Ask yourself how in the world should Reishi be a nootropic ? Not plausible at all.
Its main bioactive compounds are beta-glucans and triterpenes. Beta-glucans are bioactive carbs, triggering the immune system. Triterpenes such as the ones found in Reishi do not have an effect on mental health. Read the research. You'd better look into Cordyceps with its nucleosides - that's a completely different story.
The examine.com reports are often flawed because the people compiling those reports are just copy/pasting information from all available sources without having the background to judge those sources accurately. This results in a mix of good, bad and made-up information, without any type of filtering.
I know because I was included in examine myself for some time and realised soon it is just another setup to generate money. I could write whatever I wanted and no-one ever said 'Hey what is that bullshit ??'
Just look at the idiotic dosage recommendations they give for Reishi - they don't even take the amount of active ingredients into account. Makes no sense. Amateuristic.
Be critical, always.
Look into reishi's neurotrophic promoting properties, this alone makes it a candidate for being a nootropic.
I was reading the Examine article as well and trying to figure out if this is really a worthwhile Nootropic. The Anti-Androgenic effect would seem to diminish the Nootropic value of Reishi to male Biohackers.
It is objectively anti-androgenic.
https://examine.com/...dum/#summary9-0
I experienced watery semen and strange side effects for some time, but all of this subsided. In the other hand, I didn't find any benefit from its consumption. I don't think that it is a potent nootropic, and the one I'm taking is better quality that the mycelium on grain sometimes reviewed as powerful mental and spirit enhancer. If I keep taking it, is for its ability to extend life on mice. And I guess than the DHT inhibition will be good for my hair.
And yes. Lately I've been incredible asocial. More than ever in my life. But I never attributed it to Reishi until now.
jroseland, I've been taking reishi on and off for years, many different brands, many different extraction methods, and I have never found it to negatively affect my libido, erections, physique, etc. I have more muscle mass now than ever and even have more facial hair growing in, though of course I would not attribute these things to reishi.
I say give it a trial run for some time. Better yet, do us all a favor and get blood panels done, before and after. As an aside, look into its use by Taoists and with Traditional Chinese Medicine, these guys really knew what they were talking about, and reishi is in the Top 5 of medicinal herbs in those circles.