The new wave of wellness: functional mushrooms take over TikTok
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by Lauren Colella
“Revolutionary and life-changing” is how TikTok creator Alyson Laure describes integrating mushrooms into her daily diet.
Before you make any assumptions, no, she’s not taking those kinds of mushrooms. In fact, she’s among a huge new wave of people taking “functional” (non-psychedelic) mushrooms, like lion’s mane, reishi, chaga, and cordyceps, in order to sharpen their focus and memory, increase energy, and even improve nerve-related pain.
Fungi have long been known for their culinary and medicinal benefits, but recent research has also highlighted certain mushrooms’ potential to positively impact mental health. Psilocybin-containing mushrooms as health treatments are currently in clinical trial settings, but possession is still illegal in most states. However, non-psychedelic mushrooms are becoming increasingly popular for their cognitive benefits.
Certain varieties of mushrooms are known to contain compounds that stimulate the growth of nerve cells and support cognitive function, making them an option for those looking to improve focus and memory beyond pharmaceuticals. Many of us are experiencing an attention crisis, which has resulted in a surge of interest in mycology-based products — from mushroom coffee to supplements. Now, influencers seem to be leading the charge in spreading awareness about the benefits of mushrooms for mental health.
Mushrooms gone viral
Andreea Dumuta
TikTok has played a significant role in bringing mycology and mushroom-based wellness to the forefront of popular culture. One creator on the platform, known as “FunGuy,” uses his account to showcase the benefits of functional mushrooms, particularly lion’s mane. He was motivated to start a fungi regimen during a time when his grades and focus were at a crisis point. Consuming mushrooms had a significant impact on him and he reported that he “woke up well-rested every single day.” Another creator said that she tried a functional mushroom powder for persistent nerve pain and was shocked by the result, captioning her video, “is this a miracle?”
Creators on various platforms are exalting the virtues of medicinal mushrooms, leading to a rise in the number of new mycology brands eager to cash in on this trend. The fervor for these fungi favorites extends beyond superficial wellness trendiness — there is rich history to the benefits of mushrooms. The use of mushrooms as holistic medicine is ancient, in fact.
Third-generation herbalist Chuck Garcia credits the millenia-old wisdom of eastern herbalists for bringing the knowledge of beneficial mushrooms west. Garcia and his cohort of Hispanic herbalists now integrate these same mushrooms into their practice. “Like many healers throughout the centuries, my late mother believed that food is the best medicine,” he says. For example, he uses lion’s mane with a client who has early signs of Alzheimer’s, and there’s some science to back up that application. In the past, he has also seen herbalists use this same mushroom for people recovering from strokes, and that they reported “rapid improvement[s]” in their clients.
Herbalists and wellness influencers aren’t the only ones who have good things to say about functional mycology. Growing scientific literature backs up the healing properties of mushrooms. One 2023 study discusses the potential therapeutic effects of polysaccharides found in mushrooms. Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates that have been found to have a range of biological activities, including disease-fighting and anti-tumor effects. Researchers reviewed the existing literature on the potential therapeutic benefits of polysaccharides from different types of mushrooms, including Ganoderma lucidum (reishi), Grifola frondosa (maitake), and others. They noted that while there is evidence to support the use of these mushrooms as potential treatments for various conditions — including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases — we’re still in the early stages of understanding the benefits they offer and how they work.
Andreea Dumuta
Another scientific paper out of the University of Malaya further supports the role mushrooms seem to play in improving certain physical ailments. The authors note that specific compounds found in mushrooms, such as ergothioneine, could have anxiety-reducing and neuroprotective effects, which may explain why they are so productive for people with chronic and nerve-related pain. The article also highlights the potential benefits of consuming functional mushrooms, which have been found to improve cognitive function, reduce inflammation, and protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
How do these fungi work? A recent study from the Queensland Brain Institute found that compounds in lion’s mane mushrooms have the ability to promote neuron growth and new connections between neuron cells in the brain. Garcia adds that certain mushrooms contain “compounds that may stimulate the growth of brain cells: hericenones and erinacines.”
If you search the hashtag “lion’s mane” on TikTok, you’ll see that there are already 189 million videos featuring the tag. This attention has brought some skepticism to the excitement. Mycology enthusiasts warn that not all functional mushroom products are made equal. With this in mind, it's smart to shop around and do some research before impulse-buying something that purports to have an effect, but perhaps lacks the essential compounds that give mushrooms their magic. In any case, much like a mycelium network, word is spreading — and largely through the power of digital media — that “medicine” extends beyond the pharmacy.