General
What are functional mushrooms?
Functional mushrooms are specific groups of fungi containing bioactive compounds that have been shown to have health-supporting effects in the body. Most of these mushrooms have a long history of traditional use, particularly in Asia where traditional Chinese herbalists and TCM has utilized fungi in prevention and health for over 3000 years.
Today, the beneficial properties of compounds produced by mushrooms continues to be substantiated by modern science. They naturally produce a myriad of compounds that are capable of modulating our physiological processes.
Functional mushrooms contain polysaccharides called beta-glucans. Beta-glucans have been shown to directly activate receptors in our small intestine and act as immunomodulators, meaning that these compounds interact with the immune system to upregulate or downregulate our immune response.
Functional mushrooms are also packed with triterpenes, phenols, sterols, statins, indole compounds, and enzymes. Mushrooms are also high in amino acids, nicotinic acid, riboflavin, vitamins B, C, and K, and pantothenic acid. Some medicinal mushrooms are also adaptogens.
In addition to their immunomodulating capacity mushrooms display antioxidant, adaptogenic, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties.
What's an adaptogen?
Adaptogens are herbs, plants and mushrooms that help maintain the body's stress response. Research suggests that adaptogens work at a cellular level and have the ability to balance our stress hormones either up or down, helping the body reach equilibrium. Adaptogens have the ability to provide resilience and revitalization to the body improving integrity and helping fight against stress and fatigue. They work over long periods of time.
How frequently should I take mushrooms?
Mushrooms are a functional food and can be consumed daily. We recommend 4-8ml (1 half-full dropper = 1 ml) on a consistent basis to experience results. Of course, as mushroom supplementation is personal and subjective, you may choose to take more or less depending on your preference at the moment.
What does mushroom “extract” mean?
Mushrooms have cell walls made out of something called chitin. As humans lack the enzyme necessary to break down chitin, the beneficial compounds found in these mushrooms are not readily bioavailable for absorption in the body. An extraction process is necessary in order to break down the chitin and to get access to these compounds. The most beneficial compounds in mushrooms are primarily water-soluble (such as beta-glucans) or alcohol-soluble (such as triterpenoids), and therefore all Rainbo mushroom extracts are made from a dual-extraction using 30% organic GMO-free cane alcohol and 70% spring water. The extraction process pulls out the beta-glucans, triterpenoids among many other beneficial compounds from the mushrooms.
Are your bottles recyclable?
Yes! Both the Tincture bottles and Forest Juice bottles are recyclable. Here are the steps:
For Tinctures:
Step one: Make sure your tincture is empty!
Step two: Rinse it out with warm soap and water
Step three: Place it in your home recycling bin or reuse it to your liking.
For Forest Juice:
Step one: make sure your Forest Juice is empty!
Step two: Rinse it out as best you can (sometimes glass bottles with remaining contents won’t get recycled).
Step three: Place it in your home recycling bin or reuse it as a kitchen or household item!
Are your bottles reusable?
Yes, we invite you to please re-use our bottles. Once you are done your bottle, we recommend cleaning it by removing the top bamboo lid, pulling off the glass pipette by wiggling the glass piece down from the bamboo. Place only the white bottle and glass pipette in hot water. Since our labels are made out of paper only the labels should peel off easily after sitting in hot water for 5 minutes. Rinse the glass pipette and bamboo lid. Don't let the bamboo lid soak in water as it's real wood.
Product
How long before I notice a change in my body?
The change can be subtle and varies depending on the person. Some people experience immune system support and feels of general wellness and more energy after just two weeks of consistent use. It is important to understand that mushrooms work as adaptogens, and the benefits of adaptogens are seen through prolonged and consistent use to increase the body's resilience.
What's the best time of day to take your tinctures?
We suggest taking all of our mushroom tinctures in the morning with your routine of matcha, coffee, tea, water, supplements, smoothie etc. We like to dose ourselves before our day begins so that we can utilize the power of these super-mushrooms.
Some people prefer to take mushrooms in the evening - for example, to take advantage of the calming effects of Reishi before an evening wind-down.
Some people prefer to take mushrooms before exercising - for example, to take advantage of the energizing effects of Cordyceps.
Whenever and wherever mushrooms fit into your schedule - there really is no wrong time to take mushrooms!
Can I use your tinctures in hot beverages and with acidic ingredients like ACV?
Yes!
