No ordinary mushroom, lion’s mane has both history and science to support its use as a cognitive and mood enhancer. Learn how it works and how to use it.
Not quite plant and not quite animal, mushrooms are among the most fascinating organisms on the planet.
And few mushrooms are as interesting as the lion’s mane mushroom.
Lion’s mane looks unlike other mushrooms by having “teeth” like tiny icicles rather than the typical cap.
It has some unique health properties as well.
Lion’s mane mushroom has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
It is said to bestow “nerves of steel and the memory of a lion” to those who consume it.
Let’s take a closer look to see how this unusual mushroom lives up to its reputation as a superb cognitive and mood enhancer.
Traditional Lion’s Mane Mushroom Benefits and Uses
Traditionally, lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) has been a mainstay in Chinese medicine for promoting healthy digestion and liver function.
It is also considered an overall rejuvenating health tonic.
In China, it’s called “monkey head mushroom.”
In Japan, it is called yamabushitake which means “mountain priest mushroom.”
It’s named after the Yamabushi sect of hermit Buddhist monks believed to possess supernatural powers.
According to legend, they used lion’s mane to stay focused during meditation.
Lion’s mane is found not only in Asia.
It’s also native to parts of Europe and North America where it goes by many equally descriptive names, such as sheep’s head, bear’s head, bearded tooth mushroom, satyr’s beard, bearded hedgehog mushroom, and pom pom blanc.
Interestingly, it can also look somewhat like a human brain.
Lion’s Mane Benefits, Backed by Science
The latest science supports the traditional benefits of lion’s mane and has discovered some new ones.
The list of the reported benefits of lion’s mane is a long one.
It shows promise for treating certain kinds of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, gastric ulcers, and diseases of the kidney and liver.
Additionally, it is neuroprotective and can help with some of the most common mood disorders and neurological diseases.
So far, approximately 70 bioactive compounds have been discovered in lion’s mane.
“ Lion’s mane mushroom contains two groups of compounds not found anywhere else — the hericenones and the erinacines.
Some have antibiotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or immune-boosting characteristics.
Others work by stimulating the formation of important brain chemicals.
Here are the main known ways that lion’s mane can positively impact mood and brain health.
Lion’s Mane Is a Natural Antidepressant
It’s not fully understood what causes depression.
The most commonly held theory is that it’s caused by a lack of certain brain chemicals, usually serotonin or dopamine.
But one of the more intriguing alternative theories is that depression is the result of chronic brain inflammation, rather than a neurotransmitter imbalance.
Brain inflammation has been linked to both depression and anxiety, as well as other brain disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Amycenone is an anti-inflammatory compound found in lion’s mane that may be responsible for its antidepressant properties.
A single dose of amycenone in mice led to a noticeable reduction in pro-inflammatory proteins.
Researchers found that taking lion’s mane for four weeks reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in study participants.
Research has found Amyloban 3399®, a patented form of amycenone, to be helpful for treating sleep disorders, cognitive and anxiety disorders, and depression.
It can also improve general well-being and sleep quality.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom Can Halt Cognitive Decline
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage between normal age-related cognitive decline and dementia.
Being diagnosed with MCI doesn’t mean that you will inevitably develop Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, but it does increase your risk.
In one clinical study, seniors diagnosed with MCI were given 3 grams of dried lion’s mane mushroom powder daily for 16 weeks.
At the end of the study, their cognitive function scores had improved significantly, with no adverse side effects.
The presence of beta amyloid plaques in the brain is an important biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease and there’s evidence that lion’s mane can break them up.
Mice that were fed a diet that included lion’s mane showed a remarkable reduction in these toxic brain plaques.
Researchers are hopeful that compounds found in lion’s mane may be useful for halting and even reversing dementia or Alzheimer’s.
One way lion’s mane might slow mental decline is by raising levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter associated with memory and learning.
Low acetylcholine levels are associated with serious neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis.
Human studies have yet to be performed, but lion’s mane extract has been found to increase acetylcholine levels in the brains of mice.
Lion’s Mane Grows and Protects Nerve Cells
Lion’s mane mushroom contains two groups of compounds not found anywhere else — the hericenones and the erinacines.
These unique compounds encourage the formation of nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that acts like a super fertilizer for your neurons.
NGF not only heals and protects nerve cells, but it also stimulates the growth of new ones in both the brain and the nervous system.
Some experts believe that NGF deficiency is linked to Alzheimer’s.
Unfortunately, NGF is a large molecule that can’t pass through the brain’s protective barrier.
This limits its therapeutic potential.
But hericenones and erinacines are smaller compounds that easily cross the blood-brain barrier, allowing them to boost the level of NGF inside the brain.
Lion’s mane also helps to rebuild myelin, a protective coating surrounding nerve fibers that acts as the nervous system’s insulation.
Myelin speeds up communication between brain cells.
Several central nervous system disorders, most notably multiple sclerosis, are a consequence of the loss of myelin.
