Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms for Hair Health and Hair Loss

Even though your hair is not necessarily alive, science has found that it is made up of many different minerals and nutrients, the absence or excess of which can be detrimental to the overall health of your hair. Eating a balanced and healthy diet and drinking enough water are two essential practices in maintaining healthy hair. Still, sometimes there are underlying conditions that can't simply be fixed with proper hair habits.

There are some existing treatments for a few of the conditions that negatively affect hair that might share similarities with the functional mushroom known as Reishi. But how effective are Reishi mushrooms for hair health and hair loss? This article looks at this question, what causes hair loss, and the links between Reishi mushrooms and existing hair treatments.

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What Causes Hair Loss?

Although a poor diet can affect the health of your hair, there are also several conditions that can cause hair loss.

Male pattern baldness is the most common reason for hair loss, which is caused by the reduction of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that binds to hair follicles in your head and kills them in a process called miniaturisation.

Some conditions and diseases can cause hair loss, such as chemotherapy in cancer treatment and conditions such as alopecia areata.

Existing Treatments for Hair Loss

Eating a healthy and balanced diet can help improve the health of your hair, but it won't necessarily reverse or prevent the effects of other conditions that can cause hair loss.

For male pattern baldness, oral DHT blockers can inhibit 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that synthesises DHT, which can prevent or even reverse miniaturisation.

Unfortunately, hair loss resulting from chemotherapy or alopecia areata can only be managed, at best, and not cured. These treatments include vitamin supplements and corticosteroid injections.







How Reishi Benefits Hair Health According to Research

The benefits of Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) are seemingly endless, mainly owing to their extensive nutritional profile that is packed with essential vitamins and other nutrients. As such, there are many ways that Reishi mushrooms can benefit hair health, such as the following:

DHT-Blocking Properties

Probably the most prominent reason that red Reishi mushrooms can benefit hair health, research has found this particular fungus to inhibit the activity of 5-alpha reductase in the same way that pharmaceutical DHT blockers can. This suggests that Reishi mushrooms not only improve the health of your hair but may also reverse the effects of male pattern baldness.

Anti-inflammatory Properties

Research has often documented the anti-inflammatory effects of the polysaccharides and peptidoglycans found in Reishi mushrooms, which can help reduce the symptoms of many inflammatory skin conditions. This can reduce scalp inflammation and promote blood flow to the area, increasing the presence of nutrients needed for healthy hair.

Antioxidant Properties

Studies have found that Reishi mushrooms also possess potent antioxidant properties that can reduce free radical damage and the harmful effects of environmental hazards. It is common for the health of your hair to diminish as you age, which is a primary effect of oxidative stress and free radicle damage, and Reishi can counteract this effect somewhat.

Nutrient Profile

Mushrooms are often hailed by science as excellent sources of many different vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients, and Reishi is no different. As such, supplementing your diet with this mushroom can help you meet the requirements for a healthy and balanced diet.

How to Use Reishi Mushroom for Hair Loss

Some hair products and shampoos contain certain Reishi mushroom extracts that may benefit hair health, but not quite to the same degree as more concentrated oral methods.

Reishi mushroom extracts exist in the form of tinctures that can be taken sublingually, as powders that can be added to beverages or foods, or as easy-to-brew teas that offer the same benefits. As for dosage, there is, unfortunately, no recommended dosage of Reishi mushrooms for any condition as it depends on various physiological factors, and no studies have explicitly looked at the effects of different doses.

Thankfully, reputable brands that sell Reishi mushroom products will include dosing guidelines. This is true for our unique M2CBD-formula products that combine extracts of Reishi and other functional mushrooms with pharmaceutical-grade CBD ad other beneficial ingredients. Browse our store for more info.

Is Reishi Mushroom an Effective Treatment for Healthy Hair?

Pharmaceutical DHT-blockers can be easily obtained in many countries with a prescription, and their benefits to hair loss are well-understood by science. Since Reishi mushrooms have the same properties as pharmaceutical DHT-blockers, they can be an easily-implemented hair loss remedy for male pattern baldness, in addition to their host of other benefits.