Can I eat medicinal mushrooms or do I need extracts?

It depends on the species. Lion's mane and shiitake are genuine culinary mushrooms you can cook and eat. Reishi, turkey tail, and cordyceps are woody or fibrous, so their compounds are usually taken as teas, powders, or dual extracts of hot water and alcohol. Cooking or extracting also makes some compounds easier for the body to use. Always cook culinary mushrooms thoroughly.