Masters of the Great Mystery

Sleep is one of the most mysterious and fascinating phenomena in the world. We spend almost a third of our lives sleeping, yet we still know so little about the process. Despite this mystery, we can all agree that good sleep is essential for our overall health and wellbeing.

The mushrooms are masters of these hidden and misunderstood realms. They are neither plant, nor animal, and extend beneath the soil of our entire world. Mushrooms will burst out of soft logs and standing trees, ingeniously timed messages from a much larger, hidden network of fungi called mycelium.

Mycelium is not only an organism but also acts as the communication network for the forest. Through the mycelium network, trees and other plants are able to communicate with each other through chemical signals. Did you know a mother tree can actually send vital nutrients to her offspring through mycelium, and it is not uncommon to find elder stumps that still show signs of life decades after being cut down thanks to other neighboring trees sharing their nutrients through the mycelium network.

One of the most well-known and praised mushrooms in the world is the Reishi Mushroom. Also known as Lingzhi, or “The Mushroom of Immortality”, the Reishi mushroom has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its ability to improve longevity and boost overall health.

But how do Reishi mushrooms help with sleep?

Reishi contains several compounds that promote better sleep (and more vivid dreams).

Reishi mushrooms are rich in polysaccharides, which help to regulate the immune system. These compounds also bring our circadian rhythm back into balance which in turn increases the production of sleep-inducing Melatonin after dusk.

Reishi mushrooms also contain triterpenes, which have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation can affect our sleep because it triggers the release of certain chemicals, such as cytokines, which help us fight off infection however they also interfere with our sleep. This is often why we may feel extremely tired when we are sick but getting restful sleep is still difficult.

Reishi is also very high in beta-glucans. Beta-glucans have been shown to improve the quality of sleep by reducing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep and increase the amount of deep sleep.

Finally, the combination of triterpenes and polysaccharides found inside Reishi improve our dreams. Reishi has many neuroprotective effects and improves overall brain function, which leads to more vivid, vibrant and memorable dreams.

Now that you know some of the incredible benefits of Reishi mushrooms on sleep, it’s time to put them to the test. Who knows, maybe you'll finally solve the mystery of that recurring dream.