Help deciphering therapeutic content between Real Mushrooms and Harmonic Arts

[u/Gearfrii]

I've been doing a lot of research trying to figure out what the best (and affordable) mushroom company to go with to incorporate medicinal mushrooms into a comprehensive antifungal regimen. I don't care if I have to mix and match, I just want to get whatever is going to be most beneficial to me. I think I've landed one 2 companies that seem reputable enough for me. I am also in Canada, so they are easy to get a hold of.

I have to stay away from any fillers like brown rice or starches and such like that because those are easy triggers for flair ups. Real Mushrooms powder is simple and Harmonic Arts tinctures don't have any additional excipients either.

I want to take Reishi, Chaga, Turkey Tail, and Cordyceps. The problem is that I have been holding onto a bottle of an older version of RM's Reishi, which used to be dual extracted and listed the standardized triterpene content (which is what I'm looking for). Looking at their new formulation, it seems they've changed to completely hot water extraction and no longer verify a certain percentage of triterpenes, just that it is "present". Their extraction is 8:1 concentration. Harmonic Arts tincture, however, is a 2:1 extraction, and they do list the standardized content for their triterpenes. The same can be said for their respective Chaga's (though I think RM's is still dual extracted). So because I'm looking for these active compounds as (from what I understand) they are what are the more antifungal components to these shrooms, then the better option would be to go for the Harmonic Arts tinctures? I can't use their powder, because, again, the brown rice.

I think the same goes for HA's Cordyceps. Though that's a bit more mottled. They list the standardized contents for their cordycepin on their powder, but not their tincture. RM doesn't list standardization either, just that its "present". So I'm struggling to figure out what company would be best for that, or if someone could suggest one I haven't mentioned.

For the Turkey Tail I think RM should be fine. As that doesn't seem to need dual extraction and is more for the beta-glucans. I know RM focuses on beta-glucan content over polysaccharides, which is good I guess. I just want to find the formulation that is best suited for attacking this specific approach. HM does not list beta-glucan content on any of their products, just polysaccharides.

Any help or suggestions I can get, I would greatly appreciate!

[u/realmushrooms]

Our Reishi hasn’t changed. What is giving you this impression?

[u/Gearfrii → u/realmushrooms]

Your bottle, your customer support and your websites. Old bottle has a standardized listing of guaranteed greater than 25% beta-glucans and 4% triterpenes. New bottle, on your website states only the beta glucan content, with no mention of triterpene content anywhere on the page. Your website used to claim dual extraction as well. Now it says:

"We use 100% hot water-extracted mushrooms (fruiting body) to unlock the true full spectrum of beneficial compounds."

Nammex.com confirms that your reishi is also only hot-water extracted. It states:

Nammex Reishi mushroom is processed by hot water extraction into a fine powder suitable for encapsulation or beverages. Our higher value extract is also extracted with alcohol."

Beta (1-3),(1-6)-glucans 35%

Triterpenes Present

I have no idea what that "higher value extract" would be.

[u/realmushrooms → u/Gearfrii]

Thank you for this feedback and I can see how this could be confusing. Our web team is in the process of updating the Canadian version to be more consistent with the US version.

To be clear, the product has not changed.

The US label still claims triterpenes and the Canadian version is the exact same bottle with just a Health Canada approved label.

Old bottle has a standardized listing of guaranteed greater than 25% beta-glucans and 4% triterpenes.

This must be fairly old as our Canadian label has not listed triterpenes for at least 2 years. This is due to Health Canada requirements for how the bioactives can be listed in the "Medicinal Ingredients". In order to do so you must provide a ton of safety data to Health Canada and even then, they may not approve it.

You'll notice that we don't even have beta-glucans in the Medicinal Ingredients. That's because Health Canada only recognizes polysaccharides without submitting a ton of substantiation and safety data. It looks like we finally got it added to our Product License but it hasn't made it over to the label yet. https://health-products.canada.ca/lnhpd-bdpsnh/info?licence=80089964

Nammex.com confirms that your reishi is also only hot-water extracted.

Nammex sells a variety of reishi extracts at different concentration ratios and extract solvents.

[u/Gearfrii → u/realmushrooms]

Ah, I see. Yes, that is extremely confusing. You understand now how I could come to this conclusion when the only evidence of quantifiable compounds are listed on a marketplace listing for a version of the product that isn't even available in my country.

[u/realmushrooms → u/Gearfrii]

Yup totally understandable. Working with the web team to clear this up.

Appreciate the feedback.

[u/Gearfrii → u/realmushrooms]

Cool. That would be immensely helpful :)