Skip to main content

Learn

Compounds, history, science.

Long-form articles on the science of mushroom medicine. Every claim links to peer-reviewed literature. We're not interested in hype — we want you to understand the actual chemistry, mechanism, and dose ranges that the published research supports.

Featured articles

cbdcbdachemistryextraction

CBD vs CBDA — why the molecular form matters

Most CBD products are sold as CBD. The hemp plant doesn't make CBD — it makes CBDA, which decarboxylates to CBD when heated. Understanding the difference matters for dose, absorption, and what the published research actually measured.

9 min read · 4 citations

Apr 15, 2026

Read article →

lions-maneneurosciencecompoundsngf

Hericenones + erinacines — what makes lion's mane unique

Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) contains two compound families nearly absent from any other organism: hericenones in the fruit body, erinacines in the mycelium. Both have been shown in vitro to induce nerve growth factor (NGF) expression. This is the actual basis for lion's mane's reputation in cognitive support.

11 min read · 5 citations

Apr 12, 2026

Read article →

beta-glucanimmunologypolysaccharidescompounds

Beta-glucans, dectin-1, and the actual immunology of medicinal mushrooms

The vague claim 'mushrooms boost the immune system' has actual receptor-level mechanism behind it. Beta-glucans bind to dectin-1 on macrophages, triggering measurable immune cascades. Here's the science, and how to read product labels with that knowledge.

10 min read · 5 citations

Apr 8, 2026

Read article →

legalregulationpsychedelicspolicy

The psychedelic legal landscape — where things stand in 2026

Psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and related compounds occupy a fragmented legal space — federally Schedule I, but with state-level decriminalization, FDA Breakthrough Designation, and active clinical trials. Here's the actual current state of regulation, and what's hypothetically next.

12 min read · 5 citations

Apr 5, 2026

Read article →

historyethnobotanytraditioncontext

5,000 years of mushroom medicine — a brief, accurate history

Reishi (Ganoderma) was documented in the Shennong Ben Cao Jing (28-220 CE). The Ötzi the Iceman (5,300 years ago) carried birch polypore. The historical record is much deeper than the recent 'functional mushroom' boom suggests — and the science is finally catching up to what traditional medicine systems had already mapped out.

10 min read · 6 citations

Apr 1, 2026

Read article →

Browse by topic

compounds (2)cbd (1)cbda (1)chemistry (1)extraction (1)lions-mane (1)neuroscience (1)ngf (1)beta-glucan (1)immunology (1)polysaccharides (1)legal (1)regulation (1)psychedelics (1)policy (1)history (1)ethnobotany (1)tradition (1)context (1)

Newsletter

One article per month, peer-reviewed citations, no spam.

We send a single long-form article per month. No marketing emails between drops. Unsubscribe in one click.