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The Healf Source
Mushrooms For Mental Health
Written by: Rosie Millen
Written on: August 25, 2025
Let’s face it. Mushrooms are having a ‘moment’. But they have been used for millennia in traditional practices like Chinese Medicine but recently these formerly forgotten fungi have taken centre stage in Western wellness. Functional mushrooms have become one of the biggest wellbeing trends of 2025 placing them amongst the fastest growing categories of health supplements, especially in the field of mental health, and for good reason.
What are functional mushrooms?
Unlike your average Portobello or chanterelle, functional mushrooms are supercharged with active compounds that offer far-reaching benefits for brain and body. These nutrient powerhouses can directly impact mood, cognition, stress, focus and memory. The main constituents include polysaccharides, polyphenols and several types of triterpenoid compounds.
Overall functions
Chronic inflammation, a seemingly inevitable side effect of modern day life, is increasingly recognised as a major contributor to mood disorders. The potent antioxidant capacity of mushrooms is proving to be a key player in mitigating effects of chronic inflammation. The active compounds in mushrooms not only reduce the ‘reactive oxygen species’ responsible for cellular damage, but also increase the body’s own defence mechanisms required to protect the brain from degenerating.
It’s no secret that chronic stress is one of the most pressing health challenges and although out-running a sabretooth tiger is no longer a daily concern, chronic stress is still ever present. Studies show prolonged exposure to stress negatively impacts brain chemistry, affecting the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala, regions of the brain involved in mood and cognition. While removing stress completely is rarely an option, we can improve the body’s response to it and adaptogens are the star players. Adaptogenic mushrooms can influence the HPA axis – the main pathway that responds to stress – combating cortisol spikes and supporting your body’s own stress management mechanisms.
Functional mushrooms stimulate the production of growth proteins like ‘nerve growth factor’ and ‘BDNF’ that strengthen brain signals and encourage production of new neural pathways (neuroplasticity). This improves brain function, cognition and emotional stability by providing better connectivity between regions of the brain that regulate mood and emotions.
The master mushrooms
Among the vast number of functional mushrooms, several varieties have emerged as potential allies in combatting the mental health crisis: lion’s mane, chaga, reishi and cordyceps, all with unique properties to boost brain function. So whether you’re dealing with stress, overwhelm, anxiety, memory issues, brain fog or any diagnosed mental health condition, mushrooms have something to offer everyone. While any mushroom would benefit overall brain function, here’s a breakdown of their specific benefits:
Known for enhancing neurogenesis which in simple terms means production of new brain cells (neurons), leading to widespread benefits from memory and mood regulation to enhanced cognition. The main mechanism of lion’s mane is stimulating ‘nerve growth factor’ which is vital for neuroplasticity and increased nerve activity.
Traditionally known as the ‘mushroom of immortality’, reishi is the ultimate adaptogen and stress buster, supporting the adrenal glands that are responsible for producing stress hormones. This mushroom is a go-to for anyone seeking calm and emotional balance. Preliminary studies have also shown promising data for the use of reishi in supporting anxiety and depression, partly through its adaptogenic properties but also through modulating neurotransmitters that promote calming effects.
Another promoter of neuronal plasticity, the compound ‘cordycepin’ supports formation of neural pathways and enhances cognition. Cordyceps have shown a promising ability to restore the balance of mood regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine which could offer substantial benefits in reducing anxiety and depression.
As an adaptogen, chaga improves the body’s resilience to stress, promoting mental clarity, calm and focus. Chaga is also a prebiotic that helps nourish the all-important bacteria in our gut and strengthen the gut-brain axis.
Recommendations
As a result of their popularity there are many ways to incorporate mushrooms into your daily routine from supplement powders to coffee and chocolate. However, quality is absolutely key so here are some of my favourites:
About the author
Rosie Millen is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist who set up her company Miss Nutritionist in 2010. In 2014 she collapsed from too much stress and was bed bound for three years straight. After being diagnosed with severe burnout she had to make a lot of difficult changes to get back on her feet. Now she is 100% recovered she specialises in fatigue and helps men and women to regain their energy just by making changes to their diet and lifestyle.
She has personally coached thousands of women to increase their energy, helped multiple companies give their employees more energy and written hundreds of blog posts on how to recovery from burnout and has just published her first book on the subject: Burnout’s a B*tch – the antidote to the overworked world we live in.
In 2023 Rosie launched the UK’s FIRST mental wellbeing Festival. Go Mental is an empowering destination for all things mental health...
This interactive event takes place on Saturday 4th October and is designed to break the silence around mental health and reduce suicide rates. From keynote speakers, interactive workshops and food and supplement exhibitors, Go Mental is to support anyone on their mental wellbeing journey.
This festival is a safe space where you can learn from the experts and ask them ANY questions you have to get practical advice to implement straight away to make your wellbeing journey easier.
What can you expect from attending?
It’s a full day of inspirational talks, Q and A Panels, interactive workshops and a breathwork class. PLUS we are gonna introduce you to THE best brands and products that will change your mental wellness game.
In just one day you are going to learn:
How to build mental flexibility and resilience.
How to tackle anxiety, depression and burnout
How to rewire your brain to feel happier and more motivated
And most importantly of all, you’re going to learn how to create your own mental health toolkit to use for when times get tough.
When is it?
It takes place on Saturday 4th October from 10am in The Science Museum in South Kensington. Come and join us this year and transform your mental health. Join is this year and use code HEALF10 to get 10% off your ticket.
This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf
This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf
