Types of Mushrooms: What Makes Functional Mushrooms Unique

When most people hear the word “mushroom,” they picture one of three things: something delicious in a sauté pan, something dangerous on a forest floor, or something psychedelic in a ritual or rave. But there’s a fourth, rapidly growing category that deserves its own spotlight—functional mushrooms.

These are the mushrooms you don’t take to get high—or even just to eat—but to feel better every day. They’re non-psychoactive, non-toxic, and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries to support immunity, stress resilience, brain function, and overall vitality.

So while mushroom types range from culinary to poisonous to psychoactive, this guide focuses on the ones that work with your body—not against it or outside it.

Functional mushrooms are neither flavor-driven nor mind-altering. They’re health-enhancing. And they’re what make this emerging wellness category so compelling.

The mushroom world is rich with terminology, and you’ll often see the words functional, medicinal, and adaptogenic mushrooms used interchangeably. But while there’s a lot of overlap, these labels actually reflect different contexts of use, not different species.

Let’s break it down:

Medicinal mushrooms are essentially functional mushrooms used for healing. Whether in traditional herbalism or clinical research, these mushrooms are applied to address specific health concerns—often at higher doses or with targeted extraction methods.

All medicinal mushrooms are functional, but the reverse isn’t always true—it depends on context, dose, and intent.

At Hamilton’s, we formulate every mushroom product to be both functional and medicinal, designed to support everyday wellness and provide therapeutic value when needed.

The word functional is even more useful because the medical establishment doesn't like it when we say medicinal. 

Adaptogens are a specific class of herbs and fungi that help the body adapt to stress. To be considered an adaptogen, a mushroom must:

1. Be safe at normal doses

2. Offer broad, nonspecific resistance to stressors

3. Promote homeostasis (balance)

Not all functional mushrooms are true adaptogens, but some clearly meet the definition—like:

• Reishi → helps regulate cortisol and the nervous system

• Cordyceps → supports energy, stamina, and adrenal resilience

• Chaga → sometimes considered semi-adaptogenic due to antioxidant effects

Lion’s Mane, while incredible for brain support, isn’t a classical adaptogen—it works more specifically through NGF stimulation than through general stress adaptation.

In other words:

Same mushrooms. Different doses. Different goals.

There are thousands of mushroom species in the wild, but only a select few have been studied and celebrated for their functional benefits. These mushrooms don’t just taste good—they offer deep support for your brain, body, and stress response.

Let’s take a look at five of the most widely used functional mushrooms and what makes each one unique.

Best for: Gut-immune connection, microbiome balance

• Loaded with beta-glucans that help educate and balance the immune system

• Used as medicinal support in oncology settings and for long-term immune health

• Supports diversity and resilience of the gut microbiota

Every mushroom above could be described as functional, medicinal, or even adaptogenic—depending on how you use it. So if you’re wondering what is the most helpful mushroom for you, it all depends on your body, your goals, and your dosage consistency.

If you’ve ever Googled how to do mushrooms or what do mushrooms feel like, you’re not alone. But in the world of functional mushrooms, that question deserves a careful answer.

First: No, Functional Mushrooms Are Not Psychedelic

Let’s get this out of the way—functional mushrooms do not get you high. They are non-psychoactive and completely legal. There’s no psilocybin, no visuals, and no altered states of consciousness.

That said, functional mushrooms can absolutely be felt—just in a more subtle, cumulative way.

Think of them like compound interest for your nervous system. The effects build slowly, subtly, and sustainably over time. Here’s what users often report:

• Lion’s Mane: A sense of sharpness, quicker recall, better focus. Like fog clearing gradually.

• Reishi: Calmer evenings, deeper sleep, improved stress tolerance. You feel less reactive.

• Cordyceps: More stamina, smoother workouts, fewer crashes. You don’t “feel wired”—you just last longer.

• Chaga & Turkey Tail: Fewer seasonal bugs, better digestion, more vitality. It’s not obvious until you stop.

Unlike caffeine or psychedelics, you don’t notice the arrival of the effect—you notice the absence of imbalance. That’s the hallmark of functional health: subtle stability.

A fair question. Psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocybin and produce altered states of perception and consciousness. They’re sometimes used for healing in clinical or ceremonial settings—but that’s a completely different category.

While some people looking up “mushroom coffee,” “lion mane coffee,” or “shrooms chocolate bar” might be curious about both, Hamilton’s doesn’t sell psychoactive mushrooms. We’re all about functional fungi you can use everyday.

These long-chain polysaccharides are the most studied and celebrated compounds in mushrooms. They help modulate immune function—neither overstimulating nor suppressing, but rather training the immune system to respond more efficiently.

Especially abundant in: turkey tail, chaga, reishi

Found mainly in reishi and chaga, triterpenes are anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and may support cardiovascular function. They give reishi its bitter taste—and its therapeutic depth.

A powerful intracellular antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress. Humans can’t synthesize it—we rely on mushrooms and a few other sources to get it.

Highest in: oyster mushrooms, king trumpet, shiitake, and lion’s mane

Learn more in our blog: Mycelium vs. Fruiting Body: Ergothioneine Explained

Unique to lion’s mane, these compounds are responsible for stimulating Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which supports brain plasticity, memory, and focus.

A bioactive molecule found in cordyceps militaris that mimics adenosine and enhances ATP production—fueling energy, endurance, and recovery at the cellular level.

When choosing functional mushrooms, it’s not just about species—it’s about how they’re grown, extracted, and formulated. At Hamilton’s, every extract is dual-extracted and standardized to key compounds, so you’re not just getting mushrooms—you’re getting the molecules that matter.

With so many types of mushrooms out there—culinary, psychedelic, functional—it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But here’s the bottom line:

If you’re looking to sharpen your mind, support your immune system, reduce stress, or boost energy, functional mushrooms offer one of the most powerful and time-tested solutions available.

The best part? You don’t need to choose just one. Whether you’re reaching for lion’s mane for focus, reishi for calm, or cordyceps for performance, it all comes down to:

• The right species

• The right dose

• The right extract

That’s why Hamilton’s mushrooms are formulated with clinical-grade precision—designed to meet your body where it’s at, and elevate what’s possible over time.

Ready to experience the benefits of functional mushrooms firsthand? We recommend starting with our most versatile blend: