Lion’s Mane Mushroom Benefits

The Lion’s Mane mushroom is one of the most potent medicinal mushrooms. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and is now gaining popularity as a powerful supplement. What are this mushroom’s benefits, uses, recipes, and side effects?

The lion’s mane’s spiritual benefits are a mushroom that can be found in North America. It has many uses, including spiritual benefits.

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What would you think if you ate a mushroom that resembled the scruff of a lion? Are you unsure about the lion’s mane mushroom? What if I told you it’s linked to significant brain repair, has cancer-fighting potential, and is being studied for many other health benefits?

The lion’s mane mushroom is a prominent nootropic food in traditional Chinese medicine. As a result, a significant amount of study has centered on this brain-boosting fungus in recent years, and the findings have been nothing short of amazing.

Antibiotic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, anti-fatigue, antihypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-senescence [anti-aging], cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective, and improves anxiety, cognitive function, and depression, according to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Whether you want to try lion’s mane mushroom in your mushroom coffee, please find the most OK lion’s mane supplement or learn more about this strange-looking fungus; I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

What Is Lion’s Mane Mushroom?

Lion’s mane, also known as Hericium Erinaceus in Latin, is native to North America, Europe, and Asia, but it is not commonly grown outside of Asia. It’s also known as Hedgehog Mushroom, Yamabushitake, or Houtou, and it’s a member of the tooth fungus (hydroid fungi) family.

The long, hanging spines of lion’s mane mushrooms are typically more than a centimeter long. Unlike other mushroom species, which have spines that protrude from a branch, Hericium Erinaceus spines protrude outward, giving it the appearance of a lion’s mane.

Late summer and autumn, these mushrooms may be found on both live and dead broadleaf trees.

Research has shown that the lion’s mane has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunostimulating effects in cells, animals, and people. Thus, it has been utilized as a medicinal fungus for thousands of years, mainly by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.

Like many other highly beneficial foods, the lion’s mane mushroom has long been recognized in areas of Asia to be helpful to a variety of bodily functions and diseases. The strange-looking fungus has been revered by Buddhist monks in Japan for decades, if not millennia, and is said to be virtually a magical source of nourishment.

The Yamabushi Buddhist monks wear a robe called the “suzukake,” which comprises numerous long strands of fur and has a remarkable similarity to the lion’s mane mushroom, which is presumably why the mushroom is known as the yamabushitake in certain places.

Benefits

1. Helps the nervous system and improves brain function

The effect of lion’s mane mushroom on brain cells and associated processes is perhaps the most extensively studied aspect of the fungus. Thus, this fantastic fungus has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders.

According to a study published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, a lion’s mane impacts brain function by increasing “neurite outgrowth” in the brain and associated organs. The development of axons and dendrites from neurons is referred to as neurite outgrowth.

In the field of brain health studies, that’s a huge thing. It may delay or reverse cell degeneration in the brain, which is a hallmark of illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, by boosting this growth.

According to 2012 research performed in Malaysia, consuming the lion’s mane mushroom may repair damaged cells from peripheral nerve injury, which affects the delicate tissue between your brain and spinal cord.

When scientists figure out how certain medicines or therapies impact brain disorders, they often utilize the PC12 cell line. For example, extracts and different forms of the lion’s mane mushroom seem to affect PC12 cells substantially, shielding them from harm and considerably delaying cell death.

This discovery may be very useful in preventing and treating brain diseases.

According to an animal study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the lion’s mane mushroom increased cognitive performance and improved memory in mice, both with and without an Alzheimer’s model. In addition, multiple studies have shown an inverse relationship between lion’s mane and Alzheimer’s-related symptoms, implying that the mice’s symptoms improved after eating the mushroom extract.

A study published in Phytotherapy Research showed that eight to 16 weeks of lion’s mane supplementation improved moderate cognitive impairment in humans. Still, this benefit did not persist when the participants stopped taking the supplement.

When it comes to brain damage and illness, the risk of ischemia injury (damage caused by a lack of blood flow) to neurons is equally essential to consider. The lion’s mane mushroom has been found to help prevent this kind of damage in laboratory studies performed in Taiwan.

According to an animal study published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, using lion’s mane supplements may have possible protective benefits against the progression of Parkinson’s disease, another neurodegenerative illness.

While much of this research is still in its early stages and has not yet proceeded to large-scale human studies, the constant impact of lion’s mane mushroom on brain cells should not be overlooked.

2. It has the potential to protect against cancer

According to a slew of studies, lion’s mane may be helpful in the treatment of cancer. Compounds from lion’s mane mushroom or supplementation with the mushroom have been shown to delay or reverse the spread of: possibly.