Adding our tinctures to hot tea or coffee isn't a problem. Our mushroom extraction process involves high temperatures and simmering for prolonged periods of time so our final mushroom products are not influenced by beverage temperature.
Regarding apple cider vinegar (ACV) or acidic liquids, we’ve never read about counter-indications and in fact some herbalism traditions actually extract mushrooms in vinegar solvents! Vinegar is a less potent solvent to extract mushrooms/herbs than alcohol but it can be done.
If you are using our tinctures in a salad dressing that contains ACV we don’t see any issues.
Are your products organic?
Our mushrooms are grown to organic standards and our alcohol-based tinctures all contain Certified Organic, USP, Non-GMO Project Verified, Pharma grade, conflict-free alcohol.
We are working on getting certification through USDA Organic. Unfortunately Canadian Organic regulations do not allow natural health products to have the certification.
Are your products vegan?
Yes.
Are your products gluten free?
Some of the mushrooms we use in our products are grown on oats that come directly from the Canadian growers association and are not processed in the same facilities as other grains, and therefore there shouldn't be any gluten contamination. That being said, they have not been gluten-free certified.
We have yet to have any issues reported to us by Rainbo users with gluten-allergies!
Why is there alcohol in your tincture?
We use 30% Organic, GMO-free, cane ethanol and 70% spring water in the dual extraction of the mushroom compounds. The alcohol is important in order to extract alcohol soluble compounds such as triterpenoids that are not extracted through water alone. We have an alcohol free glycerin based 11:11 and Turkey Tail for those who do not consume alcohol.
Are Rainbo mushrooms safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
There is currently not enough research available to conclude mushroom extracts are safe or not safe to ingest by pregnant or breastfeeding women. We suggest you consult your healthcare practitioner or doctor. Our tinctures are made with 30% alcohol and so that is something to keep in mind. Check out our glycerine-based 11:11 and Turkey Tail for alcohol-free tincture options.
Ultimately we cannot legally provide you with this medical advice and recommend you reach out to your healthcare practitioner.
Are Rainbo mushrooms safe for children?
Our products are designed for adults. There is currently not enough research available to safely conclude mushroom extracts are safe to ingest by children, so we advise against it. However including cooked culinary mushrooms into your child's diet is a great place to start.
Are Rainbo mushrooms safe if I’m taking prescription meds?
We cannot legally provide you with this medical advice and recommend you reach out to your healthcare practitioner. We suggest caution in using any mushroom product if you are on blood thinning medication. Please reach out to your healthcare practitioner.
Are Rainbo mushrooms safe if I have a medical condition?
We are not legally able to provide you with medical advice and our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness. If you have health conditions and concerns, we suggest consulting your holistic healthcare practitioner and/or functional doctor for diagnosis and treatment options.
What is the dose of your tinctures?
Our tinctures are all made at a 1:5 ratio of mushroom material to liquid. This means that there is a 1g equivalent of dried mushroom extracted in every 5ml of tincture.
We recommend taking 4-8ml of our tinctures daily.
Our recommended dose range is based off of the functional doses seen in clinical studies.
Are Rainbo mushrooms safe to take for someone who has yeast intolerance? Or candida?
Yes. If you have a sensitivity to yeast-like fungi, you shouldn't have a problem with the intake of the functional mushrooms contained in Rainbo products since these fungi are genetically distinct from yeasts and molds. In fact, the immune supporting effects of functional mushrooms may prove to be beneficial. However, we always recommend consulting a healthcare professional about your individual situation and to stop taking Rainbo if any discomfort is experienced.
Likewise, if you have a candida infection it should be safe to take Rainbo products as there is no connection between functional mushroom intake and candidiasis. Candida is a yeast-like fungus that is found naturally inside the body and on the skin and normally lives in balance with bacteria and other microbes causing no problems. Infection occurs when the beneficial bacteria can't control a rising number of candida thus overgrowth and irritation occurs. This commonly occurs in the vagina and is called a yeast infection. Taking functional mushrooms may help support the immune system as well as provide prebiotics important for supporting beneficial microbes to help maintain balance. There are some studies showing that certain mushroom extracts, such as Reishi (G. lucidum), have specific properties against candida species (more research required). If candidiasis occurs or persists, please consult a healthcare professional about your individual situation.
Are there psychedelic mushrooms in your products?
