(What to Look For. What Matters. Why Transparency Counts.)

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Why This Page Exists: 

Woods & Stems offers a range of mushroom products — from fresh gourmet varieties to jerky and coffee — but this section focuses on our functional extracts. Why? Because when it comes to lab testing, potency, and process, extracts are where the science really shines.

 

When I first started working with functional mushrooms, I didn’t know what to look for in a tincture — or how to make sense of a label. I built Woods & Stems on transparency because I wanted to create the kind of product (and honesty) I wish I’d found from the start.

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This page exists to help you understand what really matters when choosing functional mushroom products — no hype, no fluff.

 

How Functional Mushrooms Work

Functional mushrooms support health through their active compounds, not just because they’re “mushrooms.”

 

Key compounds include:

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• Beta-glucans – immune support

• Erinacines & Hericenones – cognitive health + NGF support

• Polysaccharides, adenosine, terpenes, and more

 

But here’s the thing: these compounds have to be extracted properly. A high number on a label doesn’t mean much if the method isn’t right.

 

Whole Mushrooms vs. Isolates: Why It Matters

Some brands talk about isolates — single compounds pulled from mushrooms, like Erinacine A. These are lab-created, pharmaceutical-grade extracts.

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That’s not what we do.

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We believe the real magic of functional mushrooms is in their natural synergy.
Beta-glucans, terpenes, hericenones, erinacines — they all work together. Isolates strip that away. Our extracts are made to support whole-body wellness, not synthetic quick fixes.

 

Mushroom Terms That Matter (and Ones That Don’t)

What to Look For                                        Why It Matters

Fruiting Body Only                                      It’s the actual mushroom

Dual-Extracted (Water + Alcohol)               Water (beta-glucans) alcohol (hericenones, erinacines) compounds.

Lab-Verified Compounds                            Proves what’s actually in the tincture — not vague marketing claims.

Transparent Process                                   Shows how it’s made, not just flashy wording.

 

Marketing Terms That Mislead (and Why to Be Cautious)

What to Watch For                                      Why It’s Misleading

“2000 mg”                                                   Usually refers to starting material — not extracted compounds.

“Proprietary Blend”                                     Hides what’s really inside.

Mycelium on Grain / Biomass                     Cheaper to produce, not true fruiting body and often mostly filler.

 

Beta-Glucans: Why You Don’t See Them Listed on Our Tincture Labels

Beta-glucans are powerful immune-supporting compounds naturally found in Lion’s Mane — and yes, they’re absolutely present in our tinctures. However, most standard beta-glucan tests are designed for dry powders, not liquid tinctures, making it difficult to get accurate, meaningful results.

 

In the broader industry, many tincture makers don’t test the final product at all. Instead, they test the raw mushroom powder before extraction, then estimate numbers that don’t account for losses during the extraction process. This is why beta-glucan percentages listed on tincture labels should be viewed with caution unless the company clearly states they tested the finished liquid extract using validated methods.

 

While beta-glucan levels are easier to verify in powdered extracts, our dual-extraction method is carefully designed to preserve these compounds, along with all the other naturally occurring beneficial compounds found in Lion’s Mane.

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How to Read a Woods & Stems Label

✅ Fruiting Body
✅ Dual-Extracted
✅ Lab-Verified Active Compounds
✅ Transparent Process

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No marketing fluff. No shortcuts.
Just mushrooms — properly extracted.