Blog - Complete Guide to Lion's Mane

The Complete Guide to Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

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There is bustling excitement growing around the health benefits of Lion’s Mane mushrooms. This unique medicinal mushroom has received far-reaching attention for its capacity to improve brain function, mental well-being, memory, and mood. These health benefits are not only supported by a growing body of scientific evidence but also countless first-hand experiences.

Lion’s Mane has captivated researchers studying treatments for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, anxiety, depression, and other forms of cognitive dysfunction.

Other individuals use Lion’s Mane as a day-to-day ally for overcoming exhaustion, lack of focus, brain fog, and other stress related maladies exacerbated by our modern-day lifestyle.

For these reasons, Lion’s Mane has quickly become one of the most popular medicinal mushrooms on the market.

The best thing about Lion’s Mane is that it is incredibly safe. Adverse side effects are rare, and it does not severely disrupt or alter brain chemistry, as is the case with other medications. Instead, it works gently over time to restore balance, well-being, and vitality in brain function. After all, Lion’s Mane is also an edible mushroom that is often consumed in quantities greater than doses used in supplements.

While there is no doubt that Lion’s Mane can be a magnificent addition to a health routine, every product containing Lion’s Mane is far from equal. Substandard products are widespread in the industry, with many companies using deceptive marketing tactics to sell low-potency supplements. This is not only a waste of money for buyers, but consumers may miss out on the much-needed treatment this mushroom could offer.

If you’ve tried a Lion’s Mane supplement with no results, this could be why.

What is Lion's Mane Mushroom?

Lion’s Mane is a wood-loving mushroom native to Europe, Asia, and North America. It is scientifically known as Hericium erinaceus and is easily recognized by its white color, spherical shape, and hundreds of thin dangling tassel-like teeth.

Lion’s Mane is relatively rare in the wild but is cultivated worldwide. While it is an esteemed gourmet mushroom, it is most often found today as a health supplement.

Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom

For centuries, Lion’s Mane has been consumed in Traditional Chinese Medicine to improve digestive health. It is said to neutralize issues related to “excessive heat”, such as gastritis, heartburn, acid reflux, and other digestive problems. It has also historically been used in the treatment of stomach ulcers.

Traditionally, it was often incorporated into soups alongside other ingredients to soothe digestive issues and improve gut functioning.

Today, Lion’s Mane is most known for supporting cognitive health. This means improving memory, mental clarity, and mood. Its neuroprotective and brain-supporting properties have also shown the potential to help against Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Research also suggests Lion’s Mane may help patients with mood disorders like depression and anxiety.

While Lion’s Mane was not valued for its cognitive benefits in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is interesting to note that the digestive system has the second highest concentration of nerve cells after the brain. Since Lion’s Mane has been shown to have unique interactions with these cells, it should not be too surprising that Lion’s Mane is capable of helping with all parts of the nervous system; brain and gut included!

Improving Cognitive Function

One notable study from Japan showed that patients consuming 3 grams of Lion’s Mane powder daily for 16 weeks scored significantly higher scores on cognitive tests than the control group.¹ These wore off about four weeks after the end of the regimen.

Another double-blind study including 34 patients showed that individuals scored significantly higher on cognitive tests after 12 weeks of consuming supplements containing 3.2 grams of dried Lion’s Mane powder daily.²

Numerous animal studies have also shown that lion’s mane could prevent cognitive dysfunction³, improve learning and memory⁴ ⁵, and have neuroprotective effects that could help against Alzheimer’s.⁶

Dozens of other scientific analyses have been conducted on animals and in-vitro, supporting the use of Lion’s Mane to treat cognitive disorders.⁷

Alleviation of Depression and Anxiety

A double-blind study with 30 female patients showed a significant reduction in anxiety and depression in women consuming 2 grams of dried Lion’s Mane powder daily.⁸

Another study showed a significant reduction in depression in patients suffering from obesity after consuming Lion’s Mane regularly for eight weeks. Lion’s Mane was also shown to increase sleep quality for these patients.⁹

Many animal studies and countless in-vitro experiments also support using Lion’s Mane for depression and anxiety.¹⁰

Other Potential Health Benefits

Improvement of Digestive Health¹¹ ¹² ¹³ ¹⁴

Enhanced Immune Function¹⁵ ¹⁶

Boosting Endurance and Energy Levels ¹⁷ ¹⁸

May Help In Cancer Treatment ¹⁹ ²⁰

How Does Lion’s Mane Work?

The cognitive benefits of Lion’s Mane are thanks to several unique compounds which support brain health. The most well-known are hericenones and erinacines.

These compounds are not only neuroprotective but also stimulate neurogenesis by promoting a compound called “Nerve-Growth-Factor”.²¹This compound directly promotes the growth of new neurons.