No! We are working with functional mushrooms that have a long history of use for health benefits in Traditional Chinese Herbalism and that are backed by current science. None are hallucinogenic.
Are your products tested for heavy metals, mycotoxins, and other microbial contamination?
Yes! Each new batch of Rainbo mushrooms are sent to a third party laboratory to test for the presence of heavy metals, mycotoxins and microbial contamination to ensure the safety and quality of our products.
What is the shelf life of your products?
All of our tinctures have a shelf life of three years.
Our forest juice has a shelf life of 18 months.
What is a glycerine-based tincture?
We get lots of requests for glycerine-based tinctures from all sorts of folks: sober, religious, those with health-conditions, or people who just want an alcohol-free option.
The dose of mushrooms in a glycerine tincture is the same as an alcohol-based tincture. The mushrooms are still dually extracted by water and alcohol, however the alcohol is evaporated and glycerine is used to stabilize the extract. Thus, dosage remains the same, it's more palatable for some and the shelf life is 18 months.
Our glycerine is organic palm-free vegetable glycerin that is ethically and sustainably produced from flax seeds. It is vegan, pharmaceutical quality glycerine that meets USP standards. It has a very sweet taste with a syrupy consistency.
Can I use Rainbo tinctures while Intermittent Fasting?
Glycerine/glycerol = 4.32 cal/g
Ethanol/alcohol = 7 cal/g
Mushroom extracts are often used in intermittent fasting regimens by biohackers who also choose to drink black coffee and tea at the start or during fasts. Those who prefer water only may also hold off on the mushroom extracts until they break fast. However, the amount of calories consumed is so small that it is insignificant.
Our recommended serving size of 4ml would equal 3.45cal from glycerine and 5.6cal from ethanol.
What is the difference between 11:11 and your other single mushroom tinctures?
11:11 is a blend of 11 different functional mushrooms, each conferring their own health benefits. However when they are combined together we believe that they act synergistically with each other to further enhance the beneficial effects. Mushrooms are thought to work differently in teams than they do when they’re alone. 11:11 contains smaller doses of each mushroom than is found in our single mushroom tinctures.
Our Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, Lion's mane and Turkey Tail tinctures contain higher doses of each individual mushroom and are great for targeting the specific goals that each respective mushroom is known to support.
Can I take 2+ tinctures at the same time? How would that affect the dosing?
Our mushroom tinctures can definitely be combined. In fact, we believe that mushrooms work better together!
We recommend taking our products in three ways:
1. Start with one tincture at the recommended dosage to determine its effects on your body.
2. Make tincture combinations based on your needs, for example:
Productivity = Lion's Mane & Cordyceps
Stress support = Reishi + Cordyceps
3. Consider rotating your tinctures daily based on your needs and goals.
Can I take mushroom tinctures with my other supplements?
Functional mushrooms have not been studied in regards to any effects on the efficacy of other supplements.
However there are no known contraindications with taking our tinctures, and they are safe to take with other supplements.
That said, as with any supplement, individual responses to mushrooms can and do vary. With this in mind, we always recommend any individual concerned about their supplement or health regime, reach out to their personal health care provider, who may better advise within the added context of each individuals' health history.
How do I know what 1ml of tincture looks like my dropper has no markings?
The new and improved Rainbo dropper do not have ml markings on the glass pipettes. To measure 1ml we recommend squeezing the top a few times before removing from the bottle. Your pipette should fill up to halfway. 1 half pipette = 1 ml !
My pipette won't suction up tincture, what do I do?
Our apologies for the inconvenience!
First, we would recommend pumping the white tip/bulb a few times, it usually takes a few pumps to get the liquid to the halfway mark (1ml).
If it still isn't working, you can try taking it apart, cleaning it and then putting it back together. You can do this by pulling the glass pipette out of the tip. You'll need to wiggle it out. You then have to squeeze and push the white tip downward through the opening in the bamboo lid. You'll have to use some force and wiggle it (don't worry you won't break it!). You can then rinse the pieces. Any mushroom material stuck in the glass pipette can sometimes be removed with water and flushing it out with pressure. Once you rinse the pieces and let them dry, you can reassemble it by pulling the tip through the bottom of the bamboo lid. Pull it upwards until you feel a small click (you shouldn't have to pull too hard). Once the tip is in place, you can push the pipette into the tip until you feel a similar click.
If the pipette is still not working after this, we'd be happy to send you a replacement! Send us an email to info@rainbo.com.
