Does Reishi Help You Sleep? Plus How to Use it for Better Rest
If you're tired of tossing and turning all night, only to wake up feeling like you got hit by a truck, you're not alone. So many women are struggling with sleep issues, especially when hormone imbalances are throwing everything out of whack. Maybe you're lying awake at 2 AM with your mind racing, or you're waking up multiple times throughout the night feeling anxious and wired.
I get it because I've been there too! The frustrating cycle of being exhausted all day, then somehow wide awake when your head hits the pillow. And if you're dealing with hormonal issues like PCOS, irregular periods, or just feeling completely out of sync with your body, poor sleep makes everything so much worse.
The problem is that when your hormones are all over the place and you're dealing with stress on top of everything else, your body is basically stuck in survival mode instead of rest and repair mode.
But the good news is there's a natural solution that DOESN’T involve…
Becoming dependent on sleep aids
Taking a million different supplements
Or drinking a whole pot of coffee just to get through the day
Reishi mushroom, often called the "mushroom of immortality," has been used for thousands of years to promote restful sleep and help the body manage stress!
Does Reishi Actually Help You Sleep Better?
When I tried Reishi from Eversio Wellness for the first time, I was blown away by how quickly I could feel the effects! It’s now one of my favorite functional mushrooms that I use all the time to help me relax and sleep better at night. (Use code LEAH for 15% off if you’d like to try it out for yourself!)
Here’s What the Science Says
Reishi is what we call an adaptogen, which means it helps your body adapt to stress and find balance. This is huge when it comes to sleep because so many sleep issues actually stem from an overactive stress response. When your cortisol levels are out of whack (hello, hormone imbalances!), your nervous system stays in that "fight or flight" mode, making it nearly impossible to wind down at night.
The science behind reishi's sleep benefits is pretty incredible. This functional mushroom contains compounds called triterpenes, which have natural calming properties that help promote relaxation without making you feel groggy or "drugged."
Unlike sleep medications that can leave you feeling foggy the next day, reishi supports your body's natural sleep-wake cycle. And what’s really cool is that reishi doesn't just knock you out, it actually works with your brain's natural sleep-promoting systems to improve both sleep duration and sleep quality.
How Much Reishi to Take for Sleep Benefits?
I see so many people say that reishi "doesn't work" for them, but when I ask about their dosage, I can see that they're taking way too little to actually see benefits.
Research typically suggests aiming for a minimum of 2,000 milligrams per functional mushroom to really tap into their therapeutic benefits. But here's the tricky part - you also need to pay attention to something called "quantity crude equivalent," which tells you how much actual mushroom material goes into making the product.
According to Health Canada's Mushroom Monograph, the maximum daily dose of quantity crude equivalent for reishi is 15,000 milligrams. This is especially important because most reishi supplements are concentrated extracts with varying extraction ratios.
For sleep specifically, I typically recommend starting with a therapeutic dose of reishi extract that provides at least 2,000-3,000 milligrams of quantity crude equivalent. This ensures you're getting enough of the active compounds to actually notice a difference in your sleep quality.
Quality matters just as much as quantity though, so here’s what to look for when choosing a high quality reishi supplement:
Fruiting body only (not fillers)
Third-party lab tested
Dual-extraction process
Reishi in particular benefits from both hot water and alcohol extraction to pull out all the beneficial compounds.
When to Take Reishi for Better Sleep
Timing is everything when it comes to using reishi for sleep support. Unlike some sleep aids that you take right before bed, reishi works best when you give it time to start calming your nervous system.
I recommend taking reishi about 1-2 hours before you want to fall asleep. This gives your body enough time to start winding down and lets the adaptogenic properties begin working their magic. Some people even find it helpful to take reishi with dinner, especially if they tend to feel wired or anxious in the evenings.
One of my favorite ways to take reishi is mixing it into hot cocoa in the evening. The bitterness of reishi pairs perfectly with the rich depth of cocoa, and there's something so soothing about sipping a warm drink as part of your bedtime routine. Plus, raw cacao is high in magnesium, which also supports relaxation and better sleep!
If you're not a fan of the taste (and let's be honest, reishi can be pretty bitter), capsules are a great option. They're convenient, tasteless, and you can easily incorporate them into your evening routine with a glass of water.
The beautiful thing about reishi is that it's completely natural and not habit-forming like other sleep aids. You can take it consistently every night without worrying about dependency or needing to increase your dose over time.
So, if you're exhausted from lying awake at night wondering why your body won't just cooperate and let you sleep, reishi might be exactly what you need to finally break that cycle. But, you need to make sure you're getting a reishi supplement that actually works. That means looking for one that's made from the fruiting body only, is third-party lab tested, and gives you a therapeutic dose of at least 2,000 milligrams.
Because honestly, if you're going to invest in your sleep, you want to make sure you're not wasting your money on a product that's mostly filler.
If you're ready to finally get the deep, restorative sleep you deserve, I highly recommend trying reishi from Eversio Wellness. Their reishi supplement checks all the boxes for quality, potency, and effectiveness. Use code LEAH for 15% off and start your journey to better sleep tonight!