Functional mushrooms and fruiting body extracts: how to choose them
Functional mushrooms are species valued for a centuries-old tradition of use and the compounds they contain, such as beta-glucans, taken as dietary supplements in the form of extracts, powders or capsules. The best-known include reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps and chaga. Present for thousands of years in the tradition of Far Eastern medicine, today they enter the diet as supplements in extract, powder, capsule and other forms.
Functional mushrooms vs adaptogens
These two terms are often confused. „Functional mushrooms" is a broad cultural and botanical category. „Adaptogen" is a narrower term from herbalism: it was introduced by Soviet pharmacologist Nikolai Lazarev in 1947 to describe substances credited with increasing the body’s non-specific resistance to stress. Some functional mushrooms are counted among adaptogens, but not every adaptogen is a mushroom.
| Functional mushrooms | Adaptogens | |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | a category of mushrooms with a tradition of use | a herbalism concept (plants and fungi) |
| Origin of the term | a modern category name | pharmacology, Lazarev, 1947 |
| Examples | reishi, lion’s mane, chaga, cordyceps | reishi, cordyceps, ashwagandha, rhodiola |
Which mushrooms are functional
In our culture you will most often come across the species below. Each has its own centuries-old history. Click through for the full profile.
| Mushroom | Latin name | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Reishi | Ganoderma lucidum | one of the most revered mushrooms in Far Eastern tradition, recorded in herbals for over 2000 years |
| Lion’s Mane | Hericium erinaceus | a distinctive, shaggy mushroom prized in Asian cuisine and tradition |
| Cordyceps | Cordyceps | a rare high-altitude mushroom, historically prized in the Himalayas and TCM |
| Chaga | Inonotus obliquus | a birch-dwelling conk known in Siberian and Eastern European tradition |
| Maitake | Grifola frondosa | the „dancing mushroom", an edible species of Japanese tradition |
| Shiitake | Lentinula edodes | one of the most popular mushrooms of Asian cuisine and tradition |
| Coriolus | Trametes versicolor | the common „turkey tail", a colourful bracket fungus of forests worldwide |
| Tremella | Tremella fuciformis | „snow ear", a jelly mushroom prized in Asia |
| Auricularia | Auricularia | „Judas’s ear", a classic of Far Eastern cuisine |
| Polyporus | Polyporus umbellatus | umbrella polypore, a bracket fungus present in classical Chinese medicine tradition |
| Pornatka | Wolfiporia extensa | Poria cocos (fu ling), an underground fungus of classical Chinese formulas |
In what form to take them
Functional mushrooms most often enter the diet as:
- Extract (e.g. 10:1, standardised for beta-glucans) · a concentrated form
- Whole-mushroom powder, a dried and milled fruiting body · closer to the natural form
- Capsules · a convenient, pre-measured serving
- Drops · extracts in drops, tinctures
The choice is a matter of preference and how you take them. More on the differences: product forms.
Tradition and origin
Functional mushrooms have accompanied humans for millennia, especially in the tradition of Chinese medicine (TCM), where they held a special place in herbals. At Aloha Fungi we view them through the lens of that tradition, combined with modern knowledge of their composition.
Author: Mateusz Rosa, TCM therapist, Doctor of Acupuncture (WFAS). Last updated: June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- What are functional mushrooms?
- Species of mushrooms valued for their tradition of use and the compounds they contain (e.g. beta-glucans), taken as dietary supplements in the form of extracts, powders, tinctures or capsules.
- How do they differ from adaptogens?
- „Functional mushrooms" is a category of mushrooms. „Adaptogen" is a herbalism term covering plants and fungi. Some functional mushrooms are counted among adaptogens.
- Which functional mushrooms do beginners choose?
- Reishi and lion’s mane are among the most recognisable and a common starting point. The choice depends on your preferences and needs.
- In what form is it best to take them?
- An extract is a concentrated form: extraction concentrates compounds such as beta-glucans, of which there is proportionally less in a milled fruiting body alone. Powder is closer to nature, and capsules are the most convenient. Each form is good; they differ in convenience and intensity.
- Are functional mushrooms safe?
- They are dietary supplements, not medicines, and do not replace a varied diet. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a doctor before adding a supplement.
- What are functional mushrooms, exactly?
- Species of mushrooms valued for a centuries-old tradition of use and the compounds they contain, such as beta-glucans, taken as dietary supplements as fruiting body extracts, powders or capsules.
- Which functional mushrooms should beginners choose?
- Beginners most often start with reishi (evening) or lion’s mane (daytime). See the Reishi fruiting body extract and the Lion’s Mane fruiting body extract, or take the quiz to find your match.
- Which mushrooms contain beta-glucans?
- Beta-glucans are polysaccharides present in the fruiting bodies of most functional mushrooms, including reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps, chaga, coriolus, maitake, tremella, shiitake and polyporus (umbrella polypore). In our fruiting body extracts we standardise content, but the specific parameter, value and test method depend on the species and the batch. Check the exact figures on the label and in the batch certificate.
See: Reishi · Lion’s Mane · Quiz
Dietary supplement. Not medical advice and not a substitute for a varied diet.