Episode #34 - Mushroom Math

Chapter 1: Why Mushroom Math Matters More Than You Think (and Why Most People Get It Wrong)

If you’ve ever stood in the supplement aisle staring at two bottles of “500 mg” functional mushroom capsules and wondered why they cost wildly different prices, you’re not alone. And if you’ve ever taken a mushroom product faithfully for weeks only to think, I don’t feel anything… is this supposed to be doing something? — you’re also not alone.

This confusion is the reason we recorded this episode of The Eversio Experience. Because the truth is this:

Mushroom wellness doesn’t work unless the math does.

Extraction ratios, QCE (quantity crude equivalent), dose recommendations, and species differences all influence whether your Lion’s Mane, Reishi, or Cordyceps actually makes a difference or if you’re essentially taking a very expensive sprinkle of mushroom dust.

But most brands don’t explain any of that.

When Craig and I founded Eversio, we agreed on one non-negotiable: radical transparency. Our community deserves to understand the math behind the mushrooms, not just the marketing language.

This episode breaks it all down, and this blog will walk you through the entire conversation in a way that’s actionable, understandable, and immediately useful next time you’re shopping for functional mushrooms.

Chapter 2: The Problem with “Milligram Numbers” on Supplement Labels

Let’s start with the biggest misunderstanding in the entire industry:

The milligram number on the bottle does NOT tell you the potency.

If you walk into a store and see two Lion’s Mane products…

• Product A: 500 mg
• Product B: 500 mg
  

…you’d assume they’re the same strength, right?

Absolutely not.

You have no idea whether you’re looking at:

1. a dried mushroom powder (almost zero therapeutic value),
2. a weak 1:1 extract, or
3. a high-extraction 16:1 extract capable of delivering real benefits.
   

It’s like comparing two smoothies that both weigh 16 ounces; one could be 95% ice, the other could be filled with fruit, protein, and nutrition.

Same size. Completely different value.

This is why mushroom math matters, because milligrams alone are misleading.

If you want a therapeutic dose, you need to look at the extraction ratio and the QCE (Quantity Crude Equivalent), which we’ll break down in the next chapter.

Chapter 3: Extraction Ratios: The Key to Understanding Potency

Extraction ratio is the most important number on a mushroom supplement label, yet it’s the least understood. And sadly, it’s also the number many brands choose not to disclose.

So what is an extraction ratio?

It’s simply a measurement of how much raw mushroom material was used to produce the extract.

Example:

• A 10:1 extract means 10 grams of mushroom fruiting body were extracted into 1 gram of extract.
• A 16:1 extract means 16 grams were extracted down to 1 gram.
  

Why does this matter?

Because the higher the extraction ratio, the more bioavailable compounds are concentrated into the final capsule.

So a 500 mg dose of:

• 16:1 extract is equal to 8,000 mg of raw mushroom
• 1:1 extract is equal to 500 mg of raw mushroom
• Powdered mycelium on grain may be equal to a handful of rice flour
  

Same capsule size. Not even remotely the same product.

This is what shocks people when they switch to a high-quality extract:

They finally feel something.

They finally get the benefits the science talks about.

And they finally understand why one product costs more, because it contains more.

Chapter 4: QCE: The Most Honest Measurement of Mushroom Potency

At Eversio, we’re obsessed with QCE, and for good reason.

QCE = Quantity Crude Equivalent

It tells you how much whole mushroom material is represented in each capsule after extraction.

For example, in this episode, Desiree explains:

“If you’re taking our Lion’s Mane 16:1 extract, you’re getting the equivalent of 8,000 mg of crude Lion’s Mane in a single capsule.”

That’s what QCE tells you.

It is the most transparent, consumer-friendly way to understand dosage.

Why QCE matters:

1. You can’t compare extracts using milligrams alone.
2. You can compare them using QCE.

It’s the only number that allows you to evaluate:

• potency
• value
• dose consistency
• therapeutic effectiveness
  

If a brand does not give you their extraction ratio or QCE, you simply cannot know how strong the product is.

This is why we say: No QCE, no clarity, no confidence.

Chapter 5: Why Fruiting Body Matters (and Mycelium on Grain Doesn’t Cut It)

This topic matters so much, and we have to be direct:

The majority of “functional mushroom” supplements on the market are made from mycelium grown on grain, not real mushroom fruiting bodies.

Mycelium-on-grain products:

• contain starch filler
• contain minimal beta-glucans
• often provide no therapeutic value
• cost less to produce
• are often sold at the same price as real extracts
  

In contrast, fruiting body extracts:

• contain the highest levels of active compounds
• are used in the clinical research
• require significant raw material
• produce measurable effects
  

If you’ve ever wondered why two bottles cost drastically different amounts, this is one of the biggest reasons why.