Why is there residue in my tincture and what is it?
There may be some residue or suspended mushroom material in your tincture- this is normal!
Some of the main immunologically active compounds that we extract, beta-glucans, love to build bonds and stick together. While we try our best to keep these beta-glucans suspended in the tincture liquid, sometimes they do come out of solution and stick together forming a bit of a gel.
As well, in our reishi tincture we add Ganoderma lucidum spores, which are lipid-rich and have been shown to have strong antioxidant properties in research studies.
Overall, if there is residue or matter in your liquid tincture, don't fret- this is full of the good stuff!
Please shake your tincture bottle before use to evenly distribute the mushroom components.
Why is my tincture a different colour than my last bottle?
A difference in colour, batch to batch, can be expected! We try to minimize this but because we work with real living organisms (mushrooms!) and don't standardize our extracts, these slight changes in colour batch to batch are normal. This can happen due to slight shifts in moisture, humidity and because every growing batch of mushrooms is unique.
We choose not to standardize our final products because if we were to guarantee a certain level of one thing, it would mean we are compromising another.
To create a full spectrum, natural product, we dually extract whole mushrooms without manipulating the final concentration and colour.
Our Mushrooms
What part of the mushroom do you use?
Our mushroom extracts are created from fruiting body mushrooms – the most actively dense part of the mushrooms containing the beneficial health compounds. The only mushroom we do not cultivate to fruiting body is agarikon, as this is an old growth mushroom and fruiting bodies can take decades to grow. For our 11:11 tincture, we harvest agarikon mycelium which has also been shown to hold health benefits.
Our Lion's Mane tincture is intentionally made from 90% fruiting body and 10% mycelium. It is the only mushroom where we include a portion of mycelial extract in the final tincture because the research shows that there are some beneficial medicinal compounds produced by the mycelium that are not produced by the fruiting body.
Why is there 10% mycelium in the Lion's mane tincture?
Evidence points towards the highest concentration of beneficial compounds being found in the fruiting body (mushroom) structure of the fungus. Most of our tinctures are made with 100% end stage fruiting body.
However, our Lion's Mane tincture is made from 90% fruiting body and 10% mycelium. It is the only mushroom where we include a portion of mycelial extract in the final tincture because the research shows that there are some beneficial medicinal compounds produced by the mycelium that are not produced by the fruiting body.
Where does your Chaga come from?
Our Chaga comes from Northern Canada. Sustainably wildcrafted by a network of foragers who use responsible harvesting practices, ensuring to only remove chunks of the fungus so that it will continue to propagate and doesn't' leave the tree it grows on defenceless.
How are your mushrooms grown?
Our mushrooms are cultivated and grown in Canada. The cultures are grown on oat grains, then propagated on a growing substrate. That substrate contains saw dust and spent organic coffee grounds, as these grounds contain carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, copper, zinc, gold and other trace minerals and nutritive elements. Our mushrooms are all grown and harvested at the fruiting body stage, aside from Agarikon. Agarikon is an old growth mushroom which would take decades to cultivate to fruiting body, for this reason we use agarikon at mycelium stage in our 11:11 extract.
Chaga also would take around 20 years to cultivate. Our Chaga comes from Northern Canada. Sustainably wildcrafted by a network of foragers who use responsible harvesting practices, ensuring to only remove chunks of the fungus so that it will continue to propagate and doesn't' leave the tree it grows on defenceless.
Orders + Shipping
Shipping Policy
Rainbo is not respobsible for any lost, stolen or damged packages. We highly encourage you to include the route package protection on all purchases.
This is a customer facing platform that allows you to file a claim to receive either a refund or replacement package if the issue falls under one of those three categories.
If your package is lost, stolen or damaged and you've purchased the route package protection, please feel free to submit your claim through the following link: https://claims.route.com/
Can I change/edit/cancel an order once it has been placed?
In order to get your Rainbo to you as fast as possible, orders are fulfilled right away and we are unable to edit or cancel an order once it has been placed.
We highly encourage you to double check your order before placing it!
Return Policy
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused/unopened and in the same condition that you received them in. This means that the plastic safety seal must still be in tact and not tampered with. We do not accept returns for products that have been opened or used.
Our policy lasts 30 days from the arrival date of your package. If 30 days have gone by since you received the product and you didn't contact our customer service team (info@rainbo.com), you do not qualify for a return.
Once we've connected over email, you can return the product to us for a full refund of the purchase price (less shipping charges). Once we receive the item(s) at our warehouse, we can provide a refund on the payment method used to purchase (we do not provide a return shipping label). Please remember that the return shipment has its own transit time, therefore refunds won't be issued immediately.
*Please note that this only applies to purchases made on the rainbo.com website. Therefore if you have purchased from another retailer, please go to their site and refer to their return policy.
How do I use my discount code?
If you have received a discount code, you may input it at checkout. After inputting your shipping information but before completing the purchase, an "add a discount code" box will appear where you can enter your code.
Discount codes do not work on already discounted items. If you are trying to purchase a subscription, bundle or gift card, this box will not appear.
How soon should I expect a response after reaching out to Customer Service?
Please allow 24 hours for a customer service agent to respond to you when reaching out between Monday-Friday. We do not have customer service agents live on weekends, therefore you will receive a response on the following week day.
How long will it take to get my order?
After receiving your shipping confirmation email with tracking information:
Shipping within the United States takes between 5-14 business days depending on the location.
Can I track my order?
All shipping confirmation emails are sent out with an assigned tracking number for the shipment.
Please note that some carriers take a few days to update tracking scans however this does not mean that your package isn't in transit.
Upon delivery, we do not require signatures upon receipt and we are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged packages. Please purchase Route protection at check out if there is an issue with stolen packages in your area.
For shipping inquiries, please write us at info@rainbo.com.
Tracking my order says it's been delivered, but I haven't received it.
We recommend reaching out to the shipping service that was selected at checkout with your tracking number to inquire about your package. Shipping companies are third parties, therefore we are unable to see information beyond the tracking link provided.
Here are some suggestions from UPS.
Here are some suggestions from USPS.
We can not take responsibility for lost or stolen packages.
If you have purchased the route package protection, please feel free to submit a claim for a lost or stolen package here: https://claims.route.com/
Shipping to the USA
Orders are processed within 1-4 business days (we do not ship on weekends or holidays). Orders placed after noon EST on Friday’s and over the weekend will be processed within 1-3 days from the following Monday. We will always email you an order confirmation with tracking information.
We offer free shipping on orders over $85 to the contiguous U.S. We use USPS, UPS and FedEx for all deliveries and will ship based on the method you select from the available options at checkout.
Be aware that packages may be subject to duties and customs fees which are not calculated at check out. Rainbo has no control over these fees and they will be billed upon delivery. Please contact your local customs office to determine fees ahead of time.
Free Shipping
We're happy to offer free shipping on orders over $75 within the contiguous U.S.
Free shipping will automatically be applied to orders that are over $75 before taxes and after discounts are applied. Online gift card amounts do not apply toward free shipping threshold.
Shipping International
Unfortunately we have had to temporarily suspend our international* shipping option.
We are currently working on an optimal solution.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
How do subscriptions work?
When you choose the subscription method, products are automatically delivered on your schedule (choose every 30, 60 or 90 days) and you receive a 15% discount on 11:11 and a 10% discount on the single mushroom tincture orders. This is the ideal option for the mushroom lover who is committed to receiving the full benefits obtained through long-term use.
No obligation, modify or cancel your subscription anytime!
Please note: You cannot edit your subscription the day that it is set to renew, therefore if you need to adjust the address, cancel it or make an edit, please do so a few days before it is set to renew.
Register for a rainbo account to manage your subscription
Please try this link https://rainbo.com/account/register
Log into your account here to manage your subscription
https://rainbo.ca/account/login
How do I redeem my Rainbo points as rewards?
To turn points into a reward, you will need to log into your account here, then click on the launcher to open the rewards panel.
Next, click on All rewards.
If you have enough points, there will be a Redeem button. :)
Other
Customer service contact
We'd love to hear from you!
Please send all comments, concerns, questions, queries and mushroom love to info@rainbo.com.
Can I wholesale your products?
Yes! For all wholesale inquiries please apply here!
Let's grow the mycelial network together :)
Do you have an affiliate program?
Interested in our partnership program? Apply here!
Let's grow the mycelial network together :)
Can we collaborate?
We love collaboration! Let's plan an event, workshop, or new creation together.
Custom drinks, mushroom add-on's, workshops, education. Let us know what you have in mind.
Please send us an email to info@rainbo.com. We'd love to hear from you.