Buy Medicinal Mushrooms | Beta-Glucans & Myco-therapy

Buying medicinal mushrooms – but which ones and why?

You see them in the Mana Shop: colorful tins with names like Reishi, Cordyceps, Shiitake. Some are expensive, some are cheaper. And the question is justified: What is really behind them – and is it worth buying them?

The answer is nuanced. Medicinal mushrooms are not a "miracle cure" that works the same for everyone. But if you understand how polysaccharides and beta-glucans work, you'll quickly realize why high-quality mycotherapy products can have a place in your health concept.

What are medicinal mushrooms – and how do they differ from edible mushrooms?

Medicinal mushrooms (also called healing mushrooms) are special mushroom species that have been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Japanese natural medicine, and European complementary medicine.

Unlike edible mushrooms (e.g., button mushrooms, chanterelles):

• medicinal mushrooms are specifically processed as extract, powder, or capsule

• contain a high concentration of bioactive substances

• do not primarily act as food, but as supportive medicine

Mycotherapy is the therapeutic use of such medicinal mushrooms – individually tailored, quality-controlled, and with realistic expectations.

Polysaccharides & Beta-Glucans – the active ingredients explained

At the heart of medicinal mushrooms are polysaccharides – special complex sugars concentrated in the cell walls of fungi.

What are polysaccharides?

Polysaccharides are long chains of sugar molecules. Our body does not use them for energy (like simple sugars), but as:

• Dietary fiber for gut health

• Signaling substances for the immune system

• Structural components for cell walls

What are beta-glucans?

Beta-glucans are a specific form of these polysaccharides. They are found in:

• Mushrooms (Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi)

• Oats and barley

• Brewer's yeast

In a natural health context, beta-glucans are considered immunomodulators – meaning they help the body regulate the immune system without constantly keeping it on "alert."

How do beta-glucans work?

• They are recognized by macrophages (white blood cells)

• Signal to the body: "Attention, intruder" – but gently

• Promote natural defense mechanisms

• Can reduce stress on the immune system

Important: Beta-glucans do not replace Vitamin C or other standard remedies. They are an additional component.

Which medicinal mushrooms are in the shop – and for what?

In the Mana Shop, you will find various medicinal mushrooms. Here is an overview:

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

• Typical for: Stress, sleep, regeneration

• Beta-glucan content: High

• Form in shop: Extract, capsules, powder

• Dosage: 1–2g daily
  → To Reishi product in Mana Shop

Cordyceps

• Typical for: Energy, performance, endurance

• Beta-glucan content: Moderate to high

• Form in shop: Extract, capsules

• Dosage: 1–1.5g daily
  → To Cordyceps product in Mana Shop

Shiitake

• Typical for: Immune system, digestion, cholesterol

• Beta-glucan content: Very high (10–40%)

• Form in shop: Powder, capsules, dried mushrooms

• Dosage: 1–3g daily
  → To Shiitake product in Mana Shop

Hericium (Lion's Mane)

• Typical for: Digestion, nervous system, gut health

• Beta-glucan content: High

• Form in shop: Extract, capsules

• Dosage: 0.5–1g daily
  → To the Hericium product in the Mana Shop
  
  

  

  
  

Where medicinal mushrooms are typically used

In a naturopathic context, mycotherapy products are used as a supplement in the following situations:

Important: Medicinal mushrooms are food supplements, not medicines. They do not replace a medical diagnosis or therapy.

Quality in the Mana Shop: What to look for when buying

Not all medicinal mushroom products are the same. Therefore, the Mana Shop checks the following criteria:

✅ Organic certification: Mushrooms grown without pesticides
✅ Extract quality: Polysaccharide content analyzed and documented
✅ Origin: Traceable, often from controlled cultivation
✅ Processing: Cold or hot extract (optimal depending on the mushroom)
✅ Transparency: Manufacturer information, analysis certificates available

When buying in the Mana Shop, you save yourself the research – we have pre-checked the quality.

How to best use medicinal mushrooms

Dosage: 1–3g daily (depending on the mushroom and form)
Timing: With warm drinks, morning or evening
Duration: At least 4–8 weeks to feel effects
Combination: Can be well combined with Ayurveda, TCM, yoga, dietary changes

Not suitable for:

• Certain autoimmune diseases

• Pregnancy/breastfeeding