Reishi mushroom contains powerful anti-cancer chemicals
(Updated June 2026.) The topic today is medicinal mushrooms. I just listened to this podcast with Ralph Moss, which I think is a valuable share. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moss-report/id1522326628?i=1000614504170
Most of already know that mushrooms are valuable addition to our cancer treatment and prevention protocols. But people are often confused about which mushrooms to take and how much.
Moss goes through some of the research and draws attention to one of my favorite mushroom companies, Real Mushrooms. He doesn’t call out Host Defense by name, but he cautions against buying mycelium blend mushrooms. Unfortunately, some naturopaths are still recommending this mycelium-based brand because they went to Bastyr university and are proud of the clinical trial that was done there. (And many people trust the founder because of his documentary Fantastic Fungi and the wide availability of his products at stores like Whole Foods). But as Moss suggests, the 6 g of mycelium needed to show a change in natural killer cell activity in the breast cancer patients in the Bastyr study is likely higher than you need if you are taking a turkey tail mushroom supplement from 100% fruiting bodies.
I typically recommend 3 g a day of 100% fruiting body extract minimum, perhaps lower if you are in remission. But if you want any anti-cancer or immune-boosting effects, you need to get to 3 g or above. Each capsule or 1/4 teaspoon typically contains 0.5 g so that’s a minimum of 6 capsules or 1.5 teaspoons a day.
Another topic Moss covered was the idea of using multiple types of mushrooms. Research shows an additive effect over taking one type alone at the same dosage. I agree that this is a good tactic, but I was surprised to hear him mention that he takes one capsule a day of Five Defenders. That is certainly not enough for a cancer survivor (and he is one). Also, some of the mushrooms are edible. Both maitake and shitake are delicious mushrooms that can be included in your diet every day if you can find and afford to buy them. A while back on Facebook I posted a recipe for roasting shiitake mushrooms as a “bacon substitute” to add to salads. I will give that recipe at the end of this post.
Mushroom Drinks to Start Your Morning or Wind Down in the Evening
Another way you can bring mushrooms into your diet is by using a powdered form of mushrooms in your coffee, smoothie, or chai tea. To make my version of chai tea, I combine half a mug of homemade hemp milk sweetened with monk fruit with a generous portion (1 tsp or 2 g) of Reishi spore extract (code FUNGI20 for 20% off) or Real Mushrooms Reishi Mushroom powder and 1 tsp of Real Mushrooms Real Mushrooms Cordyceps to each cup along with 1 tsp Progressive Labs Colostrum powder or one scoop of Microbiome Labs Mega IgG 200 to support my gut, a heaping teaspoon of Rosemary’s Garden Nourishing Chai Tea Blend, which doesn’t contain tea but does contain chai spices along with adaptogens, and Rosemary’s Garden Roasted Roots powder. The chai powder and roasted root powder fill multiple roles: boosting the flavor, providing more adaptogens (cordyceps and reishi are also adaptogens), and supporting my liver and hormone health. Recently, after listening to an interview with the women’s health expert on blood sugar balance and weight loss, I decided to start adding protein to my morning drink with unsweetened whey protein powder (I use Designs for Health Whey Cool unsweetened). I use a battery-operated milk frother to blend in all the powders to the heated milk. For the other half of the cup, I add 3-4 oz of Pu’erh tea, which I make ahead and reheat. (1.5 tbsp makes 5 pots of tea, with consecutive pour overs 8 oz at a time — store the tea in glass jars in the fridge.) I also love Rishi’s glass teapots. Pu’erh has a long history in Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been shown to positively impact cholesterol metabolism. I’ve been able to drop my Apolipoprotein B into normal range with a combination of daily Pu’erh tea and a red yeast rice supplement with verified Monakolin K content.
Why use reishi spore powder in my morning drink? For one, the spore powder is smooth and delicious, not as bitter as the fruiting body powder. But I only discovered the spore powder because a TCM practitioner suggested I use it as part of a protocol. Real Mushrooms doesn’t carry it, so I went hunting and found Kotuku Elixers. (I also sometimes buy their Cordyceps powder.) What’s the difference: the fruiting body extract is made from the entire reishi mushroom, while the cracked cell spore powder is made from reishi’s reproductive spores.
My mushroom chai is like a warm hug
Cracked Cell Reishi Spore Powder Benefits:
High concentration of triterpenes
More ganoderic acids and oils (these provide much of the anti-cancer benefit, though the polysacharides and beta glucans are higher in the fruiting body and are equally important for fighting cancer)
Reduces stress and aids sleep (it’s an adaptogen, so good for daytime and evening)
Is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
Improves blood pressure and circulation
Acts as a natural anti-histamine against allergies
As the “seed”or “pollen” of the reishi mushroom, it’s considered the “Jing” or life essence of the reishi in TCM.
According to Kotukhu Elixers, “Part of the true magic of Reishi spore powder is its effect on our mind and spirit. One small tsp consumed directly in the mouth or as a topping on a hot elixir leaves us feeling both enlivened and calm, It is a really sublime form of "high."
I alternate between Real Mushrooms and Kotuku to get the benefits of each.
I can attest that I’m craving the reishi and cordyceps every morning!
The fruiting body of the reishi mushroom has many of the same characteristics but has a stronger effect on the immune system, more anti-oxidant properties, and additional healing properties for the liver. So it protects against free radicals, radiation, and environmental toxins. It can also relieve fatigue.
In essence, we need both the reishi fruiting body and the spores!
My go-to capsules are Reishi and Turkey Tail, because of the wealth of research on these mushrooms for breast cancer. Maitake and shitake are great for breast cancer prevention as well, but I tend to eat those because they are delicious. I try to take a total of 5 g mushroom supplements a day. Recently I’ve been getting my morning reishi as the powder in my chai tea and taking the capsules later in the day.
No one should be without mushrooms in their anti-cancer tool chest. But make sure you take enough and take a variety.
Why include cordyceps in my morning chai? (Other than being told to do so by a TCM practitioner?) It’s well-known for improving stamina and supporting the immune system. Cordyceps aren’t a mushroom but rather a parasitic fungus carried by insects. In nature, they are only found high in the Himalayas and so are an expensive and sought-after commodity. But cultivated strains provide similar benefits and are more accessible. The active constituent cordycepin has been studied for for its ability to block molecular pathways in cancer as well as being an anti-oxidant and modulating the immune system.
Here are some references, resources, and recipes to help you on your mushroom quest.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267592/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31697749/
https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ijo.2014.2375
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32466253/
(The Bastyr Trial) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3369477/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22185453/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32466253/
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/219472/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5955106/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5055164/
https://ascopost.com/issues/april-10-2019/maitake-mushroom/
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/10/3479
Discounts
Maria’s link for 20% Real Mushrooms 100% fruiting body mushrooms (US and Canada only PLEASE USE THE LINK, NOT A CODE. https://shop.realmushrooms.com/discount/mariab5?redirect=/?ref=208
Maria’s code for 5% off 100% fruiting body mushrooms and all supplements at MCS Formulas. Free shipping to most countries with 75 Euro minimum purchase: mariab5
Maria’s code for 20% off Reishi spore powder and other herbs and mushrooms at Kotuku Elixers: FUNGI20
Other Products (no discounts)
Rosemary’s Garden Nourishing Chai (spice and adaptogen blend)
Rosemary's Roasted Roots tea powder (liver and hormone support0
Shitake “Bacon” (you can find many versions on Pinterest)
Mushroom Soup (I use a homemade Worcestershire sauce). I use shitake and maitake mushrooms.