The science behind your daily ritual

Lion's Mane contains naturally occurring compounds including hericenones and erinacines, which have been investigated for their relationship with pathways involved in nerve growth and brain function.

Researchers are particularly interested in how these compounds may interact with nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein involved in the growth, maintenance and survival of certain neurons.

Human research is still developing, but the early findings are interesting.

A 2023 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study in healthy adults found that Lion's Mane supplementation was associated with faster performance on one cognitive task following a single dose, alongside a trend towards reduced subjective stress following 28 days.

More recent research has been mixed: a 2025 placebo-controlled study found improvements on an individual psychomotor task but no significant overall improvement across composite cognition or mood measures.

In other words: promising, but not magic, and exactly the kind of ingredient worth continuing to study.

Lion's Mane gives the Rainbow Dust formula its brain-first foundation.

One of Cordyceps' best-known compounds is cordycepin, alongside polysaccharides and other naturally occurring bioactives.

Cordycepin is structurally similar to adenosine, a molecule closely involved in cellular energy processes, which is one reason Cordyceps has become an interesting area of performance research.

In a randomised, double-blind study, supplementation with a Cordyceps militaris-containing mushroom blend was associated with improvements in measures including VO₂ max and time to exhaustion after consistent supplementation.

More recently, a 2026 randomised crossover trial using 1g of Cordyceps militaris extract found higher resting oxygen uptake and faster reaction times following exhaustive exercise, although it did not increase peak exercise oxygen consumption.

The evidence is still developing, but it gives researchers good reason to continue investigating Cordyceps in relation to physical and cognitive performance.

For days that require a little more engine.

Chaga contains a mixture of naturally occurring compounds including polyphenols, polysaccharides and triterpenoids.

Many of these compounds have demonstrated antioxidant activity in laboratory research, meaning they can interact with free radicals and pathways associated with oxidative stress.

Laboratory studies have demonstrated antioxidant and free-radical-scavenging activity from Chaga extracts and isolated Chaga compounds.

However, this is an area where it's important to separate interesting science from marketing hype. Human clinical evidence remains limited, particularly for claims around mental performance, energy or mood.

So we don't pretend otherwise.

Chaga contributes a broad spectrum of mushroom-derived compounds to the Rainbow Dust formula and complements Lion's Mane and Cordyceps as part of our three-mushroom stack.

The compounds most closely associated with Ashwagandha are called withanolides.

These naturally occurring plant compounds are one of the major areas of interest in research into Ashwagandha's adaptogenic properties.

Multiple randomised controlled trials have investigated Ashwagandha in people experiencing everyday stress. Studies using standardised Ashwagandha extracts have reported improvements in perceived stress scores, alongside changes in biomarkers such as cortisol.

And the research doesn't stop at stress. A placebo-controlled trial specifically using KSM-66® in healthy athletic adults reported greater improvements in VO₂ max than placebo following eight and twelve weeks of supplementation.

Other trials have investigated Ashwagandha in relation to cognition, recovery and psychological wellbeing.

Because performance isn't just about pushing harder. Sometimes it's about being able to stay composed while you do it.

Maca contains a range of naturally occurring plant compounds, including distinctive fatty-acid derivatives called macamides, alongside polyphenols and other phytonutrients.

A 12-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 175 adults investigated red and black Maca extracts and reported improvements in measures of mood, energy and health-related quality of life compared with placebo.

Newer research continues to investigate Maca in areas including exercise performance and fatigue, although the overall human evidence base is still smaller than that of more established nutritional ingredients.

A traditional botanical with a very modern job: helping round out the energy side of the Rainbow Dust formula.

Vitamin B5 plays an important role in the production of coenzyme A, a molecule involved in the way the body processes carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Put simply: it's part of the machinery your body uses to turn food into usable energy.

It is also involved in the synthesis and metabolism of certain steroid hormones, vitamin D and some neurotransmitters.

Vitamin B5 contributes to:

No trend. No hype. Just an essential nutrient doing an essential job.