10 Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom

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lion's mane

10 Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom 

There are an endless number of supplements, herbs, oils, etc. that are touted to provide all kinds of benefits for the human body. My goal is to sift through all of these and find the most powerful healing compounds with wide-scale benefits to help keep people from going down the overwhelming route of taking every new thing they hear about. Lion’s Mane, also known as Hericium erinaceus, is one of those powerful compounds with the potential to provide many health benefits.

In this article I am going to break down exactly what Lion’s Mane mushroom is, its benefits, and how to use it on a daily basis to take your health to the next level.

Lion's Mane

What is Lion’s Mane 

Lion’s Mane is a mushroom that resembles, well… the mane of a lion. This odd-looking fungus is most well-known for providing brain-boosting or nootropic effects. While this is what it is most well-known for, there is research going on to investigate many other benefits from anti-cancer to diabetes prevention (we will go into these shortly).

Many people are hesitant to start consuming foreign fungi that they’ve never heard of before. Despite its strange look, it can now be purchased in high-quality extracts that eliminate many of the concerns that people have. Additionally, you should know that there is a whole list of powerful mushrooms emerging as some of the most potent superfoods the world has to offer.

Add that to the fact that a single study found that lion’s mane has the potential to provide antimicrobial, cancer fighting, diabetes preventing, energy boosting, blood pressure balancing, cholesterol improving, age slowing, heart protecting, liver protecting, kidney protecting, AND brain boosting benefits… This is a true superfood to add to your daily regimen.

Lion's Mane

Traditional Use 

Lion’s Mane mushroom has been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Having its origins in traditional Chinese medicine, the Chinese always suspected powerful brain-boosting and protecting effects. While these suspicions have been largely confirmed by modern research, this mushroom’s benefits may outweigh anything we ever expected.

In America, we may think of something like lion’s mane as a supplement to take along with things like vitamins and herbs. Certain Asian cultures, however, have seen lion’s mane as a culinary staple.

It has been used traditionally as a centerpiece to many Asian dishes, often taking the place of things like seafood or other meats. Consequently, when consumed fresh after harvesting, it is said that this mushroom actually has somewhat of a meaty texture and taste resembling that of shrimp and lobster.

Lion's Mane

The Power of Mushrooms 

When we look at the genetics of various organisms, fungi are actually very similar to humans. Maybe this is why they are able to provide us with such powerful healing benefits. Other mushrooms that are emerging as powerful healers include: cordyceps, reishi, turkey tail, king trumpet, shiitake, and many more.

Might mushrooms be some of the most powerful healing compounds on the face of the planet? I am starting to think that they could be. That is why I now use a variety of them in supplemental form on a daily basis (more on that later).

lions mane

Benefits of Lion’s Mane

Okay so Lion’s Mane is a superfood, but WHY is it a superfood. Now it’s time to break down the top researched benefits of this powerful mushroom. This is not an extensive list; however, these are some of the health benefits that stood out to me the most.

Improves Brain Health 

Lions’ Mane is most well-known for its effects on the brain. First and foremost, it is considered a nootropic. A nootropic is simply anything that is able to enhance mental acuity without any negative side effects. Biohackers and high performers are starting to use Lion’s Mane for this purpose.

The benefits don’t stop there.  Lion’s Mane actually stimulates the growth of new neural pathways in the brain, giving it powerful implications for helping things like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and even neuropathy of different kinds (1, 2, 3).

Finally, this mushroom has been shown to protect brain cells and nerves from degeneration due to various environmental threats we face on a daily basis including environmental toxins, certain drugs, and our bodies’ own inflammatory processes (4, 5).

Fights Anxiety and Depression 

Not only can Lion’s Mane improve brain function, but it may also offer relief for those suffering anxious or depressed feelings. Preliminary studies are showing that it may do so by upregulating neurogenesis in the hippocampus of mice (6). The hippocampus is the area of the brain that is thought to be responsible for regulating things like emotional responses and memory.

