In the hormonal balance discussion, most people often have many questions. This is especially the case when one has to rely on natural solutions to balance their hormones. Well, Reishi is a functional mushroom with numerous hormone-balancing benefits.
However, how exactly does Reishi play a role in restoring our hormonal balance? Can women and men use reishi mushrooms for fertility? Does Reishi mushroom increase testosterone or not? And what is the link between Reishi mushroom and estrogen?
Read on to learn more about Reishi mushroom hormone balance!
Hormones: What Are They And What Role Do They Play?
Hormones are chemicals produced by endocrine glands and released into the blood. They control our well-being by carrying messages to different organs and tissues in the blood.
Hormones determine our energy levels, stress levels, digestion, and sleep. They also impact our reproductive health, body weight fluctuations, and stress response.
Hormonal imbalance causes chronic fatigue, inflammation, weight gain, low mood, depression, insomnia, infertility, skin, gut problems, and anxiety.
Read More: See how Reishi fights anxiety and stress.
Now that we know the importance of maintaining hormonal balance, how can we avoid hormonal imbalance? Below, we will show you how Reishi improves hormonal balance.
12 Benefits Of Reishi In Balancing Hormones
1. Reishi Mushroom Reduces Stress
You often hear that the Reishi medicinal mushrooms are an adaptogen superfood fungus(1). The Reishi mushroom can help our bodies adapt to stressful situations.
Incorporating Reishi mushrooms into your lifestyle will help combat stress and toxins that can disrupt the equilibrium of the endocrine system. Reduced stress balances hormone levels.
Read More: See how Reishi fights depression.
2. Reishi Supports Reproductive Health
Hormone imbalance can cause infertility. For example, infertility in men often results from low testosterone. The Reishi mushroom is one of the best mushrooms for testosterone—Reishi increases this vital male fertility hormone.
The mushroom, therefore, improves male vitality and fertility. The results of this unique traditional Chinese medicine in boosting testosterone guarantee a higher libido and sperm count for males.
Read More:Learn about Reishi's testosterone benefits.
The reishi mushroom has numerous benefits for women's reproductive health. They up-regulate the immune system and help detoxify all the substances that mimic estrogens(2) (xenoestrogens).
Our bodies do not produce xenoestrogens. However, they mimic the effects of natural estrogens and bring about several side effects resulting from excessive estrogens.
Xenoestrogens alter the reproductive functions not just in women but in men too. Xenoestrogens are common in cosmetics, food packaging materials, and plastics. Reishi provides excellent liver support(3) and helps detoxify these chemicals.
Reishi also helps with progesterone. The ovaries produce progesterone, which is responsible for implanting a fertilized egg in the uterus. Progesterone also helps women carry their pregnancy to term without experiencing problems.
Read More: Is Reishi safe for pregnant women?
Using reishi mushrooms as part of your diet can help regulate menstrual cycles. For older women, the mushroom eliminates complicated menopausal symptoms.
3. Reishi Mushroom Helps With Infertility
Reishi mushrooms improve fertility levels through their adaptogenic properties. They strengthen and support the adrenal glands and reduce stress in women trying to conceive.
Reishi mushroom decreases cortisol levels, a stress hormone that can cause infertility. Moreover, the mushroom improves the immune system, making conception easier.
Reishi also protects liver functions, which is useful when undergoing infertility treatments. In-vitro fertilization (IVF), long-term birth control use, and medicated intrauterine insemination (IUI) can all harm the liver.
4. Reishi Mushroom For PCOS
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age caused by excess androgen levels.
Reishi mushroom reduces the levels(4) of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme is a mediator of the reaction that converts the inactive form of testosterone to its active form (dihydrotestosterone).
High levels of active testosterone (or androgenic hormone) can cause irregular menstruation, increased facial hair, and acne. The antagonizing effect of the Reishi mushroom on androgens can help manage the symptoms of PCOS. Reishi mushrooms can stimulate ovulation which can also aid in regularizing menstrual cycles.
Read More: See how mushrooms benefit women's health.
Reishi also increases the estrogen hormone. The mushroom ensures the female hormone—estrogen—is higher in women than the male hormone—testosterone.
5. Reishi For Endometriosis
Endometriosis causes the uterine tissues to grow in abnormal places causing significant pain, irregular periods, and infertility.
Reishi's anti-inflammatory property(5) helps reduce pelvic inflammation, managing the discomfort associated with endometriosis.
The adaptogen property of Reishi helps manage stress by regulating the release of stress hormones. These hormones can worsen the symptoms of endometriosis.
6. Reishi For Menopause
Reishi's menopause benefits facilitate hormone balance. Menopause symptoms indicate that it is a general inflammatory state.
The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits of the mushroom reduce hot flushes, improve energy levels, and balance the disrupted hormones during menopause. They fight(6) depressive states and insomnia-related fatigue.
Reishi mushroom supports the natural sleep cycle and battles insomnia(7). Insomnia is a significant problem in menopausal women.
Reishi fights weight gain resulting from hormonal imbalance. Reishi mushroom is widely respected for its menopause benefits.
