Functional Mushrooms and Menopause: Navigating the Age of Wisdom Naturally

Welcome to our journey into one of the most profound transitions a woman will experience — menopause. We’re pairing ancient wisdom with modern mycology to explore how functional mushrooms can support us through this sacred metamorphosis.

💡 Ready to jump right in? Start your journey with our Mushroom Wellness Quiz to find your greatest area of need.

Chapter 1: The Myth of Decline — Reframing Menopause as the “Second Spring”

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menopause is known as the Second Spring — a rebirth, not a decline. It’s viewed as a natural transition into the age of wisdom. This empowering lens helps dismantle the myth that menopause signals the beginning of the end.

Physiologically, the ovaries slow their production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. This shift leads to symptoms like:

Hot flashes

Night sweats

Mood swings

Fatigue

Low libido

Brain fog

Vaginal dryness

Understanding that these are natural recalibrations, not signs of “breaking down,” can change how we care for ourselves during this time.

 

✅ Resource: Check out our Free Gut Health Guide for holistic tools to support your healing journey.

 

Chapter 2: Functional Mushrooms 101 — Adaptogens, Nootropics, Immunomodulators

Functional mushrooms aren’t ordinary fungi. They are:

Adaptogens: help the body adapt to stress

Nootropics: support brain function and cognition

Immunomodulators: regulate immune responses

The top 5 functional mushrooms for perimenopause and menopause are:

Maitake

Reishi

Cordyceps

Lion’s Mane

Tremella

They offer multi-system support — from hormonal regulation to emotional balance.

 

Chapter 3: Maitake — The Metabolic Guardian

Known as the dancing mushroom, Maitake is revered for:

Balancing blood sugar

Supporting liver and spleen function in TCM

Modulating immunity through beta-glucans

 

Key Study:

A 2010 clinical trial found Maitake’s SX-fraction improved insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS — a condition with hormonal imbalances that mirror perimenopausal shifts.

Maitake is also linked to mood stabilization and metabolic support, helping women avoid irritability and weight gain.

🍽️ Try it: Sautéed, air-fried, or in a mushroom Wellington — Maitake is as delicious as it is healing.

 

Chapter 4: Reishi — The Cosmic Hug

If Maitake is the guardian, Reishi is the grandmother — soothing, grounding, and spiritual.

In TCM, Reishi is a Shen tonic, nourishing the heart and calming the spirit.

Benefits:

Cortisol modulation

Improved sleep quality

Lowered fatigue

Emotional resilience

Key Study:

A 2013 study showed that Reishi improved quality of life in breast cancer patients by reducing fatigue and improving sleep.

🌙 Tip: Take Reishi at night to ease restlessness and support sleep. It's herbal yoga in a capsule.

 

Chapter 5: Cordyceps — The Fungi Firestarter

Too often labeled “for men,” Cordyceps shines for menopausal women who feel chronically fatigued and disconnected from their vitality.

In TCM, Cordyceps tonifies Kidney Yang, enhancing:

Energy

Libido

Endocrine balance

 

Key Study:

A 2020 study found Cordyceps militaris improved aerobic capacity and fatigue in just six weeks.

Cordyceps:

Supports testosterone and progesterone gently

Stabilizes energy via ATP production

Is safe for long-term use, especially in adrenal fatigue

💥 Start your day with Cordyceps in your matcha for clarity, stamina, and libido support.

 

Chapter 6: Libido and Love — Emotional Safety Matters

Let’s get real — no woman wants to have sex with a jerk. Libido is not just physiological, it’s emotional. You could take all the Cordyceps in the world, but if your partner isn’t supportive or emotionally available during this phase, intimacy won’t return.

❤️ Men, take note: Emotional safety and understanding are the biggest aphrodisiacs.

 

Chapter 7: Lion’s Mane — The Brain Fog Buster

Lion’s Mane is your go-to for:

Brain fog

Memory loss

Mood dips

Cognitive decline

It supports nerve growth factor (NGF) and neuroplasticity — essential as estrogen, which is neuroprotective, begins to decline.

Key Study:

A 2009 Japanese study found that Lion’s Mane significantly improved mild cognitive impairment — but benefits waned when supplementation stopped. Consistency is key.

In TCM, it nourishes the heart and spleen, calming the Shen and promoting emotional clarity.

🧠 Think of Lion’s Mane as fuel for your gut-brain axis. It’s also a prebiotic, boosting microbiome health.

 

Chapter 8: Tremella — The Goddess Glow

Tremella is yin in mushroom form. It's a hydrating jelly fungus that supports:

Skin elasticity

Vaginal moisture

Lung and gut yin

Collagen production

 

Key Study:

A 2022 in vitro study found Tremella polysaccharides enhanced collagen synthesis and slowed skin breakdown.

Tremella also boosts short-chain fatty acids in the gut, improving digestion and microbiome diversity.

💧 Beauty from within starts here. Combine Tremella with topical skincare for radiant, juicy skin.

 

Chapter 9: The 5 Mushroom Blend — Formulated for This Exact Season

By now, you’re probably thinking: Can I take all five? The answer is YES — and we’ve made it easy.

We’re excited to announce the launch of our 5 Mushroom Blend, arriving August 2025.

Includes:

Maitake

Reishi

Cordyceps

Lion’s Mane

Tremella

Clinically aligned doses (3000mg+) and only organic fruiting body extracts — no grain- fillers.

🛒 Until then, use our Three Mushroom Blend in your morning matcha and Reishi in the evening.

 

Chapter 10: Mushrooms as Midlife Medicine

Menopause isn’t an end — it’s an initiation into a wiser, more powerful you. Mushrooms don’t just treat symptoms — they help restore balance, rekindle joy, and reconnect you with nature’s rhythm.

This is your second spring.

 

Your Next Steps 🌿

You’re not broken. You are becoming.

🧭 Dive Deeper:

🍄 Take the Mushroom Wellness Quiz

🍄 Explore Free Recipes

🍄 Download Your Constipation Quick Start Guide

🎙️ Listen to Episode 3 on Mushroom Support for Hormones

📖 Order Brandi's Book: Healing Your Body, Mind and Soul

This blog was born from our most requested podcast topic. If you’re navigating perimenopause or menopause, this was for you. With the right support — mushrooms, nutrition, relationships, and self-love — you can thrive through this phase.