Ingredient guide

Reishi: the mushroom of calm evenings

Known as lingzhi in China, Reishi has been used for more than 2,000 years as a calming, restorative mushroom. It is the most concentrated ingredient in Starshroooms.

  • Ganoderma lucidum
  • The mushroom of immortality
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  • The mushroom of immortalityAlso known as
  • Starshroooms · 20:1 extractIn our gummies
  • Mostly animal studiesEvidence so far

What is Reishi?

Reishi is a glossy, reddish brown mushroom that grows on decaying hardwood. It is too tough and bitter to cook with, so it has always been dried, then brewed or extracted.

How Reishi has been used

Ancient Chinese texts ranked it among the most valued of all natural remedies, and it earned the name the mushroom of immortality. Today most people take it in the evening as part of a wind down routine.

Most of the sleep research on Reishi so far is in animals. The first larger human trials are only now starting to appear.

What the research says

The studies so far.

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  • Animal study

    Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats

    Cui et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2012

    At the highest dose, total sleep time rose by 97% and non REM sleep by 98%. REM sleep did not change.

    Read on PubMed (opens in a new window)
  • Human trial

    Reishi mushroom extract compared with melatonin for chronic insomnia

    Xie, presented at SLEEP 2026

    The Reishi group improved more on the Insomnia Severity Index than the melatonin group.

    Read the report (opens in a new window)

Studies looked at Reishi on its own, often in different forms and amounts, and did not test our gummies. Descriptions of traditional use are not health claims.

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Where to find it

Reishi in Starshroooms.

Starshroooms use a 20:1 Reishi extract, which means 20kg of mushroom goes into every 1kg of extract. It is the reason so many customers take two gummies 30 to 60 minutes before bed.

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Reishi, answered.

When should I take Reishi?

In the evening. With Starshroooms, take two gummies 30 to 60 minutes before bed.

What does 20:1 extract mean?

20kg of dried Reishi goes into every 1kg of extract, so each gummy carries far more than the same weight of raw powder.

Can I take Reishi every day?

Starshroooms are made to be taken daily. If you take prescription medication, speak to your doctor first.

More ingredient guides.