Stress & Emotional Wellbeing
What small human trials of lion's mane and reishi extract found for stress, mood and fatigue, how limited they are, and where to turn if you are struggling to cope.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
If you feel unable to cope, or are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US). For immediate danger, call 911. A mushroom supplement is not a treatment for anxiety, depression or burnout.
Mushrooms are often sold for "stress relief". This page asks what human trials actually measured. In short, a few small trials of lion's mane and one of a reishi extract reported changes in mood or fatigue scores, and none is strong enough to build advice on.
Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Accepted name per GBIF; the part used in most trials is the fruiting body. [1] Findings, by study:| Study | Who, what, how long | What it found | Our label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Docherty and colleagues, 2023 | 41 healthy adults aged 18-45; 1.8 g, tested after one dose and after 28 days | A trend toward lower self-rated stress after 28 days (p = 0.051); the authors also report null and limited negative findings [2] | insufficient evidence (pilot, not statistically clear) |
| Nagano and colleagues, 2010 | 30 women; cookies containing lion's mane or placebo cookies for 4 weeks | Depression and "indefinite complaints" scores were lower after intake than before; two complaint items were lower than in the placebo group [3] | promising but limited |
| Vigna and colleagues, 2019 | 77 people with overweight or obesity and a mood, sleep or binge-eating complaint, on a low-calorie diet; 8 weeks | Depression, anxiety and sleep scores decreased [4] | promising but limited; the abstract we read does not describe a placebo comparison |
A review of depression research notes that antidepressant effects of lion's mane have not been validated or compared with conventional antidepressants. [5] Another review states that only a limited number of clinical trials exist. [6] The mood findings sit alongside laboratory and animal work on brain-growth proteins, which is preclinical and should not be read as a result in people; see lion's mane for anxiety, low mood and stress.
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
GBIF lists the name as accepted. [1] The human study we read tested a polysaccharide extract, not whole mushroom or tea, in 132 patients in China diagnosed with neurasthenia (a diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition). They received 1,800 mg three times a day for 8 weeks. Fatigue and overall clinical severity scores fell more than with placebo (fatigue score down 28.3% from baseline versus 20.1% with placebo). [7] That is a result about fatigue in a diagnosed group, not about everyday stress. Label: promising but limited, for that extract only. Reishi has its own cautions; see reishi side effects and liver reports.For sleep, see mushrooms for sleep and relaxation.
Frequently asked questions
Do mushrooms reduce stress?
Evidence is limited. A small lion's mane trial in healthy adults showed only a trend toward lower stress that was not statistically clear. [2]
Can lion's mane treat anxiety or depression?
Not proven. Small trials reported lower scores, but a review says antidepressant effects have not been validated against conventional treatment. [3][5]
Does reishi help with stress?
We found a trial of a reishi polysaccharide extract in people with neurasthenia that reported less fatigue than placebo. [7] That does not show reishi helps everyday stress.
Can I take mushrooms with antidepressants?
Ask the prescriber or pharmacist. We did not find a source on this page that settles it, so do not assume it is safe or unsafe.
When should I get help instead?
If low mood or anxiety lasts, interferes with life or involves thoughts of self-harm, contact a clinician; in the US call or text 988, or 911 in danger.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
What we did not find
Safety and who should ask first
- Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine. Ask the prescriber or pharmacist, especially for antidepressants, anxiety or bipolar treatment; see mental health conditions and supplements.
- Lion's mane side effects reported in a review include stomach discomfort, headache and allergic reactions. [8]
- Mushroom coffee and similar drinks may also contain caffeine, which has its own effects on stress and sleep; see mushroom coffee.
- Persistent worry, low mood or burnout deserve a clinician. Start with stress, anxiety, burnout and depression: how they differ and how to relieve stress.
References
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy species match for Hericium erinaceus, Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps militaris, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinula edodes. Read 2026-10-22.
- Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF. The acute and chronic effects of Lion's Mane mushroom supplementation on cognitive function, stress and mood in young adults: a double-blind, parallel groups, pilot study. Nutrients. 2023. PubMed 38004235. Read 2026-10-22.
- Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, et al. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomed Res. 2010. PubMed 20834180. Read 2026-10-22.
- Vigna L, Morelli F, Agnelli GM, et al. Hericium erinaceus improves mood and sleep disorders in patients affected by overweight or obesity. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019. PubMed 31118969. Read 2026-10-22.
- Chong PS, Fung ML, Wong KH, Lim LW. Therapeutic potential of Hericium erinaceus for depressive disorder. Int J Mol Sci. 2019. PubMed 31881712. Read 2026-10-22.
- Brandalise F, Roda E, Ratto D, et al. Hericium erinaceus in neurodegenerative diseases: from bench to bedside and beyond, how far from the shoreline? J Fungi. 2023. PubMed 37233262. Read 2026-10-22.
- Tang W, Gao Y, Chen G, et al. A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia. J Med Food. 2005. PubMed 15857210. Read 2026-10-22.
- Menon A, Jalal A, Arshad Z, Nawaz FA, Kashyap R. Benefits, side effects, and uses of Hericium erinaceus as a supplement: a systematic review. Front Nutr. 2025. PubMed 40959699. Read 2026-10-22.