Hericenones and erinacines also help with the functioning of neural pathways. For example, they have also been shown to help against the build-up of amyloid plaque³, a compound linked to Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. They also have been shown to promote the regeneration of the “myelin sheath”, which facilitates the fluidity and function of the neural pathways.²²

For this same reason, Lion’s Mane is also being studied in treating nerve damage and nervous system dysfunctions. A recent study has revealed another novel compound, N-de phenylethyl isohericerin (or simply NDPIH), which may also support cognitive health.²³

Lion’s Mane also contains specialized polysaccharides called beta-glucans. These are soluble fibers that have been shown to support immune function, digestive health, and have been rigorously studied for their use in cancer therapies.²⁴They are found within many different medicinal mushrooms, but every variety has unique beta-glucans. Certain grains also contain beta-glucans, but only the unique structure of the fungal beta-glucans (known as (1,3;1,6)-β-D-Glucans) have potent bioactivity.

Mind and Mane – A High-Quality Lion’s Mane Supplement

At Mind and Mane, we proudly offer high-quality products aligned with the latest scientific research. We source our Lion’s Mane extracts from trusted producers who only utilize 100% fruiting bodies and state-of-the-art extraction technologies. These are lab-tested to guarantee the presence of bioactive compounds.

Lastly, we include these extracts in quantified doses that have been shown to be effective in research trials.

What Mind and Mane Offers

Made With Real Fruiting Bodies: Mind and Mane products contain extracts made with 100% fruiting bodies. Many other brands you see at the store do not use mushroom fruiting bodies, but instead the white filamentous root-like structure of the fungi known as “mycelium”. Mycelium is cheaper to produce, but unfortunately for unsuspected consumers, it contains much fewer bioactive compounds²⁵ ²⁶. If a supplement does not mention using 100% fruiting bodies, it probably isn’t!

Potent 4:1 Extracts: Our extracts are made using state-of-the-art equipment at a 4:1 ratio. This means that 4 grams of dried Lion’s Mane mushrooms are utilized for every gram of our extract.

Research-Verified Dosage: For any medicine to be effective, it must be consumed at adequate dosages verified by clinical trials and other scientific research. This is about 3-5 grams of dried Lion’s Mane consumed daily. This is what our product offers, which is a strength at least 3x more potent than most competitors!

How To Consume Lion’s Mane

To reap the benefits of Lion’s Mane mushrooms, they should be consumed daily for an extended period. At least 2-3 weeks of daily consumption is often required before they become effective. While there may be some long-term health benefits, the effects have not been shown to last much longer beyond the time of utilization.

Like any medicine, Lion’s Mane is most effective when combined with a holistic health regime. This means incorporating a healthy diet, exercise, rest, and social activity into your lifestyle.

Other herbs, medications, and therapeutic practices recommended by health professionals may also be helpful in the treatment of both mild/serious conditions.

Likewise, restraining from activities with known health consequences is also essential for the treatment to be most effective.

Risks and Side Effects

Generally speaking, Lion’s Mane is considered an exceptionally safe mushroom with little to no side effects. Remember, this mushroom is also consumed as a gourmet edible in much larger quantities than the doses recommended as a health supplement.

This being said, much research is still required to confirm the long-term safety of Lion’s Mane. No studies have been conducted on the safety of Lion’s Mane for pregnant women, nor about possible interactions with other medications. For this reason, always consult a qualified health practitioner before consuming Lion’s Mane mushrooms.

Everyone has a unique biology influenced by their genes, diet, and life history. While most people do not suffer negative side effects from Lion’s Mane, others may be susceptible. Skin rashes, abdominal pain, and nausea have been reported from Lion’s Mane supplements in some clinical trials ²⁷ ²⁸, although the exact cause has not been confirmed. There is also anecdotal evidence that it may lower male libido and could even cause dysphoria.

If you suffer any negative side effects from consuming Lion’s Mane mushrooms, you should stop consuming them immediately.

Try It For Yourself

The best way to know if Lion’s Mane is a suitable supplement for you is to give it a try. Remember, for it to be effective, Lion’s Mane must be consumed daily at the proper dosage for at least four weeks. Most individuals will notice a significant increase in mood, memory, and brain function within the first 2-3 weeks. If you do not notice any significant improvement in your mood, memory, or brain function after four weeks, Lion’s Mane may not be for you.

We encourage you to further research all the potential benefits of Lion’s Mane. While there are countless products, think critically before purchasing any product which claims to contain Lion’s Mane.

Mind and Mane products are carefully crafted and aligned with the latest scientific research. They are effective, easy to take, and delicious. Not only are they a great way to reap the benefits of Lion’s Mane, but they also contain a dose of the legendary Reishi mushroom. This mushroom, known as the “herb of immortality”, has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine and offers a whopping list of health benefits.

By mixing Lion’s Mane and Reishi, we have designed a well-rounded product designed to improve well-being, promote healthy aging, and help anyone overcome their day-to-day hurdles.

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