7. Reishi And Pregnancy
Reishi mushroom strengthens the immune system during pregnancy. Women who consume Reishi during pregnancy report less complicated births and calmer babies.
However, there are no scientific studies to back these claims. It is better to avoid Reishi during pregnancy or use the mushroom only after a go-ahead from your gynecologist.
8. Reishi And Breast Health
Reishi offers cancer benefits—so the mushroom supplement helps breast cancer patients with treatment. Reishi mushrooms can also protect against breast cancer.
Ganoderma lucidum inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells by down-regulating(8) the estrogen receptors. The reishi mushrooms suppress the proliferation of estrogen-dependent cancer cells by supporting hormonal balance and decreasing the total number of estrogen receptors.
The mushroom inhibits protein synthesis in tumor cells, reducing cell multiplication. Reishi also inhibits the invasion of tumor cells and causes death by self-killing.
9. Reishi Mushroom Boosts Libido
Reishi mushroom has been used for centuries to increase the sex drive naturally. The aphrodisiac effect(9) of Ganoderma increases mating performance, testosterone levels, number of ejaculations, and intromissions in the study model.
Using Reishi will improve immune health and reduce stress, which enhances libido.
Read More: Learn how to use reishi powder.
10. Reishi Extract Helps With Diabetes Treatment
A study conducted in 2011(10) determined that men with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of having low testosterone. Another study(11) determined that low testosterone is common in people with diabetes and is associated with insulin resistance.
These research studies suggest that having high blood sugar levels—which is the case for people with diabetes—can hurt hormonal balance. Luckily, Reishi has diabetes benefits.
Balancing out glucose levels in people with diabetes—and preventing type 2 diabetes in healthy people—the reishi extract fixes hormone imbalances, restoring the balance of sex hormones.
11. Reishi Mushroom Improves Sleep Quality
For the best hormone management, it's critical to get a decent night's sleep regularly.
Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep can affect the body's hormone balance. For instance, insufficient sleep results in increased ghrelin and decreased leptin. Also, inadequate sleep disrupts growth hormone production.
Luckily, the reishi mushroom offers sleep benefits. Reishi promotes sleep quality, allowing people to enjoy a good night's rest and preventing hormone imbalances.
12. Reishi Helps With Weight Loss
Obesity has turned into an epidemic in the United States. According to the CDC(12), the prevalence of obesity was 41.9% in 2017—this number is still growing. Obesity is a leading cause of diseases ranging from high blood pressure and diabetes to heart disease and circulation problems.
A research study conducted in 2013(13) looked at the relationship between obesity and hormonal imbalance in infertility. The study showed significant positive correlations between serum FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) levels and other obesity-related indicators, such as body weight, hip circumference, and BMI, in cases of primary infertility. Serum prolactin and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels showed a substantial positive connection with body weight and BMI in cases of secondary infertility.
The study concluded that infertility results from hormonal imbalances linked to obesity. The researchers indicated that weight loss should be the first-line treatment for obese infertile women.
Just like Chaga tea supports weight loss, the mushroom reishi offers weight loss benefits. The polysaccharides—and other bioactive compounds—in the mushroom lower additional weight, facilitating hormonal balance.
Key Takeaways
Consuming Reishi mushroom supplements is a natural way to support hormonal health. Hormones are linked with stress, infertility, libido, and women's health issues like menopausal symptoms, PCOS, breast cancer, and endometriosis.
Numerous benefits of the Reishi mushroom for hormonal balance have been reviewed in this article. So, why wait to add the mushroom to your life?
Have you tried Reishi mushrooms for hormonal balance? If you have, tell us your experience in the comment section. If you haven't, buy high-quality organic Reishi and try its hormonal balance benefits.
References
- Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi) (1)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
- Risks and benefits related to alimentary exposure to xenoestrogens, (2)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6104637/
- Hepatoprotective Effects of Aqueous Extract from Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Higher Basidiomycetes) on α-Amanitin−Induced Liver Injury in Mice (3)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23796220/
- An Update on Plant Derived Anti Androgens, (4)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693613/
- Anticancer and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Ganoderma lucidum Extract Effects on Melanoma and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment, (5)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372873/
- Evaluation of Anticonvulsant, Antidepressant-, and Anxiolytic-like Effects of an Aqueous Extract from Cultured Mycelia of the Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Higher Basidiomycetes) in Mice, (6)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25954905/
- Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats (7)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22207209/
- Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells by down-regulation of estrogen receptor and NF-kappaB signaling, (8)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16865287/
- Evaluation of aphrodisiac activity of ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum in male Wistar rats, (9)https://clinphytoscience.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40816-018-0086-7
- Low testosterone in men with type 2 diabetes: significance and treatment (10)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21646372/
- Low Testosterone Levels Are Common and Associated with Insulin Resistance in Men with Diabetes, (11)https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/93/5/1834/2598879
- Adult Obesity Facts - Obesity is a common, serious, and costly disease (12)https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
- Association of obesity with hormonal imbalance in infertility: a cross-sectional study in north Indian women, (13)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24426235/
Let Us Know Your Comments