Lion's Mane

Effects and Benefits

Core Identification

Common Names:
- Lion's Mane
- Bear's Head Mushroom
- Monkey Head Mushroom
- Bearded Tooth Fungus
- Hedgehog Mushroom
- Pom Pom Mushroom
- Yamabushitake (Japanese)
- Hou Tou Gu (Chinese)

Latin Name: Hericium erinaceus

Category: Mushroom (Fungal Supplement)

Uses

Traditional Uses

• Strengthening the five internal organs in Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers and chronic gastritis in Chinese folk medicine
• Promoting good digestion, general vigor, and strength
• Medicinal food preparation in China for centuries

Modern Uses

• Cognitive Function and Memory Support - Enhances mental clarity and memory retention | Research quality: Moderate
• Key findings: Double-blind, placebo-controlled trials show significantly improved cognitive function in participants with mild cognitive impairment taking 1-3.2 grams daily for 12-16 weeks; improvements measured on standardized cognitive function scales

• Source citations: Hobbs, Christopher - Medicinal Mushrooms; Mori K. et al. (2009) Phytotherapy Research

• Nerve Support and Regeneration - Stimulates nerve growth factor (NGF) production | Research quality: Moderate

• Key findings: Diterpenes (erinacines and hericenones) stimulate NGF synthesis, promote peripheral and CNS nerve regeneration, support myelination, and may help repair damaged nerves; laboratory studies show erinacines from mycelium are 3-6 times more potent than hericenones from fruiting bodies

• Source citations: Hobbs - Medicinal Mushrooms; Buhner - Herbal Antivirals; WRCHM - Western Materia Medica II

• Mood Support (Depression and Anxiety) - Reduces symptoms of mood disorders | Research quality: Moderate

• Key findings: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 30 women showed significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety; mechanism may involve nerve health support and anti-inflammatory effects

• Source citations: Hobbs - Medicinal Mushrooms; Nagano M. et al. (2010) Biomedical Research

• Gastric Health - Supports stomach lining repair and reduces inflammation | Research quality: Moderate

• Key findings: Controlled study with 165 patients showed lion's mane extract was as effective or better than conventional drug treatment for chronic gastric ulcers; polysaccharides in cell walls provide anti-gastric ulcer effects

• Source citations: Hobbs - Medicinal Mushrooms; Xu C. et al. (1985) Chinese Medical Journal

• Neuroprotective Effects - Protects against neurodegenerative conditions | Research quality: Preliminary

• Key findings: Laboratory and animal studies show protection against stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and neuropathic pain; improves cognitive impairment after neural damage including amyloid peptide-induced damage

• Source citations: Hobbs - Medicinal Mushrooms; Buhner - Herbal Antivirals

• Immune Modulation - Activates and regulates immune response | Research quality: Preliminary

• Key findings: Strongly activates T cells; beta-glucans demonstrate immunomodulating and immune-stimulating properties; downregulates excessive inflammatory responses (iNOS, nitric oxide, ROS, PGE2, COX-2, NF-κB)
• Source citations: Hobbs - Medicinal Mushrooms; Buhner - Herbal Antivirals

Active Compounds

Primary Active Ingredients:
- Hericenones - Diterpenes found only in fruiting bodies; stimulate nerve growth factor synthesis and support mood
- Erinacines - Diterpenes found only in mycelium; promote nerve and brain health, support memory preservation; 3-6 times more potent than hericenones
- Beta-glucans - Polysaccharides providing antitumor, immunomodulation, anti-gastric ulcer, and neuroprotective effects; researchers have identified 35 bioactive polysaccharides in lion's mane
- Triterpenes - Contribute to anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties
- GABA - Neurotransmitter supporting relaxation and nervous system function
- Fatty acids - Support cellular health and anti-inflammatory activity

Dosage Information

Standard Dosage:
- Form: Capsule or powder
- Amount: 500-600 mg (two "00" capsules), three times daily
- Frequency: Three times daily with meals
- Notes: Approximately 1 teaspoon of dried tea powder or powdered extract

Therapeutic Dosage:
- Form: Dried fruiting body
- Amount: 3-15 grams per day
- Purpose: Cognitive support, nerve repair, gastric health
- Duration: Clinical trials used 12-16 weeks; can be used long-term

Tincture Dosage (for neurological support):
- Form: Fresh mushroom tincture (preferred) or dried
- Amount: ¼-½ teaspoon
- Frequency: 2-6 times daily depending on severity
- Notes: Fresh mushroom tincture is preferable to dried; 80% ethanol/20% water extraction captures diterpenes effectively

