Mushrooms, Hormones & The Balance We All Need

Vanmaya
Jun 27
3 min read

Updated: Jun 29

Let’s begin with a little game: Think about someone you love—your mom, sister, aunt, or even a friend. Have they ever said something like: “I feel tired all the time” or“I don’t feel like myself lately”?

You might not know it, but that can sometimes be because of something happening inside the body called a hormonal imbalance. But don’t worry—nature has a way of helping. And mushrooms might just be one of the coolest helpers around!

What is Balance in the Body?

Our body is like a big orchestra. Every part has to play the right tune at the right time. When everything is working well together, we call it homeostasis (say it like: ho-mee-oh-stay-sis). It means balance.

But with busy lives, unhealthy eating, sitting too much, and stress, our bodies sometimes get out of tune.

Especially for women, who go through big life changes like periods, pregnancy, and menopause, this balance can be tricky to keep.

Say Hello to Hormones!

Hormones are like little messengers in the body. They travel through our blood and tell our body what to do—like when to sleep, how to grow, and even how to feel!

Here are three super important hormones in a woman’s body:

Androgens: These are powerful, but too much of them can cause problems like pimples, hair growth on the face, and irregular periods.
Progesterone: This one helps during pregnancy and keeps things calm and cozy inside.
Estrogen: The queen of hormones! It helps with skin, mood, and more.

When these hormones are out of balance, the body doesn’t feel great. But guess what? Mushrooms can help bring balance back!

Mushrooms: Nature’s Gentle Doctors

Long ago in China, people found that mushrooms weren’t just tasty—they were healing. And now, science is starting to catch up.

Mushrooms are full of natural powers:

They fight off germs
Help us handle stress
Clean out the bad stuff from our bodies
Support our heart, liver, and immune system
And most importantly, some of them help bring back balance to our hormones!

Let’s Meet the Mushroom Heroes for Women’s Health

Reishi – The Queen of Calm

Reishi is a beautiful mushroom that grows on trees. It’s great for:

Cleaning harmful chemicals (called xeno-estrogens) from the body
Calming angry skin like acne
Helping women with hormonal imbalances like PCOS

Reishi is like a gentle guard, protecting your body and helping it stay balanced.

Maitake – The Balancer
Maitake (it means "dancing mushroom" in Japanese!) is amazing at:
- Helping the body handle insulin (important for energy)
- Helping with ovulation and periods
- Reducing swelling in the body
It's especially helpful for women with PCOS and other hormone-related issues.
Grifola frondosa

Cordyceps – The Energy Booster
This mushroom helps when women go through menopause and feel tired, moody, or low.
- Boosts energy
- Helps with mood swings
- May even help improve memory and brain function
It’s like a natural energy drink—without the sugar crash!
Cordyceps militaris

Lion’s Mane – The Brain Protector
This shaggy-looking mushroom supports:
- Brain health
- Mood and memory
- Fighting off stress and anxiety
It helps keep your mind strong and sharp, especially when hormones are changing.
Hericium erinaceus

Shiitake & Reishi – The Defenders
Ever heard of a yeast infection? It’s an itchy, uncomfortable thing that happens when certain germs grow too much.
Shiitake and Reishi help your body stay strong so it can fight off those germs. They boost your immune system, which is like your body’s superhero squad.

Nature Knows Best

Mushrooms can’t fix everything—but when used wisely, with love and care, they can support the body and help it find its way back to balance. Just like we brush our teeth or drink water, taking care of our hormones is part of feeling healthy and happy.

Always remember: You are nature. Your body listens to what you give it. And mushrooms are here to help you feel whole again.