Products in this review
Chaga | Cordyceps | Lion’s Mane | Reishi | Shiitake | Turkey Tail
As a daily user of medicinal mushrooms, Life Cykel was one of the first brands that caught my eye, and has since grown to be one of the most well-known medicinal mushroom brands in the industry. In this review I will cover the company overview, ingredient sourcing, testing, social responsibility, how they could improve, and review some of their product range.
Medicinal mushrooms are growing in popularity as a health supplement but have been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Their history dates back to 450 BCE, when Hippocrates, a Greek physician, first classified the Amadou mushroom (Fomes fomentarius) as an anti-inflammatory for cauterizing wounds. Scientists have continued researching the the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms since then.
Although the use of medicinal mushrooms remains mysterious, there has been a rising interest in embracing their benefits and incorporating them into modern medicine and health products. Today, the medicinal mushroom industry is booming as more people are looking for medicinal mushroom tinctures online to improve their health; thus, knowing which reputable brands are essential.
Quick summary
Pros – what we like
- Environmentally sustainable growing methods
- Tinctures allow it to be the easiest and convenient method to consume medicinal mushroom products
- Socially conscious and generous to the community with their Grow and gift tree program
- Naturally flavoured with Australian Kakadu plum
- Over 13,000 satisfied customers with positive reviews
- Full-spectrum mushroom extracts
- Third-party laboratory testing for heavy metals and pesticides
- Money-back guarantee within the first 30 days of purchase
Cons – how it could improve
- Beta-glucan amounts are not specified, which is super important for medicinal mushroom products. Don’t let any brands let you think otherwise. It would be great to see beta glucan amounts standardized on the label
- The ratio of mushroom fruiting body to mycelia is not specified. It would be beneficial for customers to see the ratio
- The mushroom extracts are not organic – hopefully their next iteration of the mushroom products will be certified organic!
Despite not being organic, they do test all the products for pesticides and heavy metals, and combine their mushroom extracts with organic ingredients (organic alcohol, organic brown rice).
Alternatives To Consider
In Australia
In North America
Life Cykel Product Reviews
Life Cykel offers various full spectrum double liquid mushroom extracts, including Chaga, Lion’s mane, Cordyceps, Reishi, Turkey tail, and Shiitake. It also provides a unique combination known as the Professional Biohacker Set.
Their medicinal mushroom range is in a liquid tincture form – making it one of the most convenient ways on the market to consume medicinal mushroom extract.
1. Life Cykel Chaga Extract
Our Findings
- Ingredients: Wild harvested dried Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) (sclerotia) extract, Kakadu Plum Natural Flavour, purified water, alcohol (alcohol content by volume 20-24%%)
- Extraction Method & Extraction Ratio: Dual Extract 1:2 (1kg of mushroom material is used to make 2L of liquid extract)
- Polysaccharides: less than 1% of starch
- Non GMO: Yes
- Vegan: Yes
- Country + Location Grown: USA
- Price: From $51.95
- Number of servings: 60
- Contains Mycelium or Grain? Yes
- Contains Fruiting Bodies? Yes
- Serving suggestion: Add your liquid double extracts directly to your coffee, smoothie, tea or water.
- Serving Size: 2 ml – 1/2 a dropper full is approximately 1ml,
What we like:
- Life Cykel Chaga is rich in bioactive compounds, including inotodiol and betulin, that have various health benefits. Research suggests that it has potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties and may protect the body cells from destruction by free radicals
- Life Cykel’s Chaga mushroom extract combines Chaga extract with flavored with Australian Kakadu plum, a fruit containing high levels of Vitamin C. The product also comes in a new package with a scannable QR code for laboratory analysis results.
Alternatives:
2. Life Cykel Cordyceps Extract
Our Findings
- Ingredients: Distilled Water, Organic Alcohol (20-24%), Cordyceps militaris (Cordyceps militaris, Mycelia and Fruiting Body), Kakadu Plum Natural Flavour
- Extraction Method & Extraction Ratio: Dual Extraction 1:2
- Polysaccharides: less than 1% of starch
- Non GMO: Yes
- Vegan: Yes
- Country + Location Grown: Australia and USA
- Price: From $34.96
- Number of servings: 60
- Contains Mycelium or Grain? Yes
- Contains Fruiting Bodies? Yes
- Serving suggestion or serving size: Add directly to your coffee, juice, smoothie, tea or water.
- Serving Size: 2 ml – 1/2 a dropper full is approximately 1ml
What we like:
- Life Cykel Cordyceps offers you an ideal approach to tap on the mushroom’s enormous potential with its Cordyceps mushroom extract. Cordyceps is a parasitic fungus that feeds on insect larvae and is rich in cordycepin, adenosine and ergosterol. Cordyceps has been known to improve cardiovascular activity and physical performance.
- Scientific evidence suggests that cordyceps have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Life Cykel’s cordyceps mushroom extract is non-GMO, gluten-free, and naturally flavored with Australian Kakadu Plum
Alternatives:
3. Life Cykel Lion’s Mane Extract
Our Findings
- Ingredients: Distilled Water, Organic Alcohol (20-24%), Australian Hericium coralloides (Hericium coralloides Mycelia and Fruiting Body), Kakadu Plum Natural Flavour
- Extraction Method & Extraction Ratio: Dual Extraction
- Polysaccharides: less than 1% of starch
- Non GMO: Yes
- Vegan: Yes
- Country + Location Grown: Australia
- Price: $34.95 for 60ml
- Number of servings: 60
- Contains Mycelium or Grain? Yes
- Contains Fruiting Bodies? Yes
- Serving suggestion or serving size: 2 ml – 1/2 a dropper full is approximately 1ml. Can be added directly to your coffee, juice, smoothie, tea or water.
- The Lion’s Mane Mushroom is one of the most potent fungi on the planet. It has a distinctive and lovely appearance of cascading white icicles, making it easy to spot.
What we like:
- Life Cykel Lion’s mane is rich in bioactive compounds, including Erinacines and Hericenones. Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) has the ability to activate the secretion of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) directly in the brain. This has a positive effect on the brain cells improving neurogenesis, cognition, memory, mood and aging. This is the core reason why Lion’s Mane is so popular and considered a ‘brain boosting’ supplement.
- Clinical evidence also suggests it has Antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and may lower body fats.
- Life Cykel’s lion’s mane liquid extract is full-spectrum, from a unique double extraction technique. It’s also naturally flavored with the Vitamin C-rich Australian Kakadu plum extract. The product is easy to use by adding 2mls directly to your drink.
What we like:
- It is worth noting that LifeCykel Lion’s Mane uses a different specues of Lion’s mane mushroom called Hericium Collaroides, and not Hericum Erinaceus. Majority of the studies of the health benefits of Lion’s Mane is done on Hericum Erinaceus
Alternatives:
4. Life Cykel Reishi Extract
Our Findings
- Ingredients: Distilled Water, Organic Alcohol (20-24%), Ganoderma lucidium (Ganoderma lucidium Mycelial Biomass and Fruiting Body), Natural Wild Harvested Kakadu Plum
- Extraction Method & Extraction Ratio: Dual Extraction of 1:2 (1kg of mushroom material is used to make 2L of liquid extract)
- Polysaccharides: