Craft your own Reishi Mushroom & Chocolate Elixir

Reishi mushrooms have been used in China, Japan and other Asian countries for thousands of years for their immune-enhancing and energy supporting effects. In the past 30 years researchers in the East and West have confirmed the immune stimulating, anti-viral, antimicrobial and anticancer properties of Reishi. It fights inflammation and many age-related conditions. Lowers blood sugar and inhibits excessive fat storage. It’s an adaptogenic tonic that helps to bring our body and hormones into balance.

The botanical name is Ganoderma lucidium. It’s commonly known as Reishi or Ling zhi meaning “spirit plant” or “tree of life” in Chinese. It is the ancient ‘Mushroom of Immortality’ that continues to be revered to this day.

I live in the Pacific NW and we are lucky enough to have several ‘Reishi’ Ganoderma species that share similar properties populating our woods. Ganoderma is from the latin gan meaning, “shiny” and derm, referring to “skin”.

Reishi brothers and sisters found in the Pacific NW:

• Ganoderma Oregonense known as the “western varnished conk” Oregonense means from Oregon. It’s fairly easy to spot as it shares the lovely shiny varnished skin on top.
• Ganoderma applanatum from the latin “flattened” It’s known to us as the “artists conk”. Visit any hard-core mushroom hunter in the PNW and you’ll probably see a large specimen with artwork on the underside prominently displayed. The underbelly accepts drawing and makes a good artists palette.
• Ganoderma tsugae meaning “of Hemlock”. It also shares the red varnished skin.
• Ganoderma resinaceum or “Varnished Shelf “

Many of the beneficial plant constituents of Reishi are water soluble which makes them perfect to simply powder/ finely chop and steep in tea, add to cocoa, incorporate into soups or add to  coffee.

 What is a Mushroom Elixir?

“An elixir is a clear, sweet-flavored liquid used for medicinal purposes, to be taken orally and intended to cure one’s illness. When used as a pharmaceutical preparation, an elixir contains at least one active ingredient designed to be taken orally.”– Wiki

My definition of a Mushroom elixir is a yummy drink that contains the medicinal and active constituents of the plants and mushrooms I add.  It can be a wonderful coffee replacement or an occasional immune boosting tonic.

Embrace the Art of Ritual

Turning your mushroom tea time into a ritual can help you to connect to your own body and to fully allow yourself to experience the “Presence” of the mushroom. Remember Reishi or Zhing Li is known as Plant Spirit or tree of life. It has a decidedly feminine energy and connecting with the vibrational energy of Reishi can enhance your experience.

Creating a ritual can add an extra texture and richness to your daily life. It’s a break in routine that allows you to practice mindfulness. As you brew your elixir slow your mind, breathe deeply and allow yourself to be fully present in the moment. As you slowly sip your warm mushroom goodness, slow your mind as well.  Throw open the gates of your heart and open yourself fully to the experience, accepting whatever healing the plant spirit medicine offers.

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DIY Reishi Mushroom Elixir Recipe 3 ways

Here’s a basic recipe where you can easily change the mushrooms and add extra herbs like ashwagandha or maca. There are three ways to create your recipe, based on the form of mushroom you have on hand. Have fun with it and make it your own! 

3 Ways to create a Reishi Extract:

• 1. The Easy Way! You can buy an Organic Reishi powder that is already extracted, so there’s no need to toil over long simmering concoctions. Simply add 1 tsp. powder to boiling water and immediately follow the rest of the recipe.
  2. Make a double extract in advance. Add 1 tsp of reishi Double extract (Ideal to make a strong extract with all the goodies) Shelf stable recipe below. You can make it in advance and use it for as long as you’d like. Add to 1 cup hot water to evaporate some of the alcohol off.
  3. The way to go if you have fresh, dried chunks, slices or powder that hasn’t already been extracted.  You can just simmer 1-2 Tsp Organic Reishi mushroom powder/ chunks with 2 ½ cups of water with till reduced by ½. Feel free to use fresh or dried Reishi slices or chunks if you’ve harvested your own. 

