Mushrooms—nature is teeming with these large (or small), oddly shaped, multicolored fungi. They grow in just about every terrestrial terrain, sprouting from the split sides of colossal, fallen oaks, or curiously reaching out from tropical soot and underbrush. They flavor many cultural cuisines and have been used medicinally (and recreationally) for centuries.1 Now, wellness brands are venturing into the budding industry, using these age-old mushrooms to give users adaptogenic and nootropic benefits—and even psychoactive effects.
But if you’re new to mushroom products, you probably have some questions, like what are some of the popular mushroom extracts? How do you tell the difference between functional mushroom and magic mushroom products? And which type of product with mushroom extracts is best for you?
Don’t worry, we’ll answer all those questions and more as we dive deep into the world of adaptogenic, nootropic, and psychotropic mushrooms!
A Fungi Introduction
Quick, try to name as many mushrooms as you can. Maybe portobello and button mushrooms come to mind first (which are actually the same type of mushroom).2 Then, you may think of a couple less well-known fungi, like shiitake, reishi, and lion’s mane. And then, well, for most of us, that’s about all we know. Even if you are a master mycologist or a fan of fungi foraging, you probably can’t name them all, or even come close—because there are over 14,000 species of mushrooms. Some of these mushrooms are healthful and beneficial to your wellness, some are psychoactive, some are toxic, some are best paired with a vodka sauce, and some are even luminous.3
To make their all-natural, mushroom-based products, wellness companies only employ a select few species of mushrooms: those that various cultures have used for centuries.
What Are Functional Mushrooms?
The term “functional mushrooms” defines a few different species of mushrooms that provide a wide range of healthful, wellness-boosting benefits. Along with their nootropic and adaptogenic properties, these mushrooms are a potent source of many essential vitamins and minerals.
Many products with functional mushroom extracts highlight the select fungi, like lion’s mane, cordyceps, and reishi, complemented by other all-natural ingredients, like hemp-derived CBD. To give users a blended boost of mind-body benefits, many companies often formulate their functional mushroom products with multiple types of mushroom extracts, which can give customers layers of health and wellness benefits in one convenient product. Plus, many brands add all-natural flavorings and sweeteners to mask any funky fungi flavors.
Here’s a closer look at three popular nootropic and adaptogenic mushrooms:
Lion’s Mane
With its flowing, shaggy white hairs, the lion’s mane mushroom is a titan in the wellness community, popular for its positive nootropic effects on the neurological system.4 This fluffy-looking fungi is an excellent source of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and muscle-building proteins.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps, with its tall, orange spindles, is the mushroom that most definitely does not look like a mushroom. But it’s quickly rising the ranks to become one of the most popular functional mushrooms on the market. Recently, because cordyceps are rich in vitamins B1, B2, and B12, brands have been using cordyceps extract as the key ingredient in nootropic and natural energy supplements. You can find cordyceps in many daytime, focus-heavy functional mushroom products.
Maitake
Sprouting at the base of oak trees and other hardwoods, maitake mushrooms blossom in a sprawling bushel of almond-brown caps. Maitake mushrooms, meaning “dancing mushrooms,” earned their name in feudal Japan for their positive immunity and wellness benefits. Compared to other functional mushrooms, maitake is one of the most nutrient-dense, boasting high levels of vitamins B and C, copper, potassium, and beta-glucans.
Benefits of Functional Mushrooms
Products with functional mushroom extracts offer a variety of potential health benefits. These benefits can stretch from your mind to your body, potentially offering day or nighttime support. But it’s important to know what type of benefits these products provide, so you don’t accidentally take a nighttime tincture before work or a focus-heavy supplement just before bed.
Nootropic
Above, we used the term “nootropic” to describe certain mushrooms, like lion’s mane and cordyceps. Nootropics are supplements that improve cognitive function by positively affecting the neurological system, like supporting mood, stimulating the repair and growth of neurological cells, and boosting the amount of oxygen that reaches your brain. Most mushroom-based nootropic supplements offer energy-boosting benefits and aim to improve focus, so they’re best enjoyed at the start of your day rather than the end.
Adaptogenic
Many functional mushrooms offer adaptogenic benefits, too. Adaptogenic compounds, like those found in maitake mushrooms, help the mind and body ward off stress. Many brands capitalize on these adaptogenic properties, using them to complement relaxing, all-natural compounds, like CBN. Products like these create a more well-rounded relaxation supplement, perfect for after work or before bed.
Types of Products With Functional Mushrooms
If you’d like to enjoy the wellness benefits of functional mushroom extracts, we carry two types of products: tinctures and gummies.
Oil Tinctures
Mushroom-based oil tinctures carry potent levels of nootropic and adaptogenic mushrooms, plus complementary cannabinoids. These CBD-mushroom formulas create a swirl of benefits for daytime focus or nighttime relaxation. Like other wellness tinctures, these come with an attached dropper, so you can customize your ideal dose.
