Functional mushrooms are everywhere right now, from coffee blends to gummies. But Lion's Mane, Reishi, Chaga and Turkey Tail are very different mushrooms with different traditional uses. Here's a simple side-by-side guide.

The quick comparison

Mushroom	Known as	Most associated with	Best time of day
Lion's Mane	The focus mushroom	Focus and cognitive function	Morning or workday
Reishi	The calm-down mushroom	Stress management and calm	Evening
Chaga	King of mushrooms	Immune health	Anytime
Turkey Tail	The gut + immune mushroom	Gut and immune health	Anytime

Lion's Mane: for focus

With its shaggy, white, cascading look, Lion's Mane is the mushroom most people reach for when they want to stay sharp. It contains compounds called hericenones and erinacines, which researchers continue to study. It's popular with students, remote workers and anyone who wants to support focus without more caffeine. Read more about Lion's Mane →

Reishi: for calm

Reishi has been used in traditional Chinese practice for centuries and is one of the best-known adaptogens. It's associated with stress management and calm, so many people take it in the evening as part of a wind-down routine. Read more about Reishi →

Chaga: for immune health

Chaga grows on birch trees in cold northern climates, including right here in Canada. It has a long history of use as a tea in Northern Europe and Siberia, and today it's taken to support immune health. Read more about Chaga →

Turkey Tail: for gut and immune health

Named for its striped, fan-shaped look, Turkey Tail is rich in polysaccharides, including PSP and PSK, which are among the most studied mushroom compounds. It's used to support gut and immune health. Read more about Turkey Tail →

So which one should you choose?

• Want to focus? Lion's Mane.
• Want to unwind? Reishi.
• Want immune support? Chaga.
• Want gut and immune support? Turkey Tail.
• Want a bit of everything? You don't have to choose.

What to look for in a mushroom supplement

1. Fruiting body extracts. The fruiting body is the part of the mushroom you'd recognize. Some cheaper products use mycelium grown on grain, which can be mostly filler.
2. Clear amounts on the label for each mushroom.
3. An NPN (in Canada), meaning the product has been reviewed by Health Canada.
4. A format you'll actually take. Mushrooms work best with daily consistency.

Get all four in one gummy

Instead of buying four separate supplements, URSA Mushroom Complex Gummies combine Lion's Mane, Reishi, Chaga and Turkey Tail in one tasty gummy, made with real fruiting body extracts, not fillers. NPN approved (80135876).

Shop URSA Mushroom Complex Gummies →

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This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Read and follow the label. Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.