Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a calming, adaptogenic mushroom traditionally taken in the evening to help you wind down, and early research suggests it may support more restful sleep. It is worth being clear from the outset: most of the sleep research on Reishi so far comes from animal studies, so while the findings are promising, human sleep data remains limited.
How Reishi is thought to support rest
Reishi has been valued for centuries as the 'mushroom of immortality,' usually taken to encourage calm and relaxation rather than as a stimulant. Modern interest centres on its adaptogenic character, the idea that it helps the body cope with everyday stress. Because a settled, less stressed state makes it easier to wind down at night, this calming quality is the most plausible way Reishi supports healthy sleep.
What the sleep research shows
The most direct sleep evidence so far comes from preclinical animal studies. In one study in rats, Reishi extract taken for three days increased total sleep time and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, the deep, restorative phase during which the body repairs and recovers (Cui, 2012, in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology). A separate study in mice and rats found that Reishi extract shortened the time taken to fall asleep and lengthened sleeping time, appearing to act through the calming GABA signalling system in the brain (Chu, 2007, in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior).
Because these are animal findings rather than human trials, they cannot tell us exactly how Reishi will affect any one person's sleep. What they do offer is a plausible, mechanism-based reason for the calm, evening-friendly reputation Reishi has held for generations.
Calm as the foundation of good sleep
Reishi's standing as an adaptogen is central to its appeal at bedtime. Adaptogens are traditionally used to help the body meet stress with more resilience, and a calmer response to daily stress naturally makes it easier to relax into sleep. The compounds behind this activity, chiefly triterpenoids and polysaccharides, are the focus of ongoing research (Wachtel-Galor, 2011). Rather than sedating you, Reishi is best understood as gently helping you settle, which is why it suits an unhurried evening ritual.
Making Reishi part of an evening ritual
Reishi works best as one part of a calming wind-down routine rather than a stand-alone solution. Taken in the evening, our organic Reishi liquid extract is made from fruiting bodies using ultrasonic-assisted dual extraction in Finland, with a typical serving of around 2 ml (two half-pipettes) a day. For an evening-focused pairing, the Day to Dusk set brings Reishi together with Chaga. Combine it with consistent bedtimes, less screen time before bed and a genuine chance to unwind, and explore the rest of our range in the extracts collection.
References
- Chu, Q. P., Wang, L. E., Cui, X. Y., Fu, H. Z., Lin, Z. B., Lin, S. Q., & Zhang, Y. H. (2007). Extract of Ganoderma lucidum potentiates pentobarbital-induced sleep via a GABAergic mechanism. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 86(4), 693-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2007.02.015
- Cui, X. Y., Cui, S. Y., Zhang, J., Wang, Z. J., Yu, B., Sheng, Z. F., Zhang, X. Q., & Zhang, Y. H. (2012). Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 139(3), 796-800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.020
- Wachtel-Galor, S., Yuen, J., Buswell, J. A., & Benzie, I. F. F. (2011). Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A medicinal mushroom. In I. F. F. Benzie & S. Wachtel-Galor (Eds.), Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects (2nd ed.). CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
