The Brain-Boosting Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom
"Hi - just wanted to give you some feedback. My partner, my best mate and I have all been taking Lions Mane for over a month now - the difference is amazing - I've stopped walking into rooms and wondering what I went in for. On a separate note, which is the bit that's blown me away - my 87 year-old mother-in-law started taking this - just three days in - such a short period of time she's started to remember our names - I cannot tell you what a difference this makes to us as a family. Thank you" Joy E
The Disclaimer bit: The information we are providing is for educational purposes from our own research and is not interned to diagnose, treat or prevent any diseases. We always suggest you do your own research and talk to a functional and or medical practitioner about any serious health concerns you may have.
DO WE DRINK IT? (by Rich)
YES! A couple of weeks in, after drinking 2g (about 1/2 a tea spoon) per day I noticed that it felt like I had more time to process information, able to receive more information in one moment and "organise it" effectively, I felt like I'd expanded the bandwidth of my brain! I remember it clearly (ironically ;), I was at a yoga event, chatting with customers, and with three conversations simultaneously (on in Spanish) I was able to be in all conversations and articulate really easily.
WHAT IS A LIONS MANE MUSHROOM?
Lion’s Mane, seen in ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine texts, is one of the most well-known medicinal mushrooms. Native in the northern hemisphere and Asia it is also known as the yamabushitake, bearded tooth fungus, bearded hedgehog, or old man's beard!
It grows in old forests mainly on oak, birch, maple or black walnut - woods that make great hosts for the fungus to grow. Lion’s Mane was once abundant in the UK’s old forests with the reduction of natural woodland it is now a protected species so please if you are ever lucky enough to see one, let it be.
Fortunately it is easily cultivated on wood chip and can be “farmed” Di Dao style in the mountains, replicating their natural environment. A powerful medicinal fungus it’s also is a delicious culinary mushroom, with a sweet subtly, nutty profile and ‘lobster’ like texture, it is a great source of minerals, potassium, selenium, iron and high in protein. A true powerhouse.
The Lion’s Mane mushroom’s medicinal benefits are in part due to their complex molecules, notably Beta Glucans. Shown in studies to support the immune system and by working synergistically to help synthesize compounds we already produce. An example of this is Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), essential for cognitive and neuronal health, stimulated by the erinacines and hericenones found in Lion’s Mane.
Known for its ability to support cognitive function, mental wellbeing and memory, Hericium Erinaceus (from Lion’s Mane) is undergoing continual clinical studies on helping the brain to combat degenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimers. Due to its powerful effect on neuro-regeneration via increasing NGF and its positive impacts on amyloid plaque build-up on the myeline sheath (protective coating around our neurons). Awesome, thank you Lions Mane - and the scientists studying it!
In this blog we will look at its powerful effects on cognitive wellbeing, what the research is saying and how you can incorporate Lion’s Mane mushroom extract into your diet.
LION’S MANE FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Lion’s Mane studies based around mental health in young adults has shown continued supplementation to improve both mood and mental health. This may be in part down to the high levels of natural probiotics found in mushrooms. Mice studies and clinical human trails show improvement in the gut microbiome which has an effect on stress hormone regulation and the production of serotonin (the happy hormone, among other uses). Repeated studies in mice have shown positive antidepressant and hormone regulating effects (yes humans are different to mice but our brains work in similar ways :)
LION’S MANE FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT
Lion’s Mane may help ease stress, a study in Biomedical Research examined the effects of lion’s mane mushroom on brain function and concluded that participants who ate cookies containing 0.5 grams of lion’s mane powder specifically the mushroom - the fruiting body, for four weeks reported less anxiety than those who had placebo cookies. The theory was that the nerve growth effect of lion’s mane mushroom contributes to its anti-anxiety action.
