Maitake vs Reishi: Differences, Benefits and Taking Them Together

Maitake and reishi are both functional mushrooms, but they differ. Maitake is an edible mushroom you can cook with, best known for beta-glucan polysaccharides studied for immune support, while reishi is a bitter, woody mushroom taken as an extract or tea, with triterpenes and polysaccharides studied for immune support, antioxidant status and, in animal research, sleep. Below is what research has measured for each, how to take them together and what to know about safety.

Key Takeaways

• Maitake (Grifola frondosa), also called hen-of-the-woods, is an edible mushroom, and its best-known compounds are beta-glucans such as the D-fraction and grifolan (Wu et al., 2021).
• Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), or lingzhi, is bitter and woody; its main active groups are polysaccharides, peptidoglycans and triterpenes such as the ganoderic acids (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011).
• In a 2026 trial, healthy adults ate bread made with maitake every day for 11 to 18 weeks, and in those aged 40 to 85 one maitake strain was linked to higher measures of dendritic cells, a type of immune cell (Masuda et al., 2026).
• In healthy volunteers, one dose of reishi raised blood antioxidant capacity over the next few hours (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2004), and in rats a reishi extract lengthened total sleep time (Cui et al., 2012).
• You can take them together. Reishi has rare liver injury case reports, and maitake lowered blood sugar in animal studies, so talk to your doctor first if you have a liver condition or take medicine for blood sugar.

What Maitake and Reishi Are

Maitake grows around the stumps and trunks of broadleaf trees in the temperate forests of eastern North America, Europe and Asia. In English it is often called hen-of-the-woods. It is edible, eaten as a healthy food, and also studied for its polysaccharides. Its best-known polysaccharides are the D-fraction, a beta-glucan complex, along with grifolan, sterols such as ergosterol and phenolic compounds (Wu et al., 2021). Our maitake ingredient page covers it in more depth.

Reishi, known as lingzhi in Chinese, has been recognized as a medicinal mushroom for over 2,000 years. Its three major active groups are polysaccharides, peptidoglycans and triterpenes. Its triterpenes, such as ganoderic acids A and B, give reishi its bitter taste. Reishi products are sold as powders, capsules and tea, made from the fruiting body, the mycelium or the spores (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011). See our reishi ingredient page for more.

Maitake vs Reishi Side by Side

Feature	Maitake	Reishi
Scientific name	Grifola frondosa	Ganoderma lucidum
Other names	Hen-of-the-woods, sheep's head	Lingzhi
As food	Edible, cooked like other mushrooms	Bitter and woody; taken as extracts, powders, capsules or tea
Main compounds	Beta-glucans (D-fraction, grifolan), sterols, phenolics	Polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, triterpenes (ganoderic acids)
Research focus	Immune cell activity	Immune activity, antioxidant status, sleep in animal studies
Example human study	Healthy adults, maitake bread daily for 11 to 18 weeks; immune cell measures	10 healthy adults, single dose and 10 days; antioxidant measures
Main safety note	Lowered blood sugar in animal studies; check with your doctor if you take blood sugar medicine	Rare liver injury case reports
In Forage (per 2 capsules)	150 mg, 8:1 fruiting body extract	200 mg, 8:1 fruiting body extract

Maitake vs Reishi for Immune Support

Maitake

Maitake's beta-glucans and other polysaccharides have been studied for immune activity, much of it in cell and animal research (Wu et al., 2021). A 2026 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial took this into people. Healthy young adults aged 18 to 20 ate bread containing one of two maitake strains, or a placebo bread, every day for 11 weeks, and middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 85 did the same for 18 weeks. In the older group, one strain was linked to more of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, more activation of conventional dendritic cells and higher activity of interferon-related genes when their immune cells were tested in the lab. The authors note that effects may vary by strain and age group (Masuda et al., 2026). For more, see our guide to maitake mushroom benefits.

Reishi

Reishi polysaccharides have been studied for immune-stimulating activity, largely in animal and cell-culture models (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011). In healthy adults, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, a single 1.1 g dose of reishi raised blood antioxidant capacity, with the peak at 90 minutes, and urine antioxidant capacity rose within 3 hours. After 10 days at 0.72 g a day, a vitamin E measure in the blood and urine antioxidant capacity were higher, and no harmful effects were seen on the measured variables (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2004). See our guide to reishi mushroom benefits for more, and our immune system function and daily support guide for the bigger picture.

Reishi or Maitake for Sleep and Calm

If evening calm is your main interest, reishi is the one of the two that sleep research has looked at. Traditional Chinese texts describe it as a mushroom to "ease the mind" (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011). In a study in rats, a reishi extract given by mouth for 3 days increased total sleep time and non-REM sleep time at the higher dose, without changing REM sleep, and the effect was tied to TNF-alpha, an immune signaling molecule (Cui et al., 2012).

Maitake research has centered on its polysaccharides and immune activity rather than sleep. Our guide to reishi for sleep covers timing and what to expect.

Taking Maitake and Reishi Together

Maitake and reishi bring different compound groups: maitake's beta-glucans and reishi's triterpenes alongside its own polysaccharides. That is why many multi-mushroom blends include both. Our Forage capsules contain reishi 200 mg and maitake 150 mg as 8:1 fruiting body extracts in every 2-capsule serving, together with lion's mane 200 mg, cordyceps 200 mg, chaga 150 mg, turkey tail 150 mg and shiitake 150 mg, plus Himalayan shilajit extract 100 mg and ashwagandha root extract 100 mg. Other ingredients are ginger extract and vegan capsules. Our maitake vs shiitake guide compares maitake with another mushroom in the blend.

