What Are Medicinal Mushrooms? Definitions, Names and How to Read the Claims
What "medicinal" and "functional" mushrooms mean, how names and product forms change what a study can say, and how to read the claims on this site's mushroom guides.
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.
"Medicinal mushroom" and "functional mushroom" are descriptive terms, not official categories. The sources we read do not define either term as a regulated class. In practice the words describe mushrooms that people use for health reasons, either in a long-standing tradition or in modern supplements, as opposed to mushrooms eaten only as food. Using the label does not tell you that a mushroom works, is safe, or that a product contains what it says.
Information here is for general education. It is not medical advice, and it never replaces a clinician or pharmacist who knows your medicines and conditions.
What the terms are used for
A 2017 review of human studies uses "medicinal mushrooms" for fungi with many reported biological effects and notes that active compounds are found in fruiting bodies, cultured mycelia and culture broth. [1] The same review calls for high-quality, long-term, randomized, placebo-controlled trials. [1] A 2026 trial paper opens the same way: human evidence for medicinal mushrooms "remains limited". [2]
| Term | How it is used | What it does not tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Medicinal mushroom | Mushrooms with a history of traditional use or with research interest. Reishi, for example, holds an important place in traditional medicine in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries. [3] | Whether the traditional use is supported by trials. Tradition is not proof, and a lack of trials is not proof of harm or of no effect. |
| Functional mushroom | A market term for products promoted for a purpose, such as lion's mane supplements promoted for thinking, mood and immunity. [4] | Whether the claim has been tested in people, in which form, or in whom. |
| Culinary (edible) mushroom | Mushrooms eaten as food. | They can still have cautions, and food amounts differ from supplement amounts. |
| Psychedelic mushroom | A separate subject, covered elsewhere. | See Medicinal Mushrooms vs Psychedelic Mushrooms. |
Four things that decide what a result means
- The species. Names change and labels vary, so a result for one species should not be moved to another. See Mushroom Names.
- The part and form. Fruiting body, mycelium and mycelium grown on grain are different starting materials. See How Mushrooms Are Grown and Processed for Supplements.
- The people studied. A trial in cancer patients or athletes says little about a healthy adult.
- The outcome. A change in a blood marker is not the same as feeling or functioning better.
What the evidence looks like at a glance
This table is a snapshot, not a verdict. Each guide gives the detail.
| Question | What a source we read found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Lion's mane for thinking and mood | A 2025 systematic review included five randomized trials plus lab and pilot studies. [5] A cancer center summary calls the clinical data limited and says no human studies show anti-cancer effects. [4] | Promising but limited |
| Reishi for cancer treatment | A Cochrane review did not find sufficient evidence to justify reishi as a first-line cancer treatment, and rated trial quality as generally unsatisfying. [6] | Insufficient evidence |
| Mushroom supplements in cancer care, overall | A systematic review called the evidence inconclusive for routine use. [7] | Insufficient evidence |
| Chaga | The safety and effectiveness of chaga have yet to be evaluated in clinical studies, per one cancer center. [8] | Preclinical (cells or animals) plus case reports of harm |
| Cordyceps effects reported in labs | Many effects, such as anti-fatigue and anti-aging, have been reported in preclinical studies. [9] | Preclinical |
Where to go next
- Mushrooms A to Z Directory: names, scientific names and one caution each.
- Mushrooms by Wellness Goal: focus, stress, sleep, energy, immunity and more.
- Supplement forms: capsules, powders, extracts, tinctures and gummies.
- Understanding Mushroom Ingredients: fruiting body, mycelium, beta-glucans and label terms.
- Mushroom Safety and Interactions: side effects, medicines, pregnancy and when to get help.
- Mushroom Research and Evidence: the human studies we verified.
- Food and Preparation: nutrition, cooking and storage.
Frequently asked questions
Are "medicinal" and "functional" mushrooms regulated terms?
The sources we read do not describe either term as an official category. They are descriptive or marketing terms, so a label alone proves nothing about benefit or safety. In the US, FDA is not authorized to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. [10]
Do medicinal mushrooms work?
It depends on the mushroom, the form, the person and the outcome. Some have small human trials with limited results, such as lion's mane, and some have mostly lab findings, such as chaga. [5][8] A Cochrane review found insufficient evidence for reishi as a first-line cancer treatment. [6]
What is the difference between a medicinal mushroom and a psychedelic one?
They are different subjects with different compounds and risks, and psychedelic fungi are covered in separate guides. See Medicinal Mushrooms vs Psychedelic Mushrooms.
Are mushroom supplements safe with my medicines?
Not automatically. Sources describe possible interactions, for example reishi with anticoagulants and immunosuppressants, and cordyceps with diabetes and blood-thinning medicines. [3][13] Ask a pharmacist or the prescriber, and do not stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own.
Should I tell my doctor if I use a mushroom supplement?
Yes. Tell every clinician, especially before surgery or if you are in cancer care. [11] Reports of harm, including liver enzyme changes in a cancer patient using a mushroom powder product, show why the care team should know. [14]
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.
Safety in short
A supplement is not a medicine tested before sale: in the US, FDA is not authorized to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. [10] Supplements can interact with medicines or carry risks if you have certain medical conditions or are about to have surgery. [11] Tell your surgical team about every supplement well ahead of the operation. [11] Specific cautions, such as liver reports with reishi or kidney injury with chaga, are in the guides for each mushroom. See also How Interactions Work and Quality Testing and Certifications.
Never eat a wild mushroom because of a photo or an app. Identification apps tested in one study were not reliable enough to exclude poisonous mushrooms. [12] If you or someone else has eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US; call 911 for collapse, seizure, or severe vomiting with confusion. See Plant and Mushroom Poisoning.
References
- Wasser SP. Medicinal mushrooms in human clinical studies. Part I. Anticancer, oncoimmunological, and immunomodulatory activities: a review. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2017. PubMed 28605319. Read 2026-10-23.
- Hisamuddin AS, Ramli F, Leo TK, et al. Adaptogenic effects of mushroom blend supplementation on stress, fatigue, and sleep: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Brain Behav. 2026. PubMed 41540766. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Reishi Mushroom. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Lion's Mane Mushroom. Read 2026-10-23.
- 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 2026-10-23.
- Jin X, Ruiz Beguerie J, Sze DM, Chan GC. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016. PubMed 27045603. Read 2026-10-23.
- Narayanan S, de Mores AR, Cohen L, et al. Medicinal mushroom supplements in cancer: a systematic review of clinical studies. Curr Oncol Rep. 2023. PubMed 36995535. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Chaga Mushroom. Read 2026-10-23.
- Das G, Shin HS, Leyva-Gomez G, et al. Cordyceps spp.: a review on its immune-stimulatory and other biological potentials. Front Pharmacol. 2021. PubMed 33628175. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Read 2026-10-23.
- Hodgson SE, McKenzie C, May TW, Greene SL. A comparison of the accuracy of mushroom identification applications using digital photographs. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2023. PubMed 36794335. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Cordyceps. Read 2026-10-23.
- Strobbe G, Jeanjacquot M, Potey C, et al. Grade 3 cytolysis in a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer consuming a mushroom powder-based alternative therapy. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2025. PubMed 39223928. Read 2026-10-23.