By Romas Marcin, Founder of Fundamental Fungi
Functional mushrooms have gone from health-food-store shelves to coffee shops, smoothies and gummies. If you're new to them, the different mushroom types and terms can be confusing. This guide covers the basics: what functional mushrooms are, the most popular types, and how to get started.
What are functional mushrooms?
"Functional mushrooms" is a common name for mushrooms that people use for more than flavor, usually as part of a daily wellness routine. Many have a long history in traditional practices across Asia, and today researchers study the natural compounds they contain, such as beta-glucans.
Three main mushroom types: functional, culinary and "magic"
- Culinary mushrooms like button, cremini and portobello are mainly eaten as food. Some functional mushrooms, like lion's mane and shiitake, are also great to cook with.
- Functional mushrooms are used for wellness support and are usually taken as extracts, powders, capsules or gummies.
- "Magic" mushrooms contain psilocybin, a psychedelic compound. Functional mushrooms like lion's mane and cordyceps are non-psychoactive and contain no psilocybin.
Types of functional mushrooms
Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus)
A white, shaggy mushroom traditionally used to support cognition. People take it to support focus, memory and mental clarity.* See our Lion's Mane Gummies.
Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris)
An orange, finger-shaped mushroom with a long history in traditional Chinese and Tibetan practice. People take it to support energy, stamina and endurance, without caffeine.* See our Cordyceps Gummies.
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
A woody, bitter, shiny red mushroom, often taken in the evening as part of a wind-down routine. It's usually taken as an extract or tea rather than eaten.
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
A dark, crusty growth found on birch trees in cold climates. It's most often brewed as a tea.
Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor)
Named for its striped, fan-shaped look. It's one of the most widely studied mushrooms for its beta-glucans.
Shiitake and maitake
Popular in cooking as well as supplements. Shiitake is the familiar brown, umbrella-shaped mushroom; maitake ("hen of the woods") grows in ruffled clusters.
How people take functional mushrooms
- Powders: stirred into coffee or smoothies. Flexible, but many have an earthy taste.
- Capsules: no taste, but some people dislike swallowing pills.
- Tinctures: liquid drops, often with alcohol.
- Gummies: pre-measured, easy to remember and they taste good. The trade-off is a small amount of sugar.
For a closer comparison, read Lion's Mane Powder vs. Capsules vs. Gummies. The best format is simply the one you'll take every day.
What to look for on the label
- The species name. It should be specific.
- Fruiting body or mycelium. Fruiting body is the mushroom itself. See Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium.
- Extract amount and ratio. See What Does "8:1 Extract" Mean?
- Testing and manufacturing. Independent third-party testing and an FDA-registered facility are good signs.
How to get started
- Pick one goal. Focus? Start with lion's mane. Energy? Start with cordyceps. Not sure? Read Lion's Mane and Cordyceps Gummies.
- Take it at the same time every day. Tie it to something you already do, like breakfast or your afternoon break.
- Give it time. Functional mushrooms aren't stimulants. Most people judge them over several weeks of daily use.* See How Long Do Lion's Mane Gummies Take to Work?
- Check with your doctor if you're pregnant or nursing, take medication or have a medical condition. See Are Lion's Mane Gummies Safe?
Why I started Fundamental Fungi
I started Fundamental Fungi in 2024 because I couldn't find a mushroom gummy that tasted good and met the quality standards I expected, and I take our gummies every day myself. Each gummy has 125mg of USDA Organic fruiting-body extract (8:1, equal to 1,000mg of mushroom), with no mycelium, grain filler or caffeine. They're pectin-based, vegan and made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility. Read our story.
FAQ
How many types of mushrooms are there?
Scientists have described well over 10,000 mushroom species. Only a small number are commonly used as functional mushrooms, including the ones in this guide.
Are functional mushrooms psychedelic?
No. Lion's mane, cordyceps, reishi and the others in this guide are non-psychoactive and contain no psilocybin.
Do functional mushrooms have caffeine?
No. Mushrooms don't contain caffeine, and our gummies are caffeine-free.
Can I take more than one functional mushroom?
Many people do, like lion's mane in the morning and cordyceps in the afternoon. Check with your healthcare provider if you take medication.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.