Choosing and How to Take Them

• Start with your goal. For a culinary mushroom studied for immune cell activity, maitake fits. For a traditional calming mushroom studied for antioxidant status and, in animals, sleep, reishi fits. For both, choose a blend.
• Read the label. Reishi products can be made from the fruiting body, the mycelium or the spores (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011). Look for the part used, the extract ratio and the milligrams per serving. Our guide to mushroom extracts vs powders explains the labels.
• Know the usual amounts. LiverTox lists a usual reishi dose of 500 mg to 3 g a day (LiverTox, 2024).
• Follow the directions. The suggested use for Forage is two capsules daily, taken in the morning with or without food.

Safety: Liver, Medicines and Who Should Check First

LiverTox, the NIH liver injury database, describes reishi as well tolerated and not linked to liver enzyme rises in studies. It also lists reishi as a possible rare cause of liver injury, based on a small number of case reports from China, Japan, Thailand and India, with onset usually 1 to 2 months after starting. Two of the reported cases began after a switch to a powdered product (LiverTox, 2024). In a 4-week controlled study in 18 healthy adults taking 1.44 g of reishi a day, the researchers found no evidence of liver, kidney or DNA toxicity (Wachtel-Galor, Tomlinson and Benzie, 2004). Stop and call your doctor if you notice dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes or unusual tiredness. Our guide to reishi tea and liver safety has more detail.

Maitake extracts lowered blood glucose in animal studies (Wu et al., 2021), so talk to your doctor before taking maitake supplements if you take medicine for blood sugar.

Also talk to your doctor first if you:

• take blood thinners, blood pressure medicine or medicine that suppresses the immune system
• have a liver condition or have surgery coming up
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• have a mushroom allergy

Forage also contains ashwagandha root extract and Himalayan shilajit, so read the full label and share it with your doctor if any of the points above apply to you.

Where Forage Fits

Forage puts maitake and reishi in every serving. If immune support is your main goal, our Immunity Stack pairs Forage with Glutathione Nasal Spray and NAC Nasal Spray in one daily routine, designed to support antioxidant defense and everyday immune resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between maitake and reishi?

Maitake is an edible mushroom, also called hen-of-the-woods, that you can cook with, and its best-known compounds are beta-glucans such as the D-fraction. Reishi, or lingzhi, is bitter and woody, so it is taken as an extract, capsule or tea, and its main active groups are polysaccharides, peptidoglycans and triterpenes.

Is maitake or reishi better for immune support?

Both have been studied for immune support through their polysaccharides. In a 2026 trial, healthy adults who ate maitake bread daily for 11 to 18 weeks showed changes in dendritic cell measures with one maitake strain. Reishi polysaccharides have been studied for immune activity mainly in animal and cell research. Many people take both, as Forage does, rather than choosing one.

Can you take maitake and reishi together?

Yes. They bring different compound groups, maitake's beta-glucans and reishi's triterpenes and polysaccharides, which is why many mushroom blends include both. Forage has reishi 200 mg and maitake 150 mg as 8:1 fruiting body extracts in every 2 capsules. Check with your doctor first if you take medicine or have a liver condition.

Reishi or maitake: which is better for sleep?

Reishi is the one of the two that sleep research has looked at. In rats, a reishi extract given for 3 days increased total sleep time and non-REM sleep without changing REM sleep. It is also described in traditional Chinese texts as a mushroom to ease the mind. Maitake research has focused on immune activity rather than sleep.

Can you eat maitake and reishi as food?

Maitake, yes. It is an edible mushroom regarded as a healthy food, and you can cook it like other mushrooms. Reishi is too bitter and woody to eat as a vegetable, so people take it as an extract, powder, capsule or tea instead. For supplements, check the label for the part used and the amount per serving.

Is reishi safe for your liver?

Most people tolerate reishi well, and a 4-week study in healthy adults found no evidence of liver toxicity. LiverTox lists it as a possible rare cause of liver injury, based on a small number of case reports. If you have a liver condition, talk to your doctor first, and stop and seek care if you notice dark urine or yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Who should avoid maitake and reishi?

Talk to your doctor before taking either if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a liver condition, have surgery coming up or take blood thinners, blood pressure medicine, blood sugar medicine or medicine that suppresses the immune system. People with a mushroom allergy should avoid them.

Sources

• Wu JY, Siu KC, Geng P. Bioactive ingredients and medicinal values of Grifola frondosa (Maitake). Foods, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33466429/
• Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, Benzie IFF. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi). In: Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects, 2nd edition. CRC Press/Taylor and Francis, 2011. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
• Masuda Y, Nakayama Y, Shimizu R, et al. Maitake mushroom supplementation modulates upper respiratory symptoms and immune responses in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Food and Function, 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42627298/
• Wachtel-Galor S, et al. Ganoderma lucidum ('Lingzhi'); acute and short-term biomarker response to supplementation. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2004. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14630595/
• Cui XY, Cui SY, Zhang J, et al. Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22207209/
• LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Lingzhi, Reishi. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, updated 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK609014/
• Wachtel-Galor S, Tomlinson B, Benzie IFF. Ganoderma lucidum ('Lingzhi'), a Chinese medicinal mushroom: biomarker responses in a controlled human supplementation study. British Journal of Nutrition, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1079/BJN20041039

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is for education and is not medical advice. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Talk with a healthcare provider before starting a new supplement if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication.