Energy & Exercise Performance
Cordyceps, reishi and lion's mane are sold for energy and workouts. Small trials give mixed results, and the species and product used decide what any result means.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Mushrooms for energy and exercise are mostly marketed on cordyceps. What the human trials show is small, mixed and specific to the product tested. No mushroom replaces sleep, food and a check-up for ongoing tiredness; see why am I so tired?.
Which cordyceps?
Two different fungi share the name. Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H.Sung et al. is also written Cordyceps sinensis in older papers. [1] Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr. is a separate species. GBIF lists both as accepted names. [2] Trial results for one cannot be transferred to the other; see the species question and the cordyceps guide.Traditional use: cordyceps is described as traditionally used in Asian ethnomedicine. [3] That is tradition, not evidence of performance gains.
What human trials found
| Study | Who, what, how long | What it found | Our label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chen and colleagues, 2010 | 20 healthy adults aged 50-75; Cs-4 (C. sinensis product), 333 mg three times a day for 12 weeks | Metabolic threshold rose 10.5% and ventilatory threshold 8.5%; no change in VO2 max; no such changes with placebo [4] | promising but limited (pilot) |
| Parcell and colleagues, 2004 | 22 endurance-trained male cyclists; 3 g a day of a Cs-4 product for 5 weeks | No change in aerobic capacity, ventilatory threshold or time trial [5] | no good evidence of benefit |
| Tsuk and colleagues, 2018 | 96 physical education students; a commercial supplement combining O. sinensis and G. lucidum for 28-33 days | No effect on VO2 max, peak power or fatigue index [1] | no good evidence of benefit (combination product) |
| Farzan and Koushkie Jahromi, 2026 | 12 recreationally active men; 1 g of C. militaris extract 30 minutes before a cycling test | Faster Stroop reaction time after exercise; higher resting oxygen uptake; peak oxygen uptake unchanged [6] | insufficient evidence (one dose, 12 people) |
| Reishi, Collado Mateo and colleagues, 2015 | 64 women with fibromyalgia; 6 g a day of G. lucidum or a Ceratonia siliqua comparator for 6 weeks | Better aerobic endurance, lower body flexibility and velocity in the reishi group [7] | promising but limited (fibromyalgia, not athletes) |
| Lion's mane, Grozier and colleagues, 2022 | 24 college-age participants; 10 g a day in muffins for 4 weeks | No effect on fuel use during exercise or thinking tests [8] | no good evidence of benefit |
What the reviews say
A 2026 narrative review of C. militaris found five intervention studies in 321 participants aged 16-35; some reported better performance or recovery markers, but findings were inconsistent, and many used multi-ingredient products or unstandardized preparations. [3] A 2026 review of adaptogens in sport concluded that evidence for cordyceps remains limited and preliminary. [9] Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is also called an adaptogen in marketing; see medicinal mushrooms vs adaptogen herbs.Fatigue is not the same as energy
The one reishi fatigue trial we read tested a polysaccharide extract in 132 patients with neurasthenia and reported larger drops in fatigue scores than placebo; it did not measure exercise. [10]Frequently asked questions
Does cordyceps boost energy or performance?
Results are mixed. One small trial in older adults reported higher thresholds, while trials in cyclists and students found no effect. [4][5][1]
Is Cordyceps militaris the same as the caterpillar fungus?
No. They are different species, and a result for one should not be transferred to the other. [2]
Does reishi improve stamina?
One trial in women with fibromyalgia reported better aerobic endurance after 6 weeks. [7] It does not show the same for healthy athletes.
Does lion's mane help workouts?
The one trial we read found no effect on fuel use or thinking tests. [8]
What should I check before using a product?
Species, plant part, and whether it contains caffeine; then ask a pharmacist about your medicines. See how to read a mushroom supplement label.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety and who should ask first
- Read the cordyceps pages on side effects and medicine cautions and, for reishi, liver injury reports.
- Mushroom coffee may carry caffeine; see mushroom coffee.
- Athletes subject to drug testing should check products with their governing body; see mushrooms for athletes and active people.
- Ongoing tiredness deserves a clinician's attention. See fatigue from medicines, mood and other conditions.
- For multi-ingredient products, see how medicine interactions work.
References
- Tsuk S, Lev YH, Rotstein A, et al. Effects of a commercial supplement of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum on physiological responses to maximal exercise in healthy young participants. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2018. PubMed 29953396. Read 2026-10-22.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy species match for Hericium erinaceus, Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps militaris, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinula edodes. Read 2026-10-22.
- Jędrejko M, Jędrejko K, Granda D, et al. Current evidence of ergogenic and post-exercise recovery effects of dietary supplementation with Cordyceps militaris in humans: a narrative review. Nutrients. 2026. PubMed 41829950. Read 2026-10-22.
- Chen S, Li Z, Krochmal R, et al. Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2010. PubMed 20804368. Read 2026-10-22.
- Parcell AC, Smith JM, Schulthies SS, Myrer JW, Fellingham G. Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) supplementation does not improve endurance exercise performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004. PubMed 15118196. Read 2026-10-22.
- Farzan H, Koushkie Jahromi M. Acute Cordyceps militaris supplementation and elevated resting oxygen uptake with faster reaction times: a randomized crossover trial. PLoS One. 2026. PubMed 42455764. Read 2026-10-22.
- Collado Mateo D, Pazzi F, Domínguez Muñoz FJ, et al. Ganoderma lucidum improves physical fitness in women with fibromyalgia. Nutr Hosp. 2015. PubMed 26545669. Read 2026-10-22.
- Grozier CD, Alves VA, Killen LG, et al. Four weeks of Hericium erinaceus supplementation does not impact markers of metabolic flexibility or cognition. Int J Exerc Sci. 2022. PubMed 36582308. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ksi�
- Tang W, Gao Y, Chen G, et al. A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia. J Med Food. 2005. PubMed 15857210. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.