  • Leukemia
  • Gastric cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Liver Cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Breast cancer

In Korean research on leukemia, the lion’s mane decreased leukemia cells substantially. So the Department of Molecular Science and Technology at Ajou University did further study and discovered that the phytochemicals in lion’s mane mushroom had “therapeutic promise against human leukemia.”

According to research published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, in the case of stomach cancer, lion’s mane induced cell death and cell cycle arrest. “Our work offers in vitro evidence that HEG-5 may be taken as a viable option for treating gastric cancer,” the researchers stated.

The potential of the lion’s mane mushroom to help cure lung cancer has been discovered in both cell and animal research published in the Journal of Natural Products and the Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences. Meanwhile, lion’s mane has anticancer potential against colon, breast, and other malignancies, according to in vitro and animal studies published in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology and Ethnopharmacology.

Some researchers have suggested that lion’s mane mushroom supplements may be used to treat cancer, but no long-term or large-scale studies have been done to back this up.

Another noteworthy discovery was the migration of cancer from the colon to the lungs (metastasis). A patient is diagnosed with stage IV cancer when the disease has progressed beyond the initial organ discovered.

In research performed in Korea, rats were given either hot water lion’s mane extract or microwaved ethanol extracts of lion’s mane mushroom. The rats examined revealed that eating lion’s mane extract reduced cancer cell metastasis to the lungs by 66 percent and 69 percent, respectively.

3. Promotes the health of the heart and circulatory system

The lion’s mane mushroom may also aid in the prevention of heart disease. In vitro and animal studies have shown that lion’s mane extracts may reduce triglycerides in the circulation, an early indication of heart disease, while also preventing the rise of LDL cholesterol (often known as “bad” cholesterol).

According to research performed on rabbit platelets by the Department of Cellular Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tohoku University in Japan, an extract of a lion’s mane mushroom may help avoid blood clots and decrease the risk of stroke.

4. It Has the Potential to Improve Digestive Health

The lion’s mane mushroom may help your stomach and digestive system operate better, thanks to its potent anti-inflammatory qualities.

The lion’s mane mushroom has been proven to protect against or reduce stomach ulcers in numerous trials. According to a study performed on rats by the Mushroom Research Centre at the University of Malaya in Malaysia, bioactive chemicals found in lion’s mane extract may be responsible for the gastroprotective action shown in the rats.

“Results suggest that the polysaccharide fraction is the active component of the H. Erinaceus mycelium culture, which protects against stomach ulcers,” according to research published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms on mice from China.

According to lab tests and research on mice, lion’s mane may substantially alleviate symptoms of two major inflammatory diseases of the digestive system: gastritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

5. It Helps to Reduce Inflammation

The lion’s mane mushroom was shown to decrease Inflammation in adipose tissue in a 2015 Japanese research. This is significant because fatty tissue inflammation plays a role in developing metabolic syndrome, a group of diseases linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Antibacterial properties of lion’s mane against h. Pylori is known as “the most successful pathogen in human history.” While many individuals do not show symptoms from harboring the bacterium, it may cause severe gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers in the stomach and intestines in certain people.

6. Functions as a Potent Antioxidant

The antioxidant properties of the lion’s mane mushroom assist in preventing and alleviating oxidative stress induced by inadequate diet and exposure to toxins in the environment.

These antioxidants may be beneficial in the healing of wounds, for example. Research conducted at the University of Malaya discovered that a liquid extract of lion’s mane substantially accelerated wound healing in rats compared to spontaneous recovery.

7. Enhances mental health and overall happiness

A lion’s mane mushroom supplement may also improve sleep and reduce the impacts of mental health problems.

In mouse experiments, strong polysaccharides derived from the lion’s mane were proven to combat tiredness. They may also have the potential to restore circadian rhythms to normal, as they did on mice in research performed at Kyushu University’s Faculty of Agriculture’s Department of Agro-environmental Sciences, which is especially important for individuals at risk of dementia.

Consuming lion’s mane mushroom may potentially be an effective natural treatment for sadness and anxiety.

30 women were given either a placebo or lion’s mane for four weeks in one trial. “Our findings indicate that HE consumption has the potential to alleviate sadness and anxiety, and these findings imply a distinct mechanism from H. Erinaceus NGF-enhancing action,” the researchers stated. As shown by mouse studies, this seems to be connected in part to the inflammatory component linked to depression.

8. Strengthens the immune system

According to studies conducted on mice, the lion’s mane seems to have the potential to improve immune system function in a way linked to the polysaccharide content in the fungus.

9. It Has the Potential to Help You Manage Diabetes

When animals were given an extract of the lion’s mane mushroom, their blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, and many other diabetic symptoms improved significantly.

Nutrition

According to research, the lion’s mane contains at least 32 bioactive chemicals. Although the vitamin and mineral content of the lion’s mane is challenging to determine, it is said to be high in potassium, zinc, iron, and selenium.

