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- A 2009 study found Lion’s Mane greatly helped thinking skills in people with mild thinking problems.
- Cordyceps makes more ATP, which gives the brain more energy and uses oxygen better.
- Lion’s Mane has things in it that help nerve growth factor (NGF), which helps make new brain cells.
- Reishi lessens brain swelling and helps handle stress because it's an adaptogen.
- Functional mushrooms might not work well with some medicines like blood thinners and immunosuppressants.
Many people who want to think better are using nootropic mushrooms. These are functional mushrooms that are proven to help your brain work better without bad side effects. These mushrooms that help your brain are not just old stories. They are a real step forward in natural ways to boost the brain. They can help with memory, focus, brain energy, and even keeping your brain healthy as you get older. Let’s look at nootropic mushrooms and how they can make your mind clearer and your thinking stronger.
What Are Nootropic Mushrooms?
Nootropic mushrooms are functional mushrooms known to help your brain work better. Nootropics, in general, are things — natural or made in a lab — that help and improve how you think, like memory, learning, focus, creativity, and mental energy. Mushrooms in this group have natural stuff that helps brain health and how well it works.
The word "nootropic" was made up in 1972 by Dr. Corneliu Giurgea. He said that a thing had to do certain things to be called nootropic. It had to help memory, help the brain work when stressed, and make brain pathways work better, and it had to be safe and not cause side effects. Nootropic mushrooms do these things because of the natural things they have in them.
Active Parts That Make Them Work
Nootropic mushrooms work because of what's in them. These mushrooms often have different things that work with the brain and nerves
- Polysaccharides (especially beta-glucans): These help the immune system and gut, which also helps the brain.
- Terpenoids: These are in mushrooms like Reishi and fight swelling and protect nerves.
- Hericenones and Erinacines: These are only in Lion’s Mane and are known to help NGF.
- Cordycepin: This is in Cordyceps and is like a building block that helps cells make more energy and handle stress.
- B-complex vitamins (especially in Shiitake): These are needed to turn food into brain power.
These things together help make new brain cells, make brain connections better, control swelling, and even balance mood. This makes them good helpers for brain health.
Functional Mushrooms vs. Nootropic Mushrooms: What’s the Difference?
Not all functional mushrooms are nootropic, but all nootropic mushrooms are functional.
Functional Mushrooms
Functional mushrooms are used widely to make overall health better. They have many health benefits, such as:
- Making the immune system stronger
- Fighting damage from oxidation
- Helping to handle mental and physical stress (adaptogenic qualities)
- Helping gut health
- Keeping metabolism balanced
Examples are Turkey Tail for immunity, Shiitake for heart and blood flow, and Maitake for metabolism control.
Nootropic Mushrooms
Nootropic mushrooms also help thinking skills. This makes them good for anyone wanting to improve how their brain works. They can
- Help grow and fix brain cells
- Make long-term and short-term memory better
- Help with focus and attention
- Lessen mental tiredness and steady mood
- Keep the brain safe from getting worse over time
Some mushrooms are good for both. For example
- Lion’s Mane: Helps both the immune system and making new brain cells
- Reishi: Balances the immune system and lowers worry
- Cordyceps: Helps energy use and stops brain fog
Knowing the difference helps you choose what to take based on what you want. Do you want overall wellness, or do you want to think more clearly?
The Science Behind Brain Support
Even though natural cures are sometimes seen as just old stories, nootropic mushrooms are supported by real research from brain scientists, herb experts, and wellness people. Let’s see how these mushrooms help the brain work better.
Neurogenesis and Neuroplasticity
Neurogenesis is making new brain cells. Neuroplasticity is making new connections between them. Things like hericenones and erinacines — in Lion’s Mane — can help nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a very important protein that helps brain cells live and work.
A 2009 study found that Lion’s Mane greatly helped thinking skills in older people with mild thinking problems over 16 weeks (Mori et al., 2009). This adds proof to its brain-cell-making benefits.
Antioxidant Protection
The brain uses about 20% of the oxygen we breathe, so it's easily hurt by oxidative stress — damage from free radicals. Antioxidants in mushrooms like Chaga, Reishi, and Shiitake stop these radicals and help protect against brain problems over time.
Oxidative stress is thought to be a big part of problems like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other kinds of dementia.
Anti-Inflammatory Action
Ongoing swelling in the body — especially in the brain — is quietly bad for thinking. It's linked to feeling down, worry, and not thinking as sharply. Nootropic mushrooms like Reishi, Maitake, and Turkey Tail have anti-swelling and immune-helping things that quiet this “background noise,” so the brain can work best.
Energy and Mitochondrial Function
Cordyceps is known for helping performance because it helps make ATP — the energy for your cells. Making energy well in cells means better mental focus, alertness, and not getting tired as easily.
Gut-Brain Axis Modulation
About 90% of serotonin — a key brain chemical for mood and thinking — is made in the gut. So, gut health is closely tied to mental health. Turkey Tail and other prebiotic mushrooms help make a healthy and varied gut microbiome. This, in turn, helps with mood control and clear thinking.
7 Top Nootropic Mushrooms to Know
Let’s look at the main nootropic mushrooms. Each of these mushrooms has its own set of brain benefits supported by old uses and science.
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Lion’s Mane is maybe the most famous nootropic mushroom. It has become a common supplement for people wanting better memory and clearer thinking. It can help make NGF, which directly helps brain repair and function.
Study Spotlight: In a study where people didn't know if they were getting Lion's Mane or not, those who took Lion’s Mane had much better thinking scores than those who didn't (Mori et al., 2009).
Main Uses
- Helping thinking skills
- Memory recall
- Long-term brain protection
- Brain recovery from injury or getting worse over time
Fun Fact: Some people say it helps balance emotions, noting less feeling down or worried when they use it.
Cordyceps (Cordyceps sp.)
Cordyceps is used in Chinese medicine and has been valued for ages. It helps oxygen use and energy production. Athletes like it for endurance, but its help with cell energy also gives good mental energy.
Study Insight: Holliday and Cleaver (2008) found Cordyceps helps blood flow in the brain and oxygen use in tough situations (Holliday & Cleaver, 2008).
Thinking Benefits
- Better focus
- Brain oxygen use
- Sharper alertness
- Less mental tiredness
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
Reishi is an adaptogen — it helps your body handle stress better. It doesn’t make you feel hyped up, but it helps keep your mind strong by helping you stay calm, control emotions, and sleep better.
Brain Shield: It has been shown to really fight swelling in the nervous system (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011).
Main Brain Benefits
- Less stress-related mental tiredness
- Better sleep = better thinking
- Brain protection through triterpenes
- Help for emotional balance
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
Chaga is less about making you feel energized and more about keeping you healthy. It has a lot of melanin and betulinic acid, which help cell repair and antioxidant defenses. It works quietly to protect brain health for the long run.
Brain Perks
- Stops free radicals
- Helps immune-brain balance
- May slow down or lessen brain decline
Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
Maitake is not talked about as much in the nootropic world, but it should be. It's great at controlling blood sugar, giving the brain a steady source of good energy.
Thinking Impact
- Stops sugar crashes and brain fog
- Makes insulin work better = more steady energy
- Helps mood balance by controlling energy
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
Shiitake is a food favorite that also helps thinking because it has a lot of B-vitamins. It also helps manage homocysteine levels, which can hurt thinking and cause brain blood vessel problems if they get too high.
Brain Boosting Things
- Turns food into brain energy
- Helps brain blood vessel health
- May help thinking by lowering homocysteine
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)
Turkey Tail makes gut-brain communication better by helping microbiome health. Gut health is known to affect thinking, emotion, and daily mental function.
Top Functional Highlights
- Helps make serotonin in the gut
- Boosts immunity = less brain fog when sick
- Helps make a strong, balanced microbiome
How To Use Nootropic Mushrooms In Your Day
The best way to take nootropic mushrooms depends on your life, how well your body uses them, and what you like.
Common Types
- Capsules/Softgels: Easy for set amounts when you are out and about.
- Powders: Versatile—can be put in drinks or food.
- Tinctures/Extracts: Absorbed quickly and strong.
- Teas: Good for bedtime mushrooms like Reishi.
- Gummies: A tastier way to eat your mushrooms.
Best Ways
- Start with one mushroom to see how it affects you before trying mixes.
- Take energizing mushrooms (like Cordyceps or Lion’s Mane) in the morning.
- Take calming mushrooms (like Reishi or Chaga) at night to help you sleep better.
- Change the mushrooms you use each month to keep them working well and prevent your body from getting used to them.
Grow Your Own Nootropic Mushrooms: A DIY Way
Growing your own nootropic mushrooms at home can change how you think about mushrooms.
Good Things About Growing Your Own
- Stronger & Fresher: You pick them when they are at their best.
- Sustainable: You use less packaging and shipping.
- Cheaper: After you set it up, it costs less than buying supplements all the time.
- Educational: You learn about mushrooms and how they help wellness.
Zombie Mushrooms makes growing easy with kits ready to use for Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and more — great for anyone interested in nootropics.
Safety, Amount, and Things to Watch Out For
Nootropic mushrooms are usually safe, but they should be used carefully like any supplement.
Suggested Amounts
- Lion’s Mane: 500–1000 mg (1–2x/day)
- Cordyceps: 1–3 g each day
- Reishi Extract: 1.5–3 g (dried amount)
Main Safety Tips
- Where It Comes From Matters: Always use mushrooms that are organic, tested in a lab, and extracted well.
- Medicine Risks: Check with a doctor if you take blood thinners, diabetes medicines, or immunosuppressants.
- Allergy Risk: Don’t use if you are allergic to molds or other mushrooms.
Are Nootropic Mushrooms Really Good for Your Brain?
Simply put: Yes, if used right, nootropic mushrooms are a natural way to better brain health. They can help memory, clear thinking, thinking skills, and mood — all while lowering swelling and oxidative stress. Unlike nootropics made in a lab or stimulants, these mushrooms are safer and have more overall benefits.
Whether you're a student, business owner, parent, or older person, nootropic mushrooms may be what you need to think sharper and have a better life.
Citations
- Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K., Azumi, Y., & Tuchida, T. (2009). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 23(3), 367–372. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2634
- Holliday, J., & Cleaver, M. (2008). Medicinal value of the caterpillar fungi species of the genus Cordyceps (Fr.) Link (Ascomycetes). A review. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 10(3), 219–234. https://doi.org/10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v10.i3.50
- Wachtel-Galor, S., Yuen, J., Buswell, J. A., & Benzie, I. F. F. (2011). Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi). In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects (2nd ed.). Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