Gummies
Gummies are perhaps the most popular type of wellness supplement. And many brands are combining potent, adaptogenic mushroom extracts with other all-natural ingredients, like CBD, to create a powerful one-two wellness punch, in the form of a fruit-flavored gummy. For example, CBDfx CBD Mushroom Gummies for Wellness contain seven nootropic and adaptogenic mushrooms, plus 50mg of broad spectrum CBD per serving. Plus, CBDfx infuses these chews with a delicious natural cherry taste, masking any and all funky fungi flavors.
A Unique Euphoric Route
Now, we can all be honest. When we asked you to name all the mushrooms you knew, a couple of others came to mind: magic mushrooms. These potent, psychoactive mushrooms have been elevating the minds of cultures for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. And recently, brands have found novel ways to formulate legal mushroom extract blends to create similar, psychotropic effects: ones that come dressed in a fruit-flavored gummy or creamy chocolate bar.
What Are Magic Mushroom Products?
We carry magic mushroom products that contain a proprietary blend of legal mushrooms. This formula includes adaptogens, nootropics, a proprietary blend of mushroom extracts, and all-natural sweeteners and flavorings. These products create potent psychoactive effects, comparable to those from THC, cannabis’ iconic psychotropic cannabinoid. But these effects aren’t exactly the same as those from THC. Many adults agree that these effects from mushroom products feel more cerebral and head-heavy.
Types of Magic Mushroom Products
Although the market for legal magic mushroom products is still new, many high-quality brands are producing a wonderful collection of products. These products include delicious edibles that offer long-lasting effects and disposable vape pens that provide elevated vibes in a matter of minutes, if not seconds. Plus, these high-quality, mushroom-infused edibles are equally dosed, so you can adjust the climb to your preferred state of mind.
Chocolate Bars
Divvied into potent milk and white chocolate squares, magic mushroom chocolate bars offer a sweet, creamy respite from your typical edible experiences. TRĒ House Churro Milk Magic Mushroom Chocolate Bar comes with 15 squares per bar, each precisely dosed, so you can tailor your experience. TRĒ House recommends 1 to 3 squares for a microdose, 4 to 6 for moderate euphoria, and 7 or more for strong, mind-melting effects.
Gummies
Coming in a wide array of delicious fruit flavors, magic mushroom gummies have a burst of sweetness followed by a strong cerebral buzz. TRĒ House makes their magic mushroom gummies with the same active ingredient as their chocolate bars, filling each pack with 15 pieces. Like their chocolate bars, TRĒ House recommends 1 to 3 gummies for a mild dose, 4 to 6 for a moderate dose, and 7 or more for potent psychoactive effects.
Vape Pens
To give users faster-acting effects, many high-quality brands also offer magic mushroom vape pens! These disposable pens come prefilled and precharged with a legal, psychoactive vape juice. We recommend taking one mild puff for your first time, and then, once you have a handle on the effects, you can take longer, stronger pulls from the personal vape device. Like the magic mushroom gummies, these vape pens come in a variety of tasty fruit flavors.
Functional Mushroom vs. Magic Mushroom Products
Although they both use extracts from nootropic and adaptogenic mushrooms, functional and magic mushroom products offer vastly different benefits and effects. Functional mushroom products work to help you de-stress or boost your natural energy levels, while legal magic mushroom products produce serious, fun-filled psychoactive effects. Mistaking one for the other might make for a wild, unexpected day at the office.
Finding the Right Mushroom Product
The industry of mushroom-infused products is rapidly growing. Many high-quality brands are debuting exciting new ways to enjoy these age-old functional and magical mushrooms. But, with an expanding marketplace, it’s best to shop from only reputable, reliable brands. At CBD.co, we’ve curated our collection of mushroom-based brands, choosing the ones that routinely test their products’ purities and potencies and use only all-natural ingredients.
Ready to enjoy all the benefits of mushrooms? Check out our assortment of mushroom products from industry leaders, like CBDfx, TRĒ House, and more!
- Stamets P, Zwickey H. Medicinal Mushrooms: Ancient Remedies Meet Modern Science. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2014 Feb;13(1):46-7. PMID: 26770081; PMCID: PMC4684114.
- Warshaw, Brette. “What’s the Difference between Cremini, Button, and Portobello Mushrooms?” Eater, 13 Sept. 2019, www.eater.com/2019/9/13/20863815/whats-the-difference-between-cremini-button-portobello-mushrooms.
- Elodie Batt. (2023, March 17). Foxfire’s Ghostly Call. ASU – Ask A Biologist. Retrieved January 19, 2024, from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/plosable/mushroom-light
- “Functional Mushroom Market Size & Trends Report, 2030.” Www.grandviewresearch.com, www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/functional-mushroom-market-report.