How to identify mycelium-on-grain:

Look for terms like:

• “mycelium powder”
• “myceliated grain”
• “mycelium biomass”
• “full spectrum” (often a disguise)
  

At Eversio, we use 100% fruiting body extracts — period.

Because that’s what the research supports, and that’s what actually works.

Chapter 6: How to Know If You’re Getting a Therapeutic Dose

When doctors, naturopaths, and integrative practitioners recommend functional mushrooms, they’re not recommending milligrams.

They’re recommending functions and outcomes, and those depend on dose.

So what is a therapeutic dose?

It depends on the mushroom:

• Lion’s Mane: cognitive support → 3,000– 12,000 mg QCE/day
• Reishi: stress, sleep, immune modulation → 3,000– 15,000 mg QCE/day
• Chaga: antioxidant support → 3,000–3,600 mg QCE/day
• Cordyceps: energy, endurance → 3,000–9,000 mg QCE/day
• Turkey Tail: gut + immune support → 3,000– 27,000 mg QCE/day
  
  

Let’s compare that with our mushrooms:

• Lion’s Mane → 4,000 mg QCE/capsule
• Reishi → 3,750 mg QCE/capsule
• Chaga → 3600 mg QCE/capsule
• Cordyceps → 4,000 mg QCE/capsule
• Turkey Tail → 6,000 mg QCE/capsule

And here’s the key:

These ranges refer to QCE, not milligrams on a bottle.

A 500 mg capsule could be:

1. Subtherapeutic
2. Minimally therapeutic
3. Highly therapeutic
   

It depends entirely on the extraction ratio.

This is why people often say:

• “Lion’s Mane didn’t work for me.”
• “Reishi doesn’t help my sleep.”
• “I didn’t feel any energy from Cordyceps.”
  

In almost every case, it’s because the product didn’t contain a therapeutic dose, not because the mushroom didn’t work.

Chapter 7: The Price Problem: Why Cheaper Products Cost You More

One of my favourite parts of this conversation was when Desiree said:

“Cheap supplements are expensive when they don’t work.”

And it’s true.

A $19 bottle of under-extracted mycelium powder that provides no therapeutic value is not a savings — it’s a waste.

A well-extracted, fruiting-body, high-ratio product costs more because:

1. real mushrooms take longer to grow
2. fruiting bodies require skilled cultivation
3. extraction removes what your body can’t access
4. concentration amplifies active compounds
   
   

But the value comes from effectiveness.

• You don’t need 12 capsules per day.
• You don’t need to wonder if it’s working.
• You don’t need to switch brands every three months.

You need one product with proven extraction and a transparent QCE.

Chapter 8: How to Read a Mushroom Supplement Label Like a Pro

Here’s your quick-reference checklist anytime you evaluate a product:

YES = high-quality product

✔ Fruiting body
✔ Extraction ratio clearly listed
✔ QCE clearly listed
✔ Beta-glucan percentage listed
✔ Third-party testing available
✔ No “mycelium on grain” language
✔ Therapeutic dose recommendation
✔ Certificate of Analysis available

NO = low-quality or deceptive product

✘ Just milligrams listed (no extraction ratio)
✘ “Full spectrum” mycelium blends
✘ No mention of beta-glucans
✘ No references to fruiting body
✘ Buzzwords like “superfood powder”
✘ Unrealistic claims

Chapter 9: Why Transparency Is the Future of Functional Mushrooms

The supplement industry has historically benefitted from ambiguity — especially in the functional mushroom space. But consumers are getting smarter, clinicians are demanding clarity, and wellness brands will need to evolve.

At Eversio, we believe in:

• Full transparency
• Disclosing extraction ratios
• Providing QCE for every capsule
• Publishing test results
• Educating our community
• Helping practitioners dose accurately
• Prioritizing the actual wellbeing of people
  

Because this isn’t about selling a product — it’s about helping people improve their health, energy, and resilience.

And you deserve to know exactly what you’re taking, why it works, and how to use it effectively.

Chapter 10: The Takeaway: You Deserve Mushroom Products That Work

Mushroom wellness is powerful.

It’s ancient, respected, clinically researched, and deeply supportive to the nervous system, immune health, cognition, and overall resilience.

But only if the math makes sense.

This episode of The Eversio Experience was created to empower you with the clarity the industry has been avoiding for far too long.

Here’s what matters most:

• Milligrams mean nothing without extraction.
• Extraction ratio determines potency.
• QCE is the most honest measurement of value.
• Fruiting body extracts beat mycelium on grain every time.
• Therapeutic doses matter.
• Transparency matters.
• Your wellbeing matters.
  

When you understand mushroom math, you’ll never waste money on underpowered products again, and you’ll finally feel the transformative benefits functional mushrooms can bring.

Thank you for being here, for learning with us, and for trusting Eversio Wellness to guide you with honesty, integrity, and evidence-backed education.