The polysaccharides found in lion’s mane are one of the reasons it has been studied for several uses. Polysaccharides, like glucose, are complex carbohydrate compounds.

The beta-glucan polysaccharides found in lion’s mane mushrooms have been linked to various health advantages, including heart health and immunological responses.

Reishi vs. Lion’s Mane

Both lion’s mane and reishi are fungi used in traditional Chinese medicine for medicinal and therapeutic reasons. They both have several health advantages in common, including the potential to enhance immunological function and combat oxidative stress.

The neuroprotective properties of the lion’s mane are well recognized and appreciated. It improves cognitive health by promoting “neurite outgrowth,” essential for brain development and Reduces Inflammation.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the lion’s mane is frequently used to maintain qi, a person’s vital energy, and treat problems affecting the central nervous system. As a result, patients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and cognitive impairment may benefit.

The remarkable therapeutic powers of the reishi mushroom are well-known. It contains anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting effects similar to lion’s mane.

It’s also used to improve mental clarity and assist the body in dealing with the adverse effects of stress, which is why it’s classified as an adaptogen herb. Reishi mushrooms also contain polysaccharides, similar to those found in lion’s mane, which may help them fight cancer.

Uses

In many Asian nations, lion’s mane mushrooms have been utilized for generations as a food source and herbal medicine. However, this medicinal fungus has received a lot of interest in the past ten years because of its possible therapeutic powers in neurodegenerative disorders.

The fungus has long been revered in the East, with fungi referred to as “spirit plants” that give lifespan and spiritual power. According to studies published in the Journal of Restorative Medicine, the lion’s mane has historically been used to nourish the stomach, strengthen the spleen, and as an anticancer agent in Chinese and Japanese medicinal systems.

It’s believed to be nourishing our five internal organs — the lung, heart, spleen, kidney, and liver — and it’s utilized to promote excellent digestion, strength, and overall vitality in traditional medicine.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the lion’s mane mushroom treats qi deficiency (a lack of “vital energy”). In addition, it is often used to treat problems affecting the central nervous system, sleeplessness, and weakness.

Unfortunately, lion’s mane mushroom isn’t easily accessible in most Western grocery stores, except Asian food shops in Chinatown.

You do, however, have two other choices. One, lion’s mane may be grown in North America, and kits with seeds for developing it in your garden are available online.

If you take this path, consider that many people compare the mushroom to a meaty, seafood-like foodstuff. However, it goes nicely with brown rice or quinoa, particularly when fresh tastes like bell peppers or sweet onion are added.

Supplements (Dosage)

Supplements containing lion’s mane are often utilized for their potential cognitive and immune-boosting properties. Supplements in extract, powder, and pill form are available online or at your local vitamin shop.

Lion’s mane mushroom capsules are available with lion’s mane as the only component or as part of a combination that includes other nootropic foods and herbs, including reishi, cordyceps, Ginkgo Biloba, and ashwagandha, to improve brain health.

When taking any dietary supplement, check the label to determine how much to handle, mainly several components. The doses suggested in supplements vary from 300 milligrams to 3,000 mg, taken one to three times each day, so read the label carefully.

Start with a lower dosage of lion’s mane supplement and work your way up from there if you’re not sure how your body will respond.

Discontinue use if you have any allergic symptoms after using lion’s mane mushroom extract or supplements, such as itching or stomach problems.

Side Effects and Risks

The lion’s mane mushroom is usually considered to be a safe food. It has been shown in many animal tests to be non-toxic at various doses and over long periods.

There have been a few rare reports of lion’s mane mushroom adverse effects, including contact dermatitis and respiratory discomfort after eating the fungus.

If you choose to consume this mushroom and have symptoms like burning/itching skin, difficulty breathing, or swollen lips, see your doctor right once.

Last Thoughts

  • The edible lion’s mane mushroom is cultivated throughout Asia, Europe, and North America.
  • It’s been utilized as a therapeutic food in traditional Chinese medicine and other ancient healing techniques for millennia.
  • The lion’s mane mushroom offers a wide range of health advantages due to unique polysaccharides and other nutrients.
  • The capacity to prevent or protect neurological disease and cancer progression is one of the most well-known advantages of eating lion’s mane.
  • The lion’s mane mushroom may also benefit heart health, guard against inflammatory digestive problems, decrease Inflammation, alleviate oxidative stress, enhance immunity, and prevent diabetes.
  • Although lion’s mane is not readily accessible in most Western food stores, it may be grown or taken as a supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you take lions mane every day?

A: Yes, you can take a lion’s mane every day.

What does a lion’s mane do for the brain?

A: Lion’s mane is an herb that has been traditionally used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve brain function.

How do you use the lion’s mane supplement?

A: Lions Mane supplement is a dietary supplement that has been shown to have potential in treating depression.

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