COGNITIVE SUPPORT
Using Lion’s Mane for cognitive improvement is a well-studied area that is gaining more traction in the global fight against cognitive decline. Like most lifestyle diseases, which many argue dementia and Alzheimer’s is, prevention is the key to eradication. For those already suffering from the disease, improvements using lion’s mane mushroom supplements is being actively demonstrated. The compounds of special interest hericenones and erinacines have been shown to stimulate the growth and nourishment of brain cells.
A 2020 study of people with mild Alzheimer’s disease found that supplementation with 1 gram of Lion’s Mane mushroom powder daily for 49 weeks significantly improved cognitive test scores compared with a placebo - that’s less than half a teaspoon!
ENRICHD CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
I love the cacao, but it's the lions mane that's really blown me away. I have ADHD and find it really hard to focus on boring tasks like updating my website or loading things in my online shop. Since taking the lions mane I've been able to sit and get those tasks done - things I've put off for months. My memory has improved too and I noticed that I can remember people's names a lot easier. It's had such a positive impact that I've recommended you to quite a few of my friends and they have said they have also noticed improvements. Meeting you at the festival was definitely one of those serendipitous moments where the Universe was doing her thing!" Anna. S
PRODUCT TRANSPARENCY, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD?
We source our Lion’s Mane dual extract 10:1 quality extract powder from our trusted growing partners in the norther mountains of China - the mother land of the medicine and where the ancient wisdom began. Our mushrooms are wood-grown with heavy metal testing on every batch and we spot test in the UK too.
We only use the fruiting body as we believe that via dual extract (water and ethanolic extractions - no alcohol is present in the final powdered extract) the beneficial triterpenes, polyphenols and beta glucan’s can be realised from the mushrooms cellular make up and be delivered to us via a bio available, soluble powder extract format.
HOW MUCH TO TAKE AND IS THERE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?
Dosage is important but thankfully Lion’s mane is non toxic and there is no worry about ‘overdosing’ however optimising a daily dose of around 1.5-3g of extract we have found is the sweet spot ½-tea spoon (depending on the size of your spoon)!
As with all food products some people may experience allergies or mild intolerances so when introducing a new food listen to your body and start with a smaller dose and work your way up. If you are on complex medications or are undergoing a functional medicine plan already then work with your practitioner to ensure that Lion’s mane will fit into tour diet.
The positive effects of working with this incredible mushroom will hopefully be seen into the months and years of using it regularly. Using food as medicine and prevention means the result may be something unseen or felt, like the onset of cognitive decline.
HOW TO INCORPORATE LION’S MANE INTO YOUR DIET
Being both culinary and medicinal, Lions mane can be a great addition into your diet through eating (on toast, in stir-fry’s or soups) or via lions mane powder in your coffee, smoothies or hot chocolate . The benefits of Lions mane and all adaptogens are that their continued use builds up in your body overtime. It is not a quick fix, pill solution, it is healing from the inside and adjusting your lifestyle, especially food choices to incorporate superfoods and fungi into your daily routines.
We are creatures of habit so getting lion’s mane into your diet should become part of your daily routine. Coffee drinker? Put a spoon into your daily cup or drink as a tea. With its mild, delicate flavour the powder dissolves easily and makes a delicious hot drink in its own right. At Enrichd we are big fans of hot chocolate, made empowered with the original superfood, heirloom cacao, add lions mane and maca for a delicious malty hot chocolate.
However you bring it into your life, Lion’s mane is a fantastic fungi to add to our tool kit to support a healthy lifestyle and optimise your wellbeing.
FURTHER STUDY AND REFERENCES
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
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6720269/
Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium ameliorates Alzheimer's disease-related pathologies in APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27350344/
High molecular weight of polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus against amyloid beta-induced neurotoxicity
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4895996/
Prevention of Early Alzheimer’s Disease by Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7283924/
Hericium erinaceus in Neurodegenerative Diseases: From Bench to Bedside and Beyond, How Far from the Shoreline?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10218917/
The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10675414/
Neurohealth Properties of Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Erinacines
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5987239/
Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6982118/