If you are wondering whether mushrooms can help with anxiety, the honest answer is maybe, in a few narrow ways, and the human research is still small. Lion’s mane and reishi have a handful of small human studies, and psilocybin, the compound in “magic mushrooms,” has been tested for anxiety mostly in people with cancer, under supervision. A SupplySide Supplement Journal headline dated November 6, 2026 pairs a berberine testing result with mushrooms easing anxiety; this page covers the mushroom half, and our guide to mushrooms and mental health goes wider.
Which mushrooms are best for anxiety?
No mushroom has been shown to be the best choice for anxiety, and no single one fits everyone. Overall, the human evidence for mushrooms and anxiety is early: the trials are small, and much of the work is in animals. The table sets out what each option has been studied for, in whom, and what to watch for.
| Option | What the research shows for anxiety | Who it has been studied in | Known side effects or cautions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin (psilocybin mushrooms) | Trials in people with cancer-related anxiety report improvement; a Phase 1 registry entry (NCT06644170) is listed as completed, and a registration is not a result | Supervised clinical settings so far | Panic attacks, disorientation, rare psychosis, raised heart rate or blood pressure |
| Lion’s mane | Limited human data; a 2010 study is titled “Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake” | Small human trials, including a 2023 pilot in younger adults that reported subjective reductions in stress | Abdominal discomfort, nausea, skin rash |
| Reishi | MSKCC says clinical studies indicate reishi lowers anxiety | Students in West Bengal, India; other reishi trials looked at cancer, urinary symptoms and cardiovascular risk | Nausea, insomnia, liver injury; can raise bleeding risk with blood thinners |
MSKCC’s lion’s mane summary describes the clinical data as “Limited clinical data,” and its reishi summary lists the studies behind its anxiety claim. Our Reishi Mushroom Benefits (our research library) research page covers the human reishi studies in more detail.
For lion’s mane, the MSKCC summary cites a 2010 study titled “Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake,” and a 2023 pilot in younger adults that reported subjective reductions in stress. Depression is measured alongside anxiety in many of these studies, so a mood result is not always an anxiety result. For memory and mood research, see Lion’s Mane Mushroom Benefits (our research library).
Does psilocybin help with anxiety?
Psilocybin has the most anxiety research of any mushroom compound, and most of it is in people facing cancer or other serious illness. The 2016 trial by Griffiths and colleagues, titled “Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer,” is one of the best-known. An earlier 2011 pilot by Grob and colleagues studied psilocybin for anxiety in patients with advanced cancer. Because these trials enrolled people with cancer, they are not a direct read on everyday anxiety.
GoodRx, a consumer health publisher, summarizes two terminal-cancer studies in which psilocybin improved anxiety for at least 6 months after treatment. A University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy story cites research showing that about 80 percent of patients with terminal-diagnosis anxiety had reductions in anxiety persisting up to 4.5 years. That figure is secondhand, and it is not linked to the trials above. The story also notes that not everyone experiences positive effects after treatment with psilocybin. A Phase 1 study registered at ClinicalTrials.gov psilocybin anxiety trial tests a second psilocybin group session for cancer-related anxiety in people who only partly responded to the first. The registry lists 15 participants planned or enrolled and notes that “A registration describes a study; it is not a result.”
Does microdosing help with anxiety?
None of the human studies cited on this page tests microdosing for anxiety. The psilocybin trials above were run in clinical settings under supervision, so they are not evidence for microdosing at home.
Questions about grams, milligrams and how long a trip lasts are dose questions, and this page gives no dose figures. Those are the questions where a mistake costs the most, so take them to a clinician who knows your health history rather than a forum. On duration, the University of Wisconsin story quotes its researcher saying that “the compounds themselves are only in your body for a matter of hours, but often the effects that are reported … persist for weeks to months.”
What do animal studies say about mushrooms and anxiety?
Animal studies are early context, not proof for people. In a 2023 study of male mice in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, lion’s mane improved long-term memory, but “Supplementation had no effect on anxiety-like behavior.” A 2025 study of male rats in The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology tested lion’s mane, agarikon and pink oyster mushroom and reported dose-dependent anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, with the authors “warranting further investigation.” The rats were compared with fluoxetine, a standard antidepressant. Rat doses do not translate into a human amount.
What are the side effects, and who should be careful?
Side effects vary by mushroom. Psilocybin can bring panic attacks, disorientation and, in rare cases, psychosis, and GoodRx notes it may raise heart rate and blood pressure and may be risky if you have heart problems. Lion’s mane side effects listed by MSKCC include abdominal discomfort, nausea and skin rash. Reishi can cause nausea, insomnia and liver injury, and MSKCC says it can increase bleeding risk with blood thinners and may not be safe if you take immunosuppressants. For how liver problems are reported, see mushroom supplement liver safety.
Lion’s mane is generally considered safe in food and tea, but MSKCC advises talking with a clinician before taking supplements, since they are stronger than cooking amounts and can interact with medicines. The NCCIH guide to using supplements wisely says the same about medicines and surgery: supplements may interact with your medications or pose risks if you have certain medical problems.
Are mushroom supplements checked before they are sold?
As of November 2026, the NCCIH guide states: “In all other cases, the FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed.” Structure/function claims on supplement labels must carry the line “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.” Look for it on any product that talks about calm, mood or stress. The same guide notes that supplements you buy may differ in important ways from products tested in studies. For where the research comes from, see who funds mushroom research.
What about psychedelic mushroom edibles?
Amanita muscaria is a different case. As of November 2026, the FDA’s December 18, 2024 alert on Amanita muscaria says the mushroom, its extracts and certain constituents are “not authorized for use as ingredients in conventional food.” The FDA adds: “We also recommend that people avoid eating foods with these ingredients.” The alert notes these ingredients have been sold as “psychedelic edibles,” “legal psychedelics” or “mushroom edibles.”
Which products are sold for this, and what is in them?
Ganopoly is a reishi product that the National Cancer Institute describes in a lung cancer study. That study was about cancer, not anxiety. Prices change, so check the current price and full label on the seller’s site before you buy, and look for the amount of mushroom listed on the label.
Law and status
This is information, not legal advice. As of November 2026, GoodRx states that psilocybin and other psychedelics are “technically illegal in the U.S.” and that recreational use is illegal. Rules differ by state and country, so check local law before you act.
What is still unknown
Several things are not settled: the right amount for anxiety in ordinary people, long-term safety, and whether results from people with cancer carry over to everyday anxiety. GoodRx notes that more research is needed on psilocybin’s effect on anxiety in the general population, and for most mushrooms other than psilocybin the human trials are small.
Before you decide
- Ask a clinician whether your anxiety is persistent or getting in the way of daily life, and what care fits you.
- Give them the full list of what you take, including supplements, as MSKCC advises.
- If you take blood thinners or immunosuppressants, ask about reishi specifically.
- If you have heart problems, or a personal or family history of psychosis, raise both before any psilocybin discussion.
- Read the full label for amounts and the structure/function line before you buy anything.
Where to find help near you
NCCIH says its Clearinghouse does not provide referrals to practitioners, so start with your primary care clinician. SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, can connect you with mental health services in your area. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 in the U.S.
By MushroomHealthBenefits.com Research & Editorial Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.