Medicinal Mushrooms for Hormone Balance and Brain Health

How Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps can support your mood, energy, and cycle

When it comes to supporting hormonal health and mental clarity, lots of my clients think first of herbs or vitamins that can support them. Mushrooms are so powerful and often underused — I use them all the time in practice and see really good results.

In this blog, I want to walk you through three of my favourites: Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. I’ll share how they may help your hormones and brain, what the current research says, and how you might bring them into your cycle-support toolkit.

Reishi — the calming regulator

Reishi is one of my go-to adaptogenic mushrooms for clients who feel “wired but tired.” It helps the body adapt to stress and supports a calmer nervous system — which is essential when you’re working on hormone balance.

When cortisol (our stress hormone) is constantly high, it can throw off progesterone and oestrogen balance, leading to PMS, low mood, or irregular cycles. Reishi has been studied for its potential to regulate cortisol, reduce inflammation, and even show gentle hormone-modulating effects.

Many clients describe Reishi as helping them feel more grounded, especially in their luteal phase when anxiety or irritability tend to peak. It’s a lovely addition if stress is one of your main hormone triggers.

Lion’s Mane — for focus, mood and brain clarity

Lion’s Mane is best known for its effects on the brain. Research suggests it supports nerve growth and may help with focus, cognitive function, and emotional balance.

For women who experience PMS-related brain fog, forgetfulness, or low mood, Lion’s Mane can be a gentle way to support clarity and calmness throughout the cycle. I often think of it as a “nourishing” mushroom — it doesn’t stimulate, it just supports your brain’s natural rhythm and repair.

Clients who use Lion’s Mane alongside a blood sugar–balancing diet often notice they feel more alert and less overwhelmed in their luteal phase, when mental fatigue can be a real challenge.

Cordyceps — for energy and resilience

Cordyceps is my favourite for clients who feel exhausted, flat, or like their energy crashes in the second half of their cycle. It’s been researched for its role in supporting mitochondrial function — basically, the tiny powerhouses that produce our energy.

In traditional Chinese medicine, it’s considered a tonic for stamina and vitality, and modern research backs up its ability to support energy metabolism and oxygen use.

I like using it with clients who are dealing with post-burnout fatigue, thyroid imbalance, or that sense of “I just can’t get going.” It’s energising but not jittery — which makes it a nice option for cycle support when fatigue or low motivation are the biggest symptoms.

Medicinal mushrooms can be beautiful, supportive tools for hormone balance and brain health — but they work best when the foundations are in place: balanced blood sugar, stable energy, regular meals, and good sleep.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to use these safely and effectively as part of your hormone-support plan, you can book a free introductory call with me.

Or, if you’d like to start with the basics, grab my 7-Day PMS Starter Kit via the pop-up on my website — it’s full of practical nutrition steps to help you reset your energy and support your cycle naturally. 💛

Book a call with me

Catherine xx