Note: The longer you simmer it the more mushroom goodness is extracted. Even up to 7 hrs! If you’re doing a long simmer add much more water and check it frequently. It can be made the night before, or you can simply reduce the simmer time. Not to worry you’ll still be getting a lot of the medicinal qualities. You want to end with 1 ½ cups hot water extract for the recipe.

Note: (If using Reishi powder there’s no need to strain, but strain if you’ve used pieces or chunks.)

Ingredients:

Add the 1 ½ cup Reishi tea …Choose your mushroom method from above

• 5 cups of plain full-fat unsweetened organic coconut milk, Hemp milk, almond, or Flax milk 
• (Optional) 1-2 pitted medjool dates (more if you want it sweeter!) You could also sweeten to taste with Organic stevia, Raw honey or Monk fruit
• 2 tbsp raw organic cacao powder
• 1/2 tsp organic turmeric powder
• Pinch of Black pepper (helps increase absorption)
• Himalayan sea salt to taste
• 1tsp – 1 Tbsp Organic raw coconut oil (Depending on how many healthy fats you’d like to add)

Instructions:

• 1.Brew the tea or use the Double extract, meanwhile warm the milk in small saucepan over medium heat. 
• 2. Place all ingredients in a blender. Note: (If using Reishi powder there’s no need to strain, but strain if you’ve used pieces or chunks.)
• 3. Add the hot mushroom decoction and all the following to a blender and blend well till frothy and smooth!

Choose Organic

However you decide to bring healing mushrooms into your life make sure they are ethically wildcrafted from a clean area or organically grown.

Try growing your own.

There are many places to get mushroom kits. They are very easy to grow and it’s so much fun watching them fruit! It can also be an affordable way to bring them into your life. If you live in the PNW head over to my friends at Ash Tree Farms in Vancouver WA. They grow a wide assortment of mushrooms and also offer inexpensive mushroom blocks/kits. Tell them Stephanie from One Earth Botanical sent you!

Ashtreefarms.com

If you want to extract the most from your Reishi try making a Double extraction.

What is a Double Extraction, you ask?

A double extraction is a way to extract as much of the beneficial plant constituents as possible. There are many beneficial chemicals and some are soluble in alcohol and some are soluble in water. A double extraction utilizes a 2-step process using both alcohol and then water to extract. Then the mixture is combined for a supplement. For Reishi, most are water soluble. Hot water extracts beta-glucans and polysaccharide-protein complexes. The alcohol pulls out terpenes, polypeptides, amino acids and other compounds that aren’t water soluble. A double extraction has the added benefit of being shelf stable! Yay! By creating it you can pull it out and use it as needed. You can take it as is or add it to your favorite beverage.

How to Make a Double Extraction

• Weigh chopped Reishi and add 5 times the amount, by volume, of 80 proof or higher alcohol. I use an Organic Vodka made from grapes. For example, use 100 grams mushroom to 500 milliliters of liquid.
• Add to large glass jar and shake daily. Be sure your alcohol completely covers the mushrooms, but allow at least an inch head-space in your jar.  Allow it to co-mingle and do its magic for at least 2 weeks. I let mine sit about a month, shaking daily.
• Strain and squeeze. Reserve the marc (the mushroom solids)
• Then make a one-to-twenty decoction of the marc at a slow simmer till the water is reduced by half.
• Strain with a funnel and cheesecloth. Compost the mushroom solids.
• Combine the alcohol extract with the water decoction. Now sit back and pat yourself on the back. You’ve just created a double mushroom extract! The alcohol percentage should be somewhere between 25% and 30%, preserving and making it shelf stable. 

This recipe for double extraction of mushrooms is adapted from one of my favorite Myco books. ‘The Fungal Pharmacy’ The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms & Lichens of North America By Robert Rogers

This well researched book is a treasure in my library. If you are a serious mycological student, alternative health practitioner or Mushroom nerd, like me; you will refer often to this book. The book isn’t for everyone. It is very technical and would probably bore someone who just wants to know about some health benefits of mushrooms.

Do you craft your own herbal or medicinal concoctions? I’d love it if you’d share your experiences or favorite recipes!

Happy Crafting!

Author: Stephanie Beach