Lion's Mane, Cordyceps & Reishi: What the Science Actually Says

Functional mushrooms are everywhere right now. But behind the trend, 
there is decades of serious research. Here is what the science 
actually shows — and what it does not.

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THE RISE OF FUNCTIONAL MUSHROOMS

In traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, medicinal mushrooms 
have been used for over 2,000 years. Lion's Mane was consumed by 
Buddhist monks to sharpen focus during meditation. Reishi was known 
as the "mushroom of immortality." Cordyceps was reserved for Chinese 
emperors as a tonic for stamina and vitality.

Western science began catching up in the late 20th century. 
Today, all three are among the most studied natural compounds 
in cognitive and performance research.

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LION'S MANE — THE COGNITIVE MUSHROOM

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) contains two unique compounds: 
hericenones and erinacines. These compounds have been shown in 
multiple studies to stimulate the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor 
(NGF) — a protein essential for the growth, maintenance, and 
survival of neurons.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Phytotherapy 
Research found that adults taking Lion's Mane extract over 16 weeks 
showed significantly improved scores on cognitive function tests 
compared to the placebo group. Scores declined after supplementation 
stopped, suggesting the effect was directly linked to the compound.

In practical terms: Lion's Mane supports the brain's ability to 
maintain and form neural connections. For focus, memory, and 
cognitive clarity, it is one of the most evidence-backed natural 
compounds available.

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CORDYCEPS — THE PERFORMANCE MUSHROOM

Cordyceps militaris is best known for its effects on physical 
performance and energy metabolism. It works primarily by increasing 
the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) — the molecule your 
cells use as fuel — and by improving oxygen utilisation at the 
cellular level.

A study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements found 
that Cordyceps supplementation significantly improved VO2 max 
and time to exhaustion in trained athletes over three weeks. 
A separate study found improvements in endurance performance 
in older adults after 12 weeks.

For anyone who trains regularly, the practical implications 
are clear: better oxygen efficiency means more stamina, 
faster recovery, and more productive sessions.

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REISHI — THE RECOVERY MUSHROOM

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is the adaptogen of the three — 
meaning it helps the body maintain homeostasis under stress, 
whether that stress is physical, mental, or immunological.

Its primary active compounds, triterpenes and beta-glucans, 
have been studied for their effects on the immune system, 
stress response, and sleep quality. A study in the Journal 
of Medicinal Food found that Reishi supplementation reduced 
fatigue and improved wellbeing scores in patients with 
neurasthenia after 8 weeks.

Reishi does not provide a noticeable stimulant effect. 
Its value is cumulative — a daily compound that supports 
the body's resilience over weeks and months of consistent use.

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THE STACK RATIONALE

Lion's Mane, Cordyceps, and Reishi are not interchangeable. 
They target different systems and work best in combination. 
Lion's Mane addresses cognitive function. Cordyceps addresses 
physical performance and energy. Reishi addresses recovery 
and stress resilience.

Together, they form a complete performance stack — 
addressing the three pillars of sustainable output: 
think clearly, perform physically, recover fully.

This is the rationale behind Stryō Core · Mushroom Focus strips. 
All three compounds, delivered sublingually for maximum absorption, 
in a single daily strip.

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A NOTE ON QUALITY

Not all mushroom supplements are equal. The critical variables 
are extraction method, the ratio of fruiting body to mycelium, 
and the standardisation of active compounds.

Stryō Core uses premium mushroom extracts standardised 
for active compound content — not bulk mycelium powder, 
which contains significantly lower concentrations of 
the key bioactive compounds.

The science is only as good as the quality of what you take.