Do functional mushrooms like reishi and cordyceps actually work?
Medicinal mushrooms such as reishi show promising effects in the laboratory, but convincing evidence in humans is still lacking. Also check the species: cordyceps of the species Cordyceps militaris (the form most supplements use) is not authorised in the EU and may not be sold — the Dutch NVWA removed these products from the market in 2025. If you use medications, always consult your doctor first.
Reishi and related medicinal mushrooms contain compounds such as beta-glucans and triterpenes that show interesting effects in laboratory and animal research: activation of immune cells, inhibition of cancer cell growth, and lowering of blood sugar. These findings are consistent and biologically plausible, but they come almost exclusively from lab and animal studies. Translation into proven health benefits in humans has barely been made.
For reishi as a complementary therapy in cancer, there are small clinical studies that give cautiously positive signals, without clear side effects. However, the quality of those studies is methodologically questionable, and the researchers themselves conclude that the evidence is not yet strong enough for recommendations. For cordyceps, lion's mane, chaga, and other mushrooms in the same category, the same applies: large-scale, long-term studies in humans are still lacking to confirm efficacy, safety, and dosage.
There is also a legal issue, especially with cordyceps. The species most commonly used in supplements, Cordyceps militaris, is an unauthorised novel food in the EU and may therefore not be sold as a supplement. The Dutch NVWA inspected for this in 2025 and had companies withdraw the products from the market. Only Cordyceps sinensis has a history of use and is permitted. For reishi and lion's mane the fruiting-body form is allowed, but powder grown on grain (mycelium) often falls under the same authorisation requirement.
Safety is a concrete point of concern, not merely a formal footnote. Reishi can lower blood sugar. People who use blood-sugar-lowering medications face a real risk of hypoglycemia if they also take reishi. In addition, biologically active compounds in reishi can interfere with chemotherapy and other prescription drugs. If you use prescription medications, discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist first.
The conclusion is sober: the interesting laboratory results make medicinal mushrooms an active area of research, but they do not yet prove anything for healthy people buying a supplement. At this time, there is no solid clinical evidence that using reishi or cordyceps demonstrably improves your health.
The efficacy claims are based on review and research articles (PMID 29141563, 27685898, 30334243, 28826695, 35997094, 37513265, 37183915); the evidence is predominantly lab and animal research, the scarce human studies small and methodologically weak. The legal status from the EU novel food rules and the NVWA enforcement on Cordyceps militaris (2025).
Does red light therapy really have an effect on your cells?
Red light therapy has a biologically plausible effect on cells, with positive clinical indications for pain and recovery, but standard doses are lacking and home devices have not been sufficiently studied. Interest is justified, but keep your expectations realistic until more standardised research is available.
Does shilajit actually work as a supplement?
Shilajit has shown positive results for specific purposes, such as testosterone in men aged 45 to 55 and bone healing, but it does not work for everyone or for everything. Do not use it during pregnancy.
Does echinacea really work against the common cold?
Whether echinacea helps with the common cold depends strongly on which preparation you use. Standardised products made from Echinacea purpurea (herb and root) showed a modest reduction in symptoms in some studies, but root extracts and non-standardised products did not improve outcomes, and what you buy in a shop rarely corresponds to the products used in positive studies.
Does ashwagandha really work against stress?
Ashwagandha demonstrably lowers the stress hormone cortisol, but whether it also makes you actually feel less stressed has not been convincingly proven in independent research. Short-term use of up to around 12 weeks appears safe, but too little is known about long-term use to be certain.
Does taking resveratrol make sense as an anti-ageing strategy?
For humans there is no convincing evidence that resveratrol supplements do anything against ageing; the animal research is interesting but has not yet translated into clinical practice, so hold off on supplements until better human data are available.
Does earthing (grounding) actually work for your health?
There are preliminary indications that earthing may improve pain, fatigue and sleep, but the studies are still too small and insufficiently independent to support firm conclusions. Walking barefoot outdoors carries no known risks, so trying it is perfectly fine; but do not expect a proven miracle cure.