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The short answer is for the benefits! About 95% of the mushroom's benefits are in the extracted fruiting body. Today mushroom supplement manufacturers use one of two different forms of mushrooms in their products. The first type is the actual mushroom —called the fruiting body. The second type is mycelium, and you should avoid it. If you think about an apple tree— mycelium is the root system, and the fruiting bodies are the actual apple and stem, in this case, the mushroom caps and stems.

Manufacturers who use mycelium (there are a lot— and large brands!) will grow these roots on top of a grain substrate, mostly rice or oats. Once mycelium roots grow, the roots and substrate become intertwined and are impossible to separate. Mycelium formulas consist of about half roots and half filler in rice or oats. Some manufacturers chose to use mycelium because they can mass produce it as it only takes one week to mature. They also do not extract it (that’s another story!). The science says there is about 5% of the benefits in mycelium as there is in the fruiting body.

We use the fruiting bodies as they are the pure form of mushrooms with no filler or by-products. Scientific studies are based on the fruiting body. If extracted properly, they contain more amino acids, beta-glucans and vitamins. Additionally, using fruiting bodies is a more expensive growing process takes anywhere from two months to several years. Its well worth it for a potent, authentic, pure end result.

If you are looking for an actual "mushroom" supplement that does not have unwanted fillers, and has actual medicinal properties for your health, avoid mycelium formulas.

Adaptogens are a class of non-toxic plants and fungi that help the body resist stressors of all kinds. Adaptogens increase the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress (due to illness, aging or simply life) and promote or restore normal physiological functioning. They need to be taken over a length of time (often 2 to 4 weeks) to see the benefits.

Mushrooms can come in either powder or extract form (which can be a powder eventually or a liquid). A mushroom powder means that the mushroom was dried and then ground into a fine powder. Manufacturers use powders since they are the cheapest way to produce a supplement, but it also provides the consumer with the least health benefits. The essential beta-glucans need to be extracted from the cell walls of a mushroom. These cells are made of an indigestible fiber called chitin. The human body can't easily absorb chitin, so the beta-glucans pass through as waste. So look for "mushroom powder extract" to know it is something you will benefit from.

We pride ourselves in offering medicinal mushroom extract powders of the highest quality and potency. We do this by using the mushroom (fruiting body) in all our products rather than using the mycelium (mushroom root system), which is commonly grown with grain.

All our mushroom extracts are from a leading supplier of organic mushroom extracts in China. They are located in two provinces that have grown mushrooms organically in their unique natural environment for thousands of years. Their ingredients go through rigorous quality control and are tested twice for heavy metals, agricultural chemicals and microbial contamination to ensure they meet all standards for dietary supplements of this nature. All of their extracts are made from certified organic mushrooms (fruiting bodies), organically grown or wildcrafted from deep within these two southern mountain regions of China.

We visited the farms and laboratories that we import from in May 2024. Look at our videos! We had a lot of fun!

Mushrooms used for dietary supplements are seldom grown in North America since it's too expensive. China is the leading supplier of mushrooms worldwide and supplies over 85% of the world's mushrooms. It has a rich history of mushroom use as both food and medicine and is the birthplace of mushroom cultivation, with shiitake being farmed in the early 1200s. China is one of the only places where you can get 100% organic mushroom (fruiting body) extracts that can be sold at an affordable price.

An important note is that any products made in the USA are typically not made from mushrooms but mycelium, the root of the mushroom system, grown on grains.

This is why we specifically test for beta-glucans and starch, to show the potency of our products and to show that we have no added fillers like grain—just 100% mushrooms.

The bitterness comes from the beneficial triterpene compounds. These compounds give a mushroom such as reishi its bitter flavor. Triterpene compounds are found in the mushroom fruiting body exclusively. Their benefits include anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antitumoral agents.

You want some mushrooms, like reishi, to be bitter. If a reishi product is not bitter, start asking questions. It likely wasn't appropriately extracted or did not use the whole mushroom.

We add herbs like cinnamon and ginger to "mellow" some of that bitterness and make the blend even more potent and yummy!

Our extract powder has a shelf life of 4 years. Please store your West Wolf Medicinals blend in a cool, dark place to maximize quality.

