Reishi Mushroom

Reishi is the common name used for fungi in the Ganoderma group, with Ganoderma lingzhi used in our ingredient record. The mushroom has a glossy, woody fruiting body and a long history of use in East Asian traditions. Because the mature mushroom is tough rather than culinary in texture, modern wellness products commonly use powders or extracts.

Reishi contains several groups of compounds that have attracted scientific interest, particularly beta-glucans and other polysaccharides, plus triterpenoids such as ganoderic acids. These constituents have been widely studied in laboratory and animal research. Human evidence is much less certain. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials found that some measured outcomes changed in particular analyses, but the certainty of evidence was rated very low and many commonly discussed cardiometabolic markers did not show significant effects.

That makes Reishi a good example of why an ingredient hub should separate traditional use, chemistry and human evidence. The existence of biologically active compounds does not automatically prove a consumer wellness claim.

At The London Dispensary, Reishi is used in our Balance fruit jellies alongside Ashwagandha and broad-spectrum CBD. The current product specification states that the Reishi is UK-grown and that the extract includes spores.