Medicinal Mushrooms
The most commonly used medicinal mushrooms include Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Chaga, Maitake, Agaricus blazei, and Shiitake.
Their medicinal value is supported by centuries of traditional use across various cultures, and increasingly backed by modern scientific research. Medicinal mushrooms have been shown to be both safe and effective in supporting a wide range of health conditions.
However, the vast majority of mushroom products on the market today—even those from popular, well-known brands—are low to medium quality.
Over many years, we’ve studied with world-renowned experts and collaborated with some of the most reputable suppliers in the field.
It took time and dedication to truly understand the three essential pillars of the medicinal mushroom industry:
- Manufacturing & Supply Chain
- Scientific Research & Evidence
- Clinical Application & Results
Only by understanding how these elements connect can we navigate this field with confidence and clarity.
Educational Resources
Mushroom-Education.org
This website—created by us as a free educational resource—offers in-depth insights into the world of medicinal mushrooms, exploring their remarkable health benefits and therapeutic potential.
We place particular emphasis on:
- The importance of mushroom extracts
- How to identify truly high-quality products
- Clinical applications of medicinal mushrooms
Lee Carroll herbalist
Lee Carroll is a trusted mentor and friend with over 30 years of experience in herbal medicine, and a deep, specialised expertise in medicinal mushrooms. He offers highly educational online courses and hosts monthly practitioner meetups, creating a supportive and knowledge-rich community for ongoing learning.
Lee’s courses are designed for those seeking an in-depth understanding of the research and clinical applications of a wide range of fungi and botanicals. As both a seasoned practitioner and passionate educator, Lee weaves together traditional wisdom and cutting-edge science to deliver practical tools and profound insights—empowering you to work with the true healing potential of nature.
Consultation
We offer personalised consultations to help you get the most out of your medicinal mushrooms—especially if you're managing an underlying health condition.
Drawing on our extensive background in health education, we take a holistic and tailored approach to support your individual needs. Each consultation is designed to guide you with clarity and confidence.
Key areas we cover include:
- Choosing the right mushroom for your specific health goals or condition
- Recommended dosage—including when a higher therapeutic dose may be beneficial
- Contraindications—understanding when mushrooms should be avoided or used with caution
- How mushrooms may affect you, both biologically and from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective
- Complementary herbs and supplements that may enhance your healing journey
Whether you're new to medicinal mushrooms or seeking to refine your current approach, we're here to support you with grounded knowledge and insight.
Where and what to buy
When it comes to medicinal mushroom extracts, not all products are created equal. In fact, the difference in quality can be vast—and unfortunately, most consumers are unaware of what to look for. Here's what we've learned over years of deep research and industry experience:
Best Extracts Come from China
Despite common misconceptions, China produces the highest-quality mushroom extracts in the world. This is due to both the scale of production and the advanced technology used in extraction processes. While products from countries like the USA, Australia, and the EU can be decent, they rarely match China in terms of active compound content.
Beware of Grain Fillers and Maltodextrin
Many U.S.-produced mushrooms are mycelium grown on grain, which results in lower quality extracts. Many companies also use maltodextrin as a bulking agent! These offer little to no therapeutic value.
Most Companies Don’t Source High-Quality
Although thousands of brands sell mushroom supplements worldwide, only a few companies in China actually produce high-grade extracts. Most Western brands source low to medium-grade materials—not because better options don't exist, but because they're more expensive and more complex to source.Take Lion’s Mane as an example: there are 10–20 different grades available, and it takes industry knowledge to know which one to choose for true therapeutic potency. It is all too easy to choose the cheaper end of the extracts / powders and mask it with marketing.
The Truth About Beta-Glucans
The most important baseline quality marker in medicinal mushrooms is beta-glucan content—not just generic “polysaccharides.”
But here’s what many don’t realise:
- Beta-glucans come in both soluble and insoluble forms.
- The insoluble type is cheaper and less bioavailable.
- Some brands boost their lab report numbers using the cheaper kind, giving the illusion of a potent product.
This means that whilst beta-glucans are important quality marker, a higher number is not necessarily better as it may be the result of cheap non-soluble beta glucans!
Not All Dual Extracts Are Equal
Hot water extracts yield water soluble compounds such as beta-glucans, while alcohol extracts are required to pull out other key therapeutic compounds like:
- Ganoderic acids (Reishi)
- Cordycepin (Cordyceps)
- Betulinic acid (Chaga), and others
Many brands claim to be "dual-extracted" but don't list the % of alcohol-soluble compounds—usually because their product contains only a small fraction of the alcohol soluble extract, so little that it is not worth mentioning.
Why We Recommend Oriveda
After years of testing and comparing products, Oriveda stands far above the rest in terms of integrity, transparency, and quality. Here’s why:
- True dual extracts, with clearly listed percentages of both water- and alcohol-soluble compounds
- High beta-glucan content, with transparency about solubility
- Third-party tested, with full reports shared openly—not just claimed
- Therapeutic potency you can actually feel
Oriveda is a little more expensive—but the value for money is unmatched. You’re not paying for fillers or marketing hype; you’re paying for verified, clinical-grade extracts.
We’ve been Oriveda’s sole distributors for Australia and New Zealand since 2019, and we continue to learn more about the industry every year. The more we uncover, the more confident we are that Oriveda remains the gold standard.
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