REISHI

Ganoderma lucidum

LIONS MANE

Hericium erinaceus

Off the back of the 2025 South Coast Fungi Feastival, we’re excited to share with you some info on two of our favourite medicinal mushrooms - Reishi and Lions Mane. We’re proud to be the only known cafe on the South Coast where you can get medicinal mushrooms dropped into your favourite drink to help support your health. Whilst we started with the incredible products from Superfeast (who we still highly recommend), it’s a treat for us to now stock locally grown and produced mushroom tinctures from Forest Door in Moruya. We thought it’d be a good time to share a little more about these incredible mushrooms to give all you mushroom curious folks the lowdown on why these fantastic fungi can be such an amazing tool to support your overall health and wellbeing.

Across mountains, forests, and time itself, mushrooms like Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) have long been held in high esteem by Eastern medical systems for their extraordinary healing potential. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Japanese Kampo, these fungi weren’t merely ingredients — they were revered as sacred tools for restoring harmony between body, mind, and spirit.

Reishi, often referred to as the “Mushroom of Immortality,” has been used for over 2,000 years. In ancient Chinese texts like the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, Reishi is ranked as a "superior herb," meaning it could be taken continuously to promote longevity and prevent illness. It was once reserved for emperors and spiritual seekers — associated with vitality, calm, and a deep resilience of the Shen (spirit).

Lion’s Mane, by contrast, was known less for spiritual expansion and more for its effect on the mind. Used by Buddhist monks to enhance focus during meditation, it was employed to tonify the stomach, support digestion, and sharpen memory. Its cascading, white tendrils resemble the lion’s mane it’s named after — and its energetic role in fortifying the brain and nervous system mirrors this visual strength.

MEDICINAL & NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES

Both mushrooms are classified as adaptogens and nootropics, depending on their use, and are increasingly appreciated for their synergistic qualities in supporting long-term health.

REISHI

Adaptogenic & Immunomodulating: Supports the adrenal system and modulates immune function rather than simply stimulating it.
Anti-inflammatory & Antioxidant: Rich in triterpenes and polysaccharides, it calms the nervous system and reduces oxidative stress.
Cardiovascular Health: Supports healthy cholesterol and blood pressure regulation.
Liver & Detox: Traditionally used to support liver function and aid detoxification pathways.

LIONS MANE

Cognitive Support: Stimulates production of nerve growth factor (NGF), aiding in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity — crucial for memory and learning.
Mood Regulation: Early studies suggest it may help with mild anxiety and depression due to its effects on neurogenesis and inflammation.
Digestive Health: Traditionally used to treat stomach ulcers and support gut health through its anti-inflammatory action.

Both mushrooms are low in calories, high in beta-glucans, and contain a spectrum of amino acids, polysaccharides, and micronutrients.

*Locally grown Reishi and Lions Mane extracts available by the bottle or to drop a dosage into your favourite drink*

NATIVE HABITS

Reishi grows predominantly on hardwood trees in humid forests of East Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan. It’s also found in parts of North America and Europe, but the Asian varieties are the most studied and culturally embedded. Wild Reishi is rare — it typically grows at the base or stumps of deciduous trees and prefers shaded, dense woodlands.

Lion’s Mane prefers temperate forests and can be found growing on decaying logs of beech, maple, or oak in Asia, Europe, and North America. Its fruiting body resembles a pom-pom and emerges in cooler seasons, especially autumn.

Today, both mushrooms are cultivated organically around the world, often on wood or grain substrates that mimic their natural environments — a practice that has helped them become more widely accessible and affordable.

*Alex (co-founder of Forest Door) in their grow chamber in Moruya*

SCIENTIFIC REDISCOVERY IN THE WEST

In the past two decades, Western science has begun to validate what Eastern medicine has long known.

A 2012 study published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology confirmed Reishi’s immunomodulatory effects, highlighting its potential in regulating T cells and macrophages.
Reishi extracts have shown promise in adjunct cancer care, especially for improving quality of life, according to a 2016 Cochrane review.
Lion’s Mane’s impact on neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s is an exciting frontier. A 2009 study in Phytotherapy Research found that Lion’s Mane significantly improved cognitive function in participants with mild cognitive impairment — and benefits declined once the extract was discontinued, showing its potential as an ongoing tonic.

Both mushrooms have also been studied for their anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-fatigue, and gut microbiome modulating effects — with ongoing trials exploring their role in mental health, autoimmune conditions, and athletic recovery.

FROM ANCIENT FORESTS TO MODERN CUPS

In recent years, Reishi and Lion’s Mane have become darlings of the functional mushroom boom, appearing in everything from coffee alternatives to skin care to wellness tonics. Their rise reflects a broader cultural shift toward holistic health, mycological wisdom, and a yearning for deeper connection with Earth-based medicine.

No longer confined to the shelves of herbal apothecaries, these fungi are now being reclaimed and celebrated in the West — not just for their physical health benefits, but for the way they invite a slower, more intentional approach to vitality.

We jumped onto this trend to spread to the good word about the role that mushrooms can play in supporting our health and we’ve been offering up for folks to add medicinal mushrooms to their drinks since we first started trading in 2022.

Come on down, mention this post and we’ll give you a complimentary dose of mushrooms in your next drink - or better yet, grab yourself a bottle and commit to integrating either Lions Mane or Reishi into your daily wellness regime. In our experience (and also recommended by the ancient Taoist herbalists), these mushrooms work best when taken consistently like a supplement. Classified as ‘superior herbs’ their benefits cumulate over time and for the majority of people, there is no detrimental effects of incorporating them into your health rituals.

Andy @ the Nourished Sovereign