For over two thousand years, Reishi has been known in Chinese medicine as Lingzhi, the “Mushroom of Immortality.” It was prized by emperors, monks, and herbalists alike for its power to restore balance, calm the mind, and strengthen the body from the inside out. Today, modern science is finally catching up to what ancient healers already knew: this deep red, glossy mushroom isn’t just legendary, it’s profoundly functional.

Reishi is more than a single active compound. It’s a dense matrix of over 400 bioactive molecules that work together to support longevity, vitality, and resilience. Among them, triterpenes and beta-glucans are the most studied. These compounds influence everything from the immune system to the nervous system, helping the body adapt to stress and restore equilibrium.

The Calming Effect

Reishi has earned a reputation as nature’s original stress adaptogen. Research shows that it can help regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s main stress response system. By moderating cortisol levels and supporting the parasympathetic nervous system, Reishi helps shift the body from a “fight-or-flight” state into “rest-and-repair.”

In clinical studies, Reishi extract has been shown to improve sleep quality, reduce fatigue, and increase overall sense of well-being. One study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that Reishi supplementation significantly improved deep, restorative sleep in test subjects after just four weeks. Another noted reductions in anxiety and irritability, suggesting that Reishi helps smooth out both physiological and emotional stress.

This is why Reishi is one of the star ingredients in our Sleep gummies. It works synergistically with other botanicals and functional mushrooms to promote calmness, support serotonin and melatonin balance, and make it easier to drift off naturally. The goal isn’t sedation—it’s true rest. When your body’s stress systems quiet down, sleep becomes deeper, more restorative, and more consistent.

The Glow Within

But Reishi’s benefits go beyond the mind. This mushroom is also a powerful ally for the skin. Chronic stress and inflammation are two of the biggest accelerators of skin aging, and Reishi directly targets both.

Triterpenes, one of Reishi’s primary active groups, have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. They help protect skin cells from oxidative stress, reduce redness, and support the skin’s natural barrier function. Beta-glucans, another key compound, enhance hydration and elasticity by supporting collagen synthesis and improving skin moisture retention.

There’s also growing evidence that Reishi supports the gut-skin axis—a major factor in skin health. Its prebiotic polysaccharides feed beneficial gut bacteria, which in turn influence the body’s inflammatory response and skin clarity. Healthier gut, calmer skin, brighter glow.

That’s why we included Reishi in our Glow gummies. It’s not just about looking good on the surface. It’s about nourishing the systems that make you feel balanced and radiant from the inside out. Real glow starts with cellular calm.

Adaptation at Its Core

Reishi is what scientists call a “bioregulatory adaptogen.” That means it doesn’t push the body in one direction. Instead, it helps it adapt. If cortisol is high, it helps bring it down. If immune activity is low, it supports it. The result is balance—what traditional Chinese medicine calls homeostasis, and what we feel as energy, clarity, and calm.

Modern research continues to reveal just how wide Reishi’s impact can be. Studies have linked it to:

• Improved immune modulation: Stimulates white blood cell activity and enhances immune resilience.

• Anti-inflammatory support: Reduces cytokine overproduction, helping manage chronic inflammation.

• Liver protection: Assists in detoxification and protects hepatocytes from oxidative stress.

• Neuroprotection: Supports nerve growth factor (NGF) and may help maintain cognitive function over time.

Reishi in the Modern World

We live in a constant state of stimulation—work notifications, blue light, caffeine, and late nights. Reishi offers an antidote. It gently guides the body back toward balance, improving how we adapt to both physical and psychological stress.

When we formulated both Sleep and Glow, we knew we wanted ingredients that worked with the body’s rhythms, not against them. Reishi fit perfectly. It supports calm and rest at night and radiance and renewal by day. Whether it’s helping your nervous system recharge or protecting your skin from oxidative stress, Reishi is about restoring what modern life depletes.

It’s been called the Mushroom of Immortality for a reason—not because it grants eternal life, but because it helps you feel fully alive.