There is currently no cure for these demyelinating diseases, but compounds that stimulate NGF, such as those found in lion’s mane mushroom, may be a key to such treatment.
How to Use Lion’s Mane Mushroom
You can eat lion’s mane mushroom as a food or drink it as a tea like the ancients did.
But now, it’s most popular as a nutritional supplement or as an ingredient in some specialty coffee drinks.
Here’s how to use lion’s mane mushroom, no matter how you prefer to consume it.
Choosing the Best Lion’s Mane Supplements
For most of us, the most convenient way to get our daily dose of lion’s mane is as a supplement.
Lion’s mane has become a trendy nootropic (cognitive enhancer) and many supplement companies have jumped on the bandwagon.
Supplements vary greatly in price and quality, but you won’t go wrong with lion’s mane supplements from Host Defense.
They are formulated by world-renowned fungi authority Paul Stamets.
He has written books, been published in peer-reviewed journals, received 22 patents for mushroom-related technologies, and even discovered a few new mushroom species along the way.
Stamets refers to lion’s mane as the first “smart mushroom” that is “nature’s nutrient for your neurons.”
His company offers two lion’s mane supplements — Host Defense Lion’s Mane Capsules and Host Defense Lion’s Mane Extract.
Both contain sustainably cultivated organic mushrooms.
These are full spectrum supplements which contain dried fruiting bodies and mycelium, parts of the mushroom that each have unique health benefits.
Some of lion’s mane compounds are best extracted by water, others by alcohol, and others by heat, so Host Defense uses a triple extraction process.
Watch the Video
Lion’s Mane Supplement Dosage, Side Effects, and Interactions
A typical dose of a lion’s mane supplement is 1,000 to 3,000 mg per day.
Lion’s mane is generally considered very safe.
The only commonly reported side effect is itchy skin, but this is temporary and not considered serious.
This effect is thought to be caused by an increase in nerve growth factor.
There are no known interactions with foods, but if you know that you are allergic to any other mushrooms, this is one brain supplement you should probably skip.
Lion’s mane has blood-thinning properties, so talk to your doctor before taking it with prescription blood thinners.
Additionally, if you take any of these supplements with blood-thinning properties, proceed cautiously when adding lion’s mane to your supplement regimen:
- fish oil
- garlic (Allium sativum)
- ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
- ginseng (Panax ginseng)
- green tea extract (Camellia sinensis)
- kava (Piper methysticum)
- saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)
- St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)
- vitamin E
It’s best to avoid lion’s mane during pregnancy and while breastfeeding since its safety at these times has yet to be determined.
And since lion’s mane mushroom can lower blood sugar, monitor your blood sugar levels carefully if you are taking any medications for diabetes.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom Tea and Coffee
Mushroom tea and coffee straddle the line between food and supplement.
Lion’s mane mushroom tea is not at all common, but you may find loose tea where Chinese herbs are sold.
It’s easier to find lion’s mane powder to which you add hot water to make tea.
But mushroom-enhanced coffee is currently in the spotlight and has been featured on popular sites like Business Insider, Time, and Forbes.
The big name in shroom coffee, Four Sigmatic, got a huge boost when bestselling author and biohacker Tim Ferriss announced that he’s a big fan.
Ferriss reports on his blog that drinking mushroom coffee “blew my mind (in the best possible way)” and that half a packet “put me on fire for an entire day.”
Four Sigmatic offers several products with lion’s mane, including Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane and Lion’s Mane Mushroom Elixir Mix.
Cooking With Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Before lion’s mane found its way into capsules and coffee, it was a prized culinary delicacy that tastes a lot like shrimp or lobster.
If you want to include lion’s mane mushroom in your diet, you may be able to find it at some specialty or gourmet food stores.
You can also buy it dried online.
Some mushroom enthusiasts enjoy foraging for it.
Lion’s mane can be found in some parts of North America, Europe, and Asia in the summer and fall.
Caution: Never forage for mushrooms unless you know what you are doing!
If you live in the US or Canada, you can get help identifying mushrooms in your area from one of the local chapters of the North American Mycological Association.
Fortunately, lion’s mane does not look like any poisonous mushroom, so it’s not likely that you will accidentally pick a toxic look-alike.
There are a few other similar-looking Hericium species, but they are all edible.
Another way to have a regular supply of lion’s mane is to grow your own with a do-it-yourself mushroom kit.
This is a hobby that requires patience since it can take six months to a year for your first crop of mushrooms to be ready.
But once they’re established, you’ll be rewarded with mushrooms for years to come!
How to Cook Lion’s Mane
The easiest, and most delicious, way to cook fresh lion’s mane mushroom is to sauté it in butter or oil.
You might want to add a little garlic which not only tastes great but works synergistically to amplify lion’s mane brain benefits.
Recommended: Upgrading brain health is key to making your brain work better.
Brain supplement can help you:
- Improve your mental clarity and focus.
- Boost your memory and your ability to learn.
- Increase your capacity to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions.
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