Functional mushrooms are not psilocybin mushrooms
Two completely different categories that get confused constantly.
By Editorial team
Lion's mane, reishi, cordyceps, chaga and turkey tail are functional mushrooms. They contain no psilocybin, produce no altered state, and are sold as food and supplements in most countries.
Psilocybin mushrooms are a separate category containing a controlled psychoactive compound with a different legal status and a very different risk profile.
Conflating the two — which marketing frequently does — is how people end up confused about both. If a product is legally sold on a supermarket shelf, it is a functional mushroom.
On the evidence: functional mushroom research is early. Some small human trials on lion's mane and cognition are interesting; none of them establish the claims printed on most packaging. Product quality varies enormously between brands.
Related practices