There is also evidence that depressive symptoms are related to neurological inflammation (7). Given Lion Mane’s anti-inflammatory effects, this could be another way in which this mushroom can help fight these unwanted emotional responses.

lions mane

Supports The Immune Response

In addition to its antimicrobial effects, it seems that one of the primary reasons for the wide-ranging benefits of this mushroom are that it boosts the immune system (8). Poor immune function and rampant inflammation are some of the primary underlying causes to almost all of the most prominent chronic diseases we face as a society today.

One of the primary causes of immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation in today’s society are digestive disorders such as leaky gut. Astoundingly, there is recent evidence showing that Lion’s Mane extract may support the immune system by having a positive impact on the gut microbiome (9).

Anti-Inflammatory 

Anything with anti-inflammatory effects will likely have many benefits for the human body. Lion’s Mane has been shown to reduce inflammation through several different mechanisms including: reducing nitric oxide, pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and prostaglandins (10, 11).

This anti-inflammatory effect may have implications for things like autoimmune conditions, digestive disorders, mood disorders, neurodegeneration, cancer, metabolic disorders, and probably much more. Not to say that a single mushroom is a cure, but a good tool in the arsenal when trying to rebuild your health or simply live a life of vitality.

Inflammation, 5 Ways To Reduce Inflammation Quickly

Heart Health 

Lion’s Mane can improve heart health by balancing cholesterol levels as well as potentially improving circulation throughout the body. One animal study found that consuming an extract of this mushroom reduced total cholesterol in addition to LDL and triglycerides. At the same time, it may also increase HDL cholesterol (12, 13).

Additionally, it may improve circulation by inhibiting platelet aggregation and preventing the thickening of arteries characteristic of atherosclerosis.

Blood Sugar 

Something I notice with almost all of my coaching clients dealing with some type of chronic disease is that they often have signs of poor blood sugar regulation. Getting blood sugar balanced is one of the first strategies towards lowering inflammation and putting the body into a healing state.

Consuming Lion’s Mane on a regular basis may assist in balancing blood sugar levels by assisting insulin and improving glucose tolerance at the cellular level.

Digestive Health 

As I mentioned already, digestive tract issues are very common in chronic inflammatory conditions such as autoimmunity.

Taking an extract of Lion’s Mane on a regular basis may help protect the gut by preventing the growth of unwanted microbes, strengthening the gut lining to protect against ulceration, and even control inflammatory conditions such as gastritis or colitis (14).

Anti-Cancer 

There are a number of studies showcasing the potential effectiveness of Lion’s Mane for inhibiting a number of different cancer cell types including: (15)

  • Gastric
  • Lung
  • Liver
  • Colon
  • Breast
  • Leukemia
  • And Potentially Others

In addition to other powerful modalities like fasting, ketogenic diet, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and cancer stem cell killing nutrients, Lion’s Mane may be another powerful tool for helping the body fight off cancer.

lions mane

Boosts Metabolism 

One of my goals with most people who are trying to get healthy and experience their true vitality is to turn them into fat-burning machines. This is why I advocate for things like intermittent fasting and a ketogenic lifestyle.

Sometimes people need an additional boost to get them into that primer fat burning state and this is where things like MCT oils, CLA, L-Carnitine, exogenous ketones, and now Lion’s Mane. It is thought that it is able to provide this fat burning effect by boosting the production of short-chain fatty acids in the colon, although this requires more in-depth research (16).

Energy Booster 

With all of the benefits listed above, it would be a surprise if this mushroom didn’t provide you with a bit of a boost during the day. The combination of brain-boosting, anti-inflammatory, circulation-improving, and blood sugar stabilizing benefits makes Lion’s Mane a great everyday performance booster for the high achiever or simply someone who wants to live life to their highest potential.

While you likely will not feel an energetic boost on the first day taking it (maybe you will), taking it on a daily basis over time will likely provide the greatest benefits.

How to Take Lion’s Mane 

The benefits of Lion’s Mane are diverse and may be much broader than we originally thought. If you are looking for ways to incorporate more of this medicinal mushroom into your daily routine, there are a number of options available to you.

Powder

In some parts of the world, it may be an option to purchase Lion’s Mane fresh and consume it how it was traditionally consumed. For most people this is not an option and a dry powdered form or encapsulated form is the next best option.  It is important to look for a certified organic brand for the best benefits.

