Integrating Mycotherapy into Modern Pharmacy: A Natural Evidence-Based Evolution. By Sophie Barrett, Head of Education Hifas da Terra, Medical Herbalist & Naturopath.

Pharmacists have long been custodians of safe, effective remedies, bridging traditional wisdom with modern clinical science. Today, an important category of bioactive therapeutics is making a compelling case for inclusion in dispensary shelves: medicinal mushrooms. Also known as mycotherapy, this emerging clinical discipline draws on millennia of global traditional medicine and is now underpinned by a rapidly growing body of peer-reviewed research. 

Revered in Eastern systems of medicine for their ability to support the mind, body and spirit, mushrooms such as Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and Turkey Tail (Coriolus versicolor) have been used in Japan, China, Korea and Tibet for centuries. These species were considered foundational in Taoist, Buddhist and TCM medical traditions, with Reishi famously known as the “mushroom of immortality.” 

But this ancient knowledge is not merely folklore. Compounds such as beta-glucans, triterpenes, ergothioneine, and polysaccharide-K (PSK) are now being studied in modern clinical trials for their effects on immunity, inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic function, and even gut–brain signalling. 

Pharmacists are no strangers to the power of fungi; penicillin, ciclosporin, and statins all originate from fungal species. But unlike isolated pharmaceuticals, medicinal mushrooms offer multifactorial support, modulating rather than suppressing biological pathways. 

For example: 

• Reishi has shown anti-histaminic, cortisol-regulating, and immunomodulatory effects (Lloyd, 2018). 

• Cordyceps supports ATP production and adrenal resilience (Juan et al., 2022). 

• Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) promotes NGF (nerve growth factor) and may aid cognitive health (Friedman, 2016). 

• Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a potent antioxidant with SOD-like activity and prebiotic potential (Bai et al., 2023). 

Their application spans immune support, metabolic regulation, mood and sleep, menopausal transition, joint and musculoskeletal health, and even oncology support (Antonelli et al., 2021). 

A common concern among pharmacists is safety and interaction. Fortunately, medicinal mushrooms used in clinical mycotherapy are food-grade, well-tolerated, and supported by decades of use in both Eastern medicine and European integrative care. 

Reputable suppliers such as Hifas da Terra use standardised extracts, backed by clinical trials and laboratory analyses confirming absence of heavy metals, pesticides, and mycotoxins. As a result, they can be integrated with confidence into the dispensary environment. 

Pharmacists are in a unique position to: 

• Offer immune support protocols during seasonal transitions 

• Support patients with long-COVID, SIBO/SIFO, or chronic fatigue (Banaszak et al., 2023) 

• Provide gentle stress, sleep and anxiety support with non-sedating, adaptogenic fungi such as Reishi 

• Address cholesterol and metabolic health via species like Shiitake and Maitake. (Fukushima et al., 2001) 

Importantly, mushrooms are not a replacement but a complement to pharmaceutical care, especially valuable in preventive health and in patients seeking more holistic options. 

The growing public interest in functional mushrooms provides an opportunity for forward-thinking pharmacists to offer clinically backed, natural tools that align with evolving patient needs. Mycotherapy is not a passing trend but a research-backed revival of therapeutic fungi as a cornerstone of 21st-century integrative care. 

By integrating standardised medicinal mushrooms into pharmacy practice, pharmacists can expand their role from dispensers of medicines to champions of resilience, prevention, and patient-centred wellness. 

 

Bibliography 

Antonelli, M. et al. (2021). Lentinan for integrative cancer treatment: An umbrella review. Proceedings (MDPI), 83(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/iecbm2020-08733 

Bai, Y. et al. (2023). A Systematic Review on the Research Progress on Polysaccharides from Fungal Traditional Chinese Medicine. Molecules, 28, 6816. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28196816 

Banaszak, M. et al. (2023). Association between Gut Dysbiosis and the Occurrence of SIBO, LIBO, SIFO and IMO. Microorganisms, 11(3), 573. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030573 

Fukushima, M., Ohashi, T., Fujiwara, Y., Sonoyama, K., & Nakano, M. (2001). Cholesterol-lowering effects of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) fibre, Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) fibre, and Enokitake (Flammulina velutipes) fiber in rats. Experimental Biology and Medicine (Maywood), 226(8), 7580-65. 

Friedman, M. (2016). Mushroom Polysaccharides: Chemistry and Antiobesity, Antidiabetes, Anticancer, and Antibiotic Properties. Foods, 5(4), 40. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods5040040 

Juan, Y. et al. (2022). Extraction, structure and pharmacological effects of the polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis: A review. Journal of Functional Foods, 89, 104909. 

Lloyd, A. L. (2018). Identifying the “Mushroom of Immortality”: Assessing the Ganoderma Species Composition in Commercial Reishi Products. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9, 1557. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01557