members can use our member price match on full-priced items.

Prices and stock were checked on 29 October 2026 and can change at any time. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, check with your doctor first.