This can be purchased in capsulated form (here) or as a loose powder (here). Powdered Mushrooms can be added to soups, stews, smoothies, fat burning coffee, or even taken straight with water.

Extract

Extracted forms are a great way to get concentrated benefits of different kinds of herbs and mushrooms. Extracts commonly come in either powdered or liquid forms and are often much more potent than the mushrooms that have just been dried and powdered.

There are many great forms but one of my personal favorites currently is this dual-extracted form by Four Sigmatic (here). It contains one of the highest quality extracts that is easily dissolvable in a beverage or recipe of your choice.

Next Level Support

Lion’s Mane is superfood support for the brain. As someone who is always looking for a mental edge, I use this mushroom every day. That being said, I am always looking for ways to combine different lifestyle strategies, dietary strategies, and supplements for the maximum benefit.

That is why I like to take Lion’s Mane mushroom in combination with other powerful medicinal mushroom compounds.  The best product I have found is our Organic Multi-Mushroom complex from True Immunity Organics.  This extraordinary product is a combination of 8 powerful organic mushroom compounds in a synergistic formulation.

This product contains clinical dosages of cordyceps, reishi, lion’s mane, turkey tail, shitake, maitake, chaga and white jelly,   I use this product to enhance my mental focus, energy and overall performance.  Here are the benefits of the various adaptogens in the product.

CORDYCEPS: 

This is the “High Performance” adaptogen that is renowned for its ability to increases energy and endurance, stabilize blood sugar, reduce exercise induced oxidative stress and improve mood and mental clarity under stress.

REISHI MUSHROOM: 

Reduces anxiety, combats fatigue, improves sleep quality and helps individuals overcome insomnia and stabilizes blood pressure.

LION’S MANE:

This is called the “Smart Mushroom,” because it supports nerve regeneration, nerve myelination and nerve growth factor for improved memory, mental clarity and mental processing speed.  It also supports a healthy digestive tract.

TURKEY TAIL:

This is the “Longevity and Anti-Aging” mushroom that supports white blood cell development and T-helper cell function to reduce autoimmunity and inflammation to reduce tissue damage within the body.

CHAGA: 

This is super rich in antioxidant compounds that support healthy circulation, oxygen delivery and enhanced performance.  It also supports healthy cholesterol levels and reduces overall inflammation throughout the body.

SHITAKE: 

This is the “Immune Boosting” mushroom with the most well-studied benefits on strengthening the immune system and combatting abnormal cell development and suppressing tumor growth.  It is also a powerful immune booster in helping to fight off bacterial, viral and parasitic infections.    

Organic Multi-Mushroom is a revolutionary product designed for the high achiever who wants to improve their health and get the most out of life.  This proprietary formula of 8 organic full spectrum mushrooms helps improve your energy, mental clarity and stamina to do the things you want to do in life!  Use the coupon code Jockers10 at checkout to save 10% off your order here

Conclusion

Just about anyone would find it desirable to be able to maintain a high level of mental acuity into old age. We now know of several powerful strategies and natural substances that can assist in achieving this aspect of longevity. Lion’s Mane mushroom is one powerful tool in the toolbox for keeping the brain young and sharp.

Many different supplemental forms exist on the market and, as always, not all are created equal. I have provided my current favorites as well as my next-level brain support formula Organic Multi-Mushroom Complex.

If you want to work with a functional health coach, I recommend this article with tips on how to find a great coach. On our website, we offer long-distance functional health coaching programs. For further support with your health goals, just reach out—our fantastic coaches are here to support your journey.

Sources for this Article Include 

1. Samberkar S, Gandhi S, Naidu M, Wong KH, Raman J, Sabaratnam V. Lion’s Mane, Hericium erinaceus and Tiger Milk, Lignosus rhinocerotis (Higher Basidiomycetes) Medicinal Mushrooms Stimulate Neurite Outgrowth in Dissociated Cells of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Retina: An In Vitro Study. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(11):1047-54. PMID: 26853959
2. Lai PL, Naidu M, Sabaratnam V, et al. Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s Mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(6):539-54. PMID: 24266378
3. Wong KH, Naidu M, David RP, Bakar R, Sabaratnam V. Neuroregenerative potential of Lion’s Mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury (review). Int J Med Mushrooms. 2012;14(5):427-46. PMID: 23510212
4. Liu Z, Wang Q, Cui J, et al. Systemic Screening of Strains of the Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) and Its Protective Effects on Aβ-Triggered Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(3):219-29. PMID: 25954906
5. Zhang CC, Cao CY, Kubo M, et al. Chemical Constituents from Hericium erinaceus Promote Neuronal Survival and Potentiate Neurite Outgrowth via the TrkA/Erk1/2 Pathway. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(8) PMID: 28758954
6. Ryu S, Kim HG, Kim JY, Kim SY, Cho KO. Hericium erinaceus Extract Reduces Anxiety and Depressive Behaviors by Promoting Hippocampal Neurogenesis in the Adult Mouse Brain. J Med Food. 2018;21(2):174-180. PMID: 29091526
7. Lucas M, Chocano-bedoya P, Schulze MB, et al. Inflammatory dietary pattern and risk of depression among women. Brain Behav Immun. 2014;36:46-53. PMID: 24095894
8. Friedman M. Chemistry, Nutrition, and Health-Promoting Properties of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) Mushroom Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia and Their Bioactive Compounds. J Agric Food Chem. 2015;63(32):7108-23. PMID: 26244378
9. Diling C, Chaoqun Z, Jian Y, et al. Immunomodulatory Activities of a Fungal Protein Extracted from Hericium erinaceua through Regulating the Gut Microbiota. Front Immunol. 2017;8:666. PMID: 28713364
10. Kim YO, Lee SW, Oh CH, Rhee YH. Hericium erinaceus suppresses LPS-induced pro-inflammation gene activation in RAW264.7 macrophages. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2012;34(3):504-12. PMID: 22126451
11. Geng Y, Zhu S, Lu Z, Xu H, Shi JS, Xu ZH. Anti-inflammatory activity of mycelial extracts from medicinal mushrooms. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2014;16(4):319-25. PMID: 25271860
12. Yang BK, Park JB, Song CH. Hypolipidemic effect of an Exo-biopolymer produced from a submerged mycelial culture of Hericium erinaceus. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2003;67(6):1292-8. PMID: 12843656
13. Choi WS, Kim YS, Park BS, Kim JE, Lee SE. Hypolipidaemic Effect of Hericium erinaceum Grown in Artemisia capillaris on Obese Rats. Mycobiology. 2013;41(2):94-9. PMID: 23874132
14. Qin M, Geng Y, Lu Z, et al. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ethanol Extract of Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes), in Mice with Ulcerative Colitis. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2016;18(3):227-34. PMID: 27481156
15. Lee SR, Jung K, Noh HJ, et al. A new cerebroside from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus Lion’s mane and its applicability to cancer treatment. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2015;25(24):5712-5. PMID: 26547693
16. Den besten G, Van eunen K, Groen AK, Venema K, Reijngoud DJ, Bakker BM. The role of short-chain fatty acids in the interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host energy metabolism. J Lipid Res. 2013;54(9):2325-40. PMID: 23821742

Leaky Brain, Leaky Brain Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes and Natural Solutions

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  1. I just love this because I’m pregnant with triplets and I’m 35 and I’m stressed about my loan on the house and I’m in stress and I need something like this. Thank you and have a wonderful night!!!!

  2. I took Lions Mane, for 5/6 days about a teaspoon in morning.
    And I don’t know but I had this headaches, and my left arm
    Felt like I had a tourniquet just above my elbow. I thought I was
    Having a heart attack. I have stopped it and so far I am fine.
    No headaches nor the feeling of a tourniquet on my arm.
    Would like to know if any one has felt like that.

    1. For me it was a foggy strange headache that lasted about 3 hours. I waited several days then tried again and the same thing happened.

  3. I took lionsmane tablets before a national examinations and I felt so vigorous the whole day! I haven’t felt tired or or sleepy as I did before. A daily dose increase my mental capacity and so I gave some to my mother also.

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