Lion's Mane — the Magical Mind Mushroom

Lion’s mane, also known as Hericium erinaceusis, a mushroom with a history of both medicinal and culinary uses in Asia and Europe. Medicinal mushroom use dates back to 450 BCE when Greek physician Hippocrates discovered the potential anti-inflammatory properties of fungi as well as its role in wound cauterization.

The potential benefits of lion’s mane mushroom are numerous and span physical, cognitive and mental health. The mushroom is a source of natural bio-active compounds, which are health-promoting chemicals found in certain foods and plants. As a result, it exhibits disease-fighting properties, including anti-cancer, anti-microbial and antioxidant activity.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

Lion’s mane contains a number of bio-active compounds found in the lion's mane fruiting bodies (the part we recognise as the mushroom) and mycelium (the mushroom’s root-like structure), that may have beneficial effects on the body.

These bio-active compounds in Lion's mane include polysaccharides, erinacines, hericerins, alkaloids, and lactones. These compounds help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and inflammation, along with promoting the growth and regeneration of nerve cells. In particular, Lion’s mane has been linked with stimulating a protein known as Nerve Growth factor (NGF), Nerve Growth factor is essential for brain health and neuron conductivity and for the maintenance of the basal forebrain cholinergic system, Neuron conductivity refers to the ability of nerves to transmit impulses through the nervous system.

Want to find out more?, click of these links to view the scientific & research studies.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6720269/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6982118/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25159861/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7147972/

Lion’s Mane and Brain Health

The brain’s ability to grow and form new connections typically declines with age, which may explain why mental functioning worsens in many adults over time.

Lion’s mane has been linked with stimulating a protein known as Nerve Growth factor (NGF), additionally, studies have found that lion’s mane may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative brain disease that causes progressive memory loss. Previous studies attribute this activity to bio-active compounds in the mushroom that boost the neurotrophins, which promote neuronal survival, neurite outgrowth and dendritic branching. These include Nerve Growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3) and neurotrophin 4/5 (NT4/5).

BDNF in particular, is highly expressed in the adult central nervous system and is critically important for the function of neurons located in areas of the brain involved in memory processing such as the hippocampus and the cortex. Dysfunction of the BDNF pathway has been linked with several neurodegenerative and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, Huntington's disease and Rett syndrome.

A 2020 study of people with mild Alzheimer’s disease found that supplementation with 1 gram of lion’s mane mushroom daily for 49 weeks significantly improved cognitive test scores compared with a placebo. The ability of lion’s mane mushroom to promote nerve growth and protect the brain from Alzheimer’s-related damage may explain some of its beneficial effects on brain health.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7283924/

 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36660878/

Lion’s Mane and the Symptoms of Anxiety & Depression

Up to one-third of people living in developed countries experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. While there are many causes of anxiety and depression, chronic inflammation could be a major contributing factor.

Research has found that lion’s mane mushroom extract has anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.  Other studies have found that lion’s mane extract can also help regenerate brain cells and improve the functioning of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that processes memories and emotional responses.

Researchers believe that improved hippocampus functioning may explain the reductions in anxious and depressive behaviours when using these extracts.

A study of menopausal women found that consuming food containing lion’s mane mushrooms daily for one month helped reduce self-reported feelings of irritation and anxiety.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20834180/

Lion’s Mane and Nervous System Injuries

The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and other nerves that travel throughout the body. These components work together to send and transmit signals that control almost every bodily function.

Brain or spinal cord injuries can cause various adverse medical outcomes. They often cause paralysis or loss of mental functions and can take a long time to heal.

However, research has found that lion’s mane mushroom extract may help speed recovery from these types of injuries by stimulating the growth and repair of nerve cells. It may also help reduce the severity of brain damage after a stroke.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26853959/

Lion’s Mane and Heart Disease

Major risk factors for heart disease include obesity, high triglycerides, large amounts of oxidized cholesterol and an increased risk of blood clots. Research shows that lion’s mane extract can influence some of these factors and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Studies have found that lion’s mane mushroom extract improves fat metabolism and lowers triglyceride levels. One 2010 study of a high fat diet and given daily doses of lion’s mane extract showed 27% lower triglyceride levels and 42% less weight gain after 28 days.

Since obesity and high triglycerides are both considered risk factors for heart disease, this is one way that lion’s mane mushrooms contribute to heart health.

Test-tube studies have also found that lion’s mane extract can help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Oxidized cholesterol molecules tend to attach to artery walls, causing them to harden and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Reducing oxidation is beneficial for heart health.

What’s more, lion’s mane mushrooms contain a compound called Hericenone, which can decrease the rate of blood clotting and lower the risk of heart attack or stroke. Lion’s mane mushrooms appear to benefit the heart and blood vessels in multiple ways.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24959591/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8775512/

Lion’s Mane and Oxidative Stress

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are believed to be the root causes of many modern illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. Research shows that lion’s mane mushrooms contain powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that may help reduce the impact of these illnesses.

In fact, a 2012 study examining the antioxidant abilities of 14 different mushroom species found that lion’s mane had the fourth highest antioxidant activity and recommended it be considered a good dietary source of antioxidants.

Several studies have found that lion’s mane extract reduced markers of inflammation and oxidative stress and may be especially useful in managing inflammatory bowel disease, liver damage, and stroke.

Lion’s mane mushrooms may also help reduce some of the health risks associated with obesity, as they have been shown to decrease the amount of inflammation fat tissue releases.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21716693/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26559695/

Lion’s Mane Dosage

There’s no standard dosage for lion’s mane mushrooms. The safest, most beneficial amount depends on factors like your age and overall health. You may want to talk with a doctor about the right dosage for you, in saying this the most common usable dosages are ranging from 250 mg - 750mg.

Are there side effects of Lion’s Mane supplementation? 

No studies involving humans have shown any side effects from the use of lion’s mane mushroom or its extract and they appear to be very safe.

However, anyone who is allergic or sensitive to mushrooms should avoid lion’s mane since it’s a mushroom species.