Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsHow to Use ItHow It Makes You FeelDosagePossible Side Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
How to Use It
How It Makes You Feel
Dosage
Possible Side Effects
Hericium erinaceus, or the lion’s mane mushroom, is used to protect against dementia, relieve symptoms of depression, promote faster nerve cell recovery, protect against stomach ulcers, reduce inflammation, and support the immune system. It comes in many forms, ranging from teas and tinctures to capsules and powders.
Lion’s mane is an edible mushroom from the tooth fungus family that grows on woody tree trunks. It’s called lion’s mane because it’s large and shaggy. It has a long history and is popular in Asian countries due to its numerous nutritional and health benefits.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
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Lion’s Mane: Health Benefits of a Non-Psychoactive Mushroom
Possible health benefits of lion’s mane include:
Protects Against Dementia
Lion’s mane mushroom provides many health benefits, but there are two plant compounds (hericenones and erinacines) in particular that are neuroprotective. Experts say these plant compounds found in lion’s mane can generate new brain cells and protect against neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.More research involving humans is necessary to fully determine the potential of lion’s mane for neurodegenerative diseases.
Dementia and Related Cognitive Disorders
Relieves Symptoms of Depression
Experts have suggested lion’s mane mushroom nutrients could serve as a potential alternative treatment for people experiencing depression. One literature review of studies shows many of the studies regarding the use of lion’s mane for depression are conducted on mice, which makes comparison with human mental health challenging.
What Is Major Depressive Disorder?
Mycelium is the root-like network from which mushrooms grow or fruit. The fruiting body is what you think of when you think of mushrooms. It’s the part people purchase in grocery stores for culinary purposes. Mushroom supplements contain parts from both because together they provide the full spectrum of the plant’s benefits.
Quickens Nerve Cell Recovery
Lion’s mane is said to have regenerative capabilities, meaning its nutrients can help promote faster nerve cell recovery after injury. Experts say lion’s mane is actually one of the few medicinal mushrooms out of some 2,000 different types known for its impact on nerve cell growth and health.However, like much of lion’s mane research, the information available on the mushroom’s health effects is based on animal studies.
Nerves
Protects Against Stomach Ulcers
Lion’s mane has traditionally treated digestive diseases for thousands of years. In Chinese traditional medicine, it is taken specifically for gastrointestinal issues.
Stomach ulcers can occur due to an overgrowth of a certain type of bacteria known asH. pylori.Stomach ulcers can also result from the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which damages the stomach’s mucous layer.
A 2019 study of mice suggests lion’s mane extract can fight ulcers after three weeks of use.
What Are Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers?
Reduces Inflammation
Across studies, lion’s mane consistently shows the potential to reduce inflammation that contributes to or results from chronic disease. One study demonstrates the anti-inflammatory effects of lion’s mane on mice with the digestive condition known asulcerative colitis. Another study of mice suggests the anti-inflammatory effects of lion’s mane extract are significant enough to combat liver inflammation from excessive alcohol consumption.
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Supports the Immune System
Supplements
How to Supplement With Lion’s Mane
You can find fresh and dried lion’s mane mushrooms and lion’s mane extracts in supplement stores and online. It is often part of a mushroom mix or blend of medicinal mushrooms, including reishi and chaga. There are no official guidelines for lion’s mane supplementation. Most supplements will come with their own set of suggested directions for use.
Consult with your healthcare provider for specific details on how much lion’s mane you should take each day.
Describing How Lion’s Mane Makes You Feel
Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom is not psychoactive, so it does not have any intoxicating effects. However, lion’s mane is marketed for its potential to increase focus and is associated with reduced feelings of depression. Again, more rigorous research in humans is necessary to determine its full effects.
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What’s a Typical Lion’s Mane Mushroom Dosage?
There is insufficient evidence available as to what constitutes the ideal recommended dosage of lion’s mane mushroom.Dosing lion’s mane will come down to several factors including purpose, desired effects, and your overall health, including your age. If you are unsure what dose may be best to begin with, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor or naturopathist.
Research suggests people taking lion’s mane mushroom for cognitive benefits including protecting against memory loss may consider 500 milligrams taken with food.You should discuss prolonged use with your healthcare provider.
A Beginner’s Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Possible Side Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Lion’s mane supplements are generally understood to be safe and well tolerated. However, it’s not clear whether this is because of its actual safety profile or the lack of research on lion’s mane mushroom supplementation in humans.
One dated case report shows a lion’s mane allergy resulting in breathing problems (acute respiratory distress).
Allergic reactions to lion’s mane mushroom can cause a need for immediate medical support. Othersymptoms may include throat swelling and skin rash symptoms. If you have a mushroom allergy, you may consider avoiding lion’s mane mushroom.
Also consult with your doctor and proceed with caution/avoid if you are taking diabetes medication or blood thinners (anticoagulant/antiplatelet medications) because lion’s mane may slow blood clotting and blood sugar levels and interact with these medications.
Summary
Lion’s mane is a traditional medicine that may serve a variety of health purposes. Lion’s mane may help protect our memory and fight against dementia, quell symptoms of depression, promote healthy and speedy nerve cell recovery, reduce the risk of stomach ulcers, and reduce inflammation all while supporting the immune system. Most research is limited and conducted on animals. Dosage is not standardized. You can find it dried, fresh, or in tinctures and in tea, capsule, coffee, powder, and other forms. Allergies to lion’s mane can cause breathing problems or some rash-like symptoms. Lion’s mane is otherwise seen as safe unless you’re taking diabetes medications or blood thinners. Consulting with a healthcare provider is advisable if you’re unsure whether medicinal mushrooms are right for you.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kushairi N, Phan CW, Sabaratnam V, et al.Lion’s mane mushroom,Hericium erinaceus(Bull.: Fr.) pers. suppresses H2O2-induced oxidative damage and LPS-induced inflammation in HT22 hippocampal neurons and BV2 microglia.Antioxidants (Basel). 2019;8(8):261. doi:10.3390/antiox8080261
Chong PS, Fung ML, Wong KH, Lim LW.Therapeutic potential ofHericium erinaceusfor depressive disorder.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;21(1):163. doi:10.3390/ijms21010163
Samberkar S, Gandhi S, Naidu M, et al.Lion’s mane,Hericium erinaceusand tiger milk,Lignosus rhinocerotis(higher basidiomycetes) medicinal mushrooms stimulate neurite outgrowth in dissociated cells of brain, spinal cord, and retina: anin vitrostudy.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(11):1047-1054. doi:10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.v17.i11.40
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Narayanan M, Reddy KM, Marsicano E.Peptic ulcer disease andHelicobacter pyloriinfection.Mo Med. 2018;115(3):219-224.
Hao L, Xie Y, Wu G, et al.Protective effect ofHericium erinaceuson alcohol induced hepatotoxicity in mice.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:418023. doi:10.1155/2015/418023
Diling C, Chaoqun Z, Jian Y, et al.Immunomodulatory activities of a fungal protein extracted fromHericium erinaceusthrough regulating the gut microbiota.Front Immunol. 2017;8:666. Published 2017 Jun 12. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.00666
Sabaratnam V, Kah-Hui W, Naidu M, David PR.Neuronal health—can culinary and medicinal mushrooms help?J Tradit Complement Med. 2013;3(1):62-8. doi:10.4103/2225-4110.106549
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RxList.Hericium erinaceus.
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