Our medicinal mushroom and herbal extract blend's servings start at 1000 mg (approx 1/2 tsp or 2 capsules) for overall health and immune support. You could consider starting there to see how you respond, then consider higher doses depending on professional advice from your healthcare provider.

Remember that the potential health benefits tend to show themselves with sustained, continued use over time (see Adaptogens). Some people notice positive effects by cycling in and out of different mushroom extracts throughout the seasons. At West Wolf, we use this technique of cycling our blends throughout the seasons and find it very impactful.

For properly extracted mushrooms, look for a formula that has a daily dosage of at least 80 mg in “extract form.”

At West Wolf Medicinals, we believe in daily rituals— meditation, exercise— and the daily ritual of adding our blend into our morning tea. Like practicing to calm one's mind or hiking a mountain trail, repeated action is necessary for overall improvement and strength. Daily adaptogen intake balances our stress response and builds our general tolerance for stress, particularly the dangerous chronic stress we encounter in our increasingly challenging modern life.

Seek professional advice from your physician/acupuncturist/herbalist.

Read our Certificates of Analysis here!

Japanese and Chinese Buddhist monks used powdered Lion's Mane in their tea to increase brain focus in meditation. Lion's Mane is a white mushroom that, as it grows, has a shaggy appearance — like a Lion's Mane. Studies have shown that Lion's Mane helps increase Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) levels, protecting us against degenerative brain diseases that contribute to memory loss. While Lion's Mane is best known for improving memory and concentration, studies show it can reduce irritability and anxiety. Several studies have also indicated that Lion's Mane has immune-boosting benefits. Lion's Mane can bolster our defenses by helping to stimulate gut bacteria to trigger the immune system.

Shiitake (shih-TAH-kee), used medicinally by the Chinese for more than 6,000 years, is a symbol of longevity in Asia for its health-promoting properties. It is also the oldest known cultivated mushroom (China 1200 AD). The name Shiitake comes from the Japanese shii, the name of the tree it grew on and took for mushroom. Shiitake mushrooms are loved worldwide for their superb taste and coveted for thousands of years by those looking to boost longevity and reduce inflammation. What makes Shiitake mushrooms so powerful is that they are a big source of B vitamins and have antiviral and antibacterial properties.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that Shiitake can help boost immune function, improve cell function and gut immunity, and reduce inflammation.

In this world filled with anxiety and stress, Reishi has become one of the most widely used mushrooms to help create a state of calm. This powerhouse fungi, known as "the mushroom of immortality" and the "ten thousand year mushroom," have shown promise for its nutritional and healing benefits to the human body. Reishi contains a potent amount of the active compound triterpene, shown in studies to help reduce stress, improve sleep, uplift mood, and increase mental focus.

The triterpene found in Reishi has also been shown in studies to enhance immune system response by helping increase white blood cells' activity in natural killer cells that fight off infections.

Chaga has been used throughout the world for hundreds of years to help strengthen immunity. White blood cells are the immune system's first line of defense. Studies have shown that the Chaga fungi regulate a protein known as cytokines, which stimulates white blood cell production.

This antioxidant-rich mushroom contains high amounts of zinc, which help the immune system combat bacteria and viruses—so very important today as ever.

One of the most well-known medicinal mushrooms is Trametes Versicolor, also known as Coriolus Versicolor. Commonly called Turkey Tail due to its fan shape and colors, this mushroom has many well-studied immune-boosting benefits. It contains a wide variety of phenol and flavonoid antioxidants which help promote your immune system health by reducing inflammation and stimulating the release of protective compounds. Turkey Tail may improve gut bacteria balance, positively impacting your immunity.

Additionally, Turkey Tail has been shown to improve the survival rate of people with certain cancers, fight leukemia cells, and improve the immune system of people receiving chemotherapy. (Of course, don't stop your prescribed cancer treatment without consulting your doctor.)

Cordyceps is the mushroom known for its stimulating effects— a boost in energy and libido.

Cordyceps can help the body utilize oxygen more efficiently and enhance blood flow. This can be especially helpful for athletes or those who regularly work out. This mushroom has been shown to improve exercise and athletic performance and speed up post-workout muscle recovery.