The Eversio Experience Podcast | #57 - What If Functional Mushrooms Could Lift Your Mood?

You're not depressed. You're not in crisis. You're functioning, showing up, holding it all together. But something is still off, and you can't quite name it.This episode is for that person.Brandi and Dr. Desiree Caruso, ND sit down to break down the real biology behind low-grade mood dysregulation — the kind that doesn't show up in standard bloodwork but is absolutely happening in your body. We're talking about two specific functional mushrooms, lion's mane and reishi, and going straight into the mechanisms: the actual compounds, the actual pathways, and the actual research that explains why these mushrooms have a genuine relationship with how you feel.This is not a vibe episode. This is the science.We've been asked over and over again whether functional mushrooms can do something for mood, and if so, how. Today we answer that question properly. If you've ever walked out of a doctor's appointment feeling dismissed — told everything looks normal, maybe it's stress, maybe it's your age — this episode is what comes next.What you'll learn:Why mood is a physiological state, not just a feeling, and what that means for how you address itThe specific terpenoid compounds in lion's mane (hericenones) that can cross the blood-brain barrier and what they do once they get thereWhy BDNF is the mechanism most antidepressants are thought to work through, and how lion's mane stimulates it directlyHow 90% of your serotonin is produced in your gut, and exactly how lion's mane supports that pathwayThe three-directional approach lion's mane takes: blood-brain barrier, neuroinflammation, and gut-brain axis simultaneouslyWhat the HPA axis is, why chronic stress dysregulates it, and how reishi's ganoderic acids help restore the natural cortisol rhythmReishi's relationship with GABA, the brain's calming neurotransmitter, and why that explains the felt sense of settling downThe 2026 randomized controlled trial showing measurable reductions in anxiety, cortisol, and inflammation at 12 weeksHow disrupted sleep literally changes how your brain processes emotional information, and the two specific mechanisms reishi addresses to help with thatHow to self-diagnose which mushroom fits your experience right now, and what to track over four weeks to know whether it's workingResources Mentioned:Dr. Andrew Huberman episode on adenosine and coffee: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/using-caffeine-to-optimize-mental-and-physical-performanceVigna, L. et al. (2019). "Hericium erinaceus Improves Mood and Sleep Disorders in the Elderly." Journal of Medicinal Food, 22(5).Contato, A.G. & Conte-Junior, C.A. (2025). "Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus): A Neuroprotective Fungus with Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Potential — A Narrative Review." Nutrients, 17(8), 1307.Frontiers in Nutrition (2025). "Benefits, side effects, and uses of Hericium erinaceus as a supplement: a systematic review." Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1641246.Ratto, D. et al. (2023). "Hericium erinaceus: Acute and Chronic Effects on Cognitive Function, Stress, and Mood in Young Adults." Nutrients, 15(22), 4842.Cui, X.Y. et al. (2012). "Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats." Journal of Ethnopharmacology / Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. PMID: 22297086.Yong, V.K.J. et al. (2026). "A blend of medicinal mushrooms including Reishi reduces anxiety, cortisol and CRP in a 12-week randomized controlled trial." Brain and Behavior.Your Next Steps:Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eversiowellness/Shop Eversio Wellness and save 15% with code PODCAST15: https://www.eversiowellness.com/discount/PODCAST15?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fall-productsTake our wellness quiz to find the right mushroom for you: https://www.eversiowellness.com/pages/take-our-quiz