I didn’t start Kyoto Botanicals on an overnight whim.
My path into this industry started at Charlotte’s Web, but my path into botanicals started much earlier with six years in conservation biology. When you spend your days studying the purity and resilience of endangered species, you develop a bit of an obsession with "source."
My biology degree and background mean I’ve always seen nature as a system, not a collection of individual events and ingredients. CBD was our natural first step toward helping people find presence, but for me, the goal was always broader: How do we help people be their best selves so they can be present for the moments that actually matter?
Last updated: February 13, 2026 • Author: Mark Gillilan | Founder, Kyoto Botanicals
Table of Contents
- The Bridge: Why I Built Kyoto Botanicals
- The Problem with the "Noise"
- The "Quiet Focus" Protocol
- 1. The Morning Momentum (Fungi)
- 2. The Evening Reset (CBD)
- Why Synergy Matters
- CBD & Mushroom Protocol FAQ
The Bridge: Why I Built Kyoto Botanicals
A few years ago, at a local Colorado farmers market, I met a mushroom grower who changed my perspective. He convinced me that while CBD is the ultimate tool for internal balance, functional mushrooms are the key to external resilience.
This wasn't a trend-chase; it was a multi-year deep dive into whether mushrooms could live up to the standard I’d set for our hemp. They did. But only if you do them right.
The Problem with the "Noise"
I am staunchly an optimist and a much more of a talking the pros of something rather than being anti something. I love botanical wellness. But because I started Kyoto to create products I could actually trust at the heart, I have a high bar.
When you buy a botanical supplement today, you’re often buying a "guess." In the mushroom world, that guess is usually "mycelium on grain"—which is essentially the root system of the fungus grown on a bed of rice or oats. When you grind that up, you’re paying for a lot of starch and not enough of the actual "active" mushroom (the fruiting body).
At Kyoto, we don't buy someone else's mystery powder. We look for tested, organic-where-possible, fruiting-body extracts. Because if I wouldn't put it in my own daily smoothie, I’m not shipping it to you.
The "Quiet Focus" Protocol
People ask me how the "stack" feels. It’s hard to describe, but I call it Quiet Focus.
When I combine our functional mushroom brew with our CBD, the sharp edges of the day just kind of fade. My attention span is better. My awareness is higher. I’ve had days where hours slip by while I'm hammering away at tasks, and I’m just in it. Deep concentration without and incredible presence without any fog.
1. The Morning Momentum (Fungi)
Every single morning, I make a wellness smoothie. It’s a bit of a kitchen-sink approach: milk, yogurt, honey, spinach, fruit, oats, chia, and protein.
But the "secret sauce" is our (re)GROUND Mushroom + Cacao Adaptogen Brew. I add it directly to the blend. By starting the day with Lion’s Mane, reishi, chaga and Cordyceps, I’m setting a foundation for that deep-work window. It’s not a "jolt"; it’s a sharpening.
2. The Evening Reset (CBD)
Recovery and sleep is every bit as important as the grind. About an hour before I head to bed, I take our Organic THC-Free CBD Tincture.
While the mushrooms spend the day helping me stay "on," the CBD spent the day quietly supporting my endocannabinoid system (ECS). Taking the tincture at night is my signal to my body that the work is done. It helps me wind down and protects the "presence" I’ll need for my family in the evening.
Why Synergy Matters
Think of it like this: CBD manages the noise, and Mushrooms manage the signal.
If your internal "noise" (daily stressors) is too loud, you can’t hear the "signal" of your own potential. By stacking these together, we aren't just taking supplements; we are supporting the very biological systems that allow us to stay grounded in a world that feels louder every year.
Stay present,
Mark
Founder, Kyoto Botanicals
CBD & Mushroom Protocol FAQ
Can you take CBD and functional mushrooms at the same time?
Yes. CBD supports the endocannabinoid system (internal balance), while adaptogenic mushrooms like Lion's Mane and Reishi support the HPA axis (stress resilience).
What is the best time of day to take the Kyoto Protocol?
For most, we recommend the "Morning Momentum" stack (Mushroom Brew) to sharpen focus and the "Evening Reset" (CBD Tincture) about an hour before bed to support recovery and sleep.
Do your mushrooms contain grain fillers?
No. At Kyoto Botanicals, we use 100% fruiting body extracts. We do not use "mycelium on grain," which often contains high levels of starch and fewer active beta-glucans.
Is the CBD in the protocol THC-free?
Yes. We use organic, broad-spectrum CBD that is refined to be THC-free, allowing you to focus on recovery and presence without the concern of psychoactive effects.