Maximum Safe Dosage:
- Daily maximum: Not firmly established for extracts; up to 15 grams of dried fruiting body in traditional culinary use
- Warning threshold: Follow product guidelines; higher doses generally well-tolerated

Bioavailability Notes:
- Diterpenes (nerve-supporting compounds) are alcohol-soluble; tinctures capture these well
- Water extraction preserves polysaccharides and beta-glucans
- Combining fruiting body (hericenones) and mycelium (erinacines) together provides more comprehensive nerve support
- Products grown on grain may be high in starch and low in active compounds; use iodine test to verify quality

How to Take It

Timing:
- Can be taken any time of day
- With meals to support digestion and absorption
- Some find it energizing; others use it throughout the day without sleep disruption

Preparation Methods:
- Capsules: Most convenient delivery form
- Powder: Add to smoothies, tea, coffee, or warm water
- Culinary: Fresh or dried fruiting bodies can be sliced and sautéed, broiled, baked, or added to soups (has texture like crabmeat when cooked)
- Tincture: Take directly or add to water; 80% ethanol/20% water captures diterpenes effectively
- Tea: Dried mushroom steeped in hot water

Synergies - What It Works Well With

Complementary Supplements:
1. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) - Both support nervous system health | Enhanced mood support and overall nervous system tonic effects
2. Cordyceps - Adaptogenic synergy | Combined cognitive and energy support; neuro formula enhancement
3. Ashwagandha - Adaptogenic and neuro support | Enhanced stress resilience and cognitive function; both support nerve health
4. Bacopa monnieri - Cognitive synergy | Enhanced memory, learning, and neuroprotective effects
5. Ginkgo biloba - Cerebral circulation support | Improved blood flow to brain combined with nerve growth support
6. Chinese Senega Root (Polygala tenuifolia) - Both contain nerve growth factor | Enhanced neuroregeneration for post-injury or post-infection recovery

Avoidance - What NOT to Combine With

Supplement Interactions:
1. None documented - Lion's mane has no known significant supplement interactions

Drug Interactions:
1. Anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs - Theoretical concern due to anti-inflammatory effects | Monitor if combining | Severity level: Mild (theoretical)
2. Diabetes medications - May have blood sugar-lowering effects | Monitor blood glucose | Severity level: Mild
3. Immunosuppressant medications - May have immune-stimulating effects that could counteract immunosuppressants | Consult healthcare provider | Severity level: Moderate (theoretical)

Food Interactions:
- No significant food interactions documented
- Well-tolerated as a culinary mushroom with long history of food use

Safety Information

Contraindications:
- Known allergy to mushrooms (rare; discontinue if allergic reaction occurs)
- Autoimmune conditions (use with caution due to immune-modulating effects; consult healthcare provider)

Side Effects:
- Common: Generally very well-tolerated; lion's mane is an edible food with centuries of safe use
- Rare: Mild digestive upset in sensitive individuals; possible skin itching or rash in those with mushroom sensitivities

Long-Term Use:
- Considered safe for long-term use based on centuries of traditional culinary and medicinal use
- Clinical trials of 12-16 weeks showed no adverse effects
- Some habituation may occur with long-term use of any single mushroom species; consider periodic cycling or combining with other medicinal mushrooms

Special Precautions:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Insufficient safety data; avoid or consult healthcare provider
- Surgery: Consider discontinuing 2 weeks before scheduled procedures as a general precaution
- Mushroom allergies: Discontinue immediately if allergic reaction occurs

Primary Uses At-a-Glance

Primary: Cognitive function and memory support, Nerve health and regeneration, Mood support (depression/anxiety), Neuroprotection

Secondary: Gastric health and ulcer support, Immune modulation, Anti-inflammatory support, Blood sugar regulation

Sources

Local Library:
- Hobbs, Christopher - Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide
- Buhner, Stephen Harrod - Herbal Antivirals
- WRCHM - Western Materia Medica II
- Groves, Maria Noel - Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies
- Coffman, Sam - Herbal Medic
- WRCHM - Herbal Pharmacy
- Pursell, J. J. - Master Recipes from the Herbal Apothecary

General Knowledge:
- Mori K. et al. (2009) Phytotherapy Research - Cognitive function clinical trial
- Mori K. et al. (2008) Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin - NGF-inducing activity
- Nagano M. et al. (2010) Biomedical Research - Depression and anxiety study
- Xu C. et al. (1985) Chinese Medical Journal - Gastric ulcer study
- Mizuno T. (1999) International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms - Bioactive substances review
- Kolotushkina EV et al. (2003) Fiziolohichnyi Zhurnal - Myelination study