What is the Lion’s Mane Mushroom?
Lion’s Mane (Hericium Erinaceus) is an ancient Chinese medicinal mushroom with powerful properties proven to improve brain health, enhance cognition, and protect the brain against injury, disease, and the effects of ageing. It is quickly becoming universally recognized as a supplement that provides a wide array of benefits.
It is certainly a unique and exceptionally promising natural nootropic that belongs to the edible tooth fungi group. It is sometimes referred to as ‘bearded tooth mushroom’, ‘hedgehog mushroom’, and even ‘pom pom mushroom’ because of its long dangling clusters of spines.
Lion’s Mane’s mechanisms of action are quite different from those of other nootropics. While -racetams and other synthetic nootropics work by modulating the production of various neurotransmitters, Lion’s Mane works by increasing the amount of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain. NGF is a neurotrophin, a small secreted protein that is essential for the growth, maintenance, proliferation, and survival of neurons. First identified in the 1950s, NGF has been extensively studied and shown to be one of the primary building blocks of brain health and neuroplasticity.
The Lion’s Mane mushroom grows naturally in the wild in Europe, Asia, and North America – beginning to grow in the late summer through the fall, primarily on hardwood trees.
These mushrooms are prized for their nutritional and culinary qualities too. They are typically dried and ground into a powder to make Lion’s Mane mushroom capsules. The extract for the capsules is made from the whole mushroom that you can see above the ground by breaking down the cell walls of the mushroom with hot water in order to get to the beta-d-glucans trapped within the cell walls. This means that with our full spectrum 1:1 Lion’s Mane extract, you will be getting every beneficial compound within the plant, with a minimum beta-glucan content of 25%.
Where to Buy the Lion’s Mane Mushroom Online
At Nootropics.com, you can buy Lion’s Mane in a jar of 60x500mg capsules. All of our products are quality tested once after manufacturing, and then undergo a stringent process of quality assurance by an independent third-party lab. We test for identity, purity, and an array of heavy metals using FTIR and HPLC. Our products use vegetable capsules suitable for vegans.
Our customers get free shipping on orders over $70 in the US and $200 for international orders. If you buy 2 or more jars of Lion’s Mane mushrooms, we offer a 5% and 10% discount. We offer a money-back guarantee 90 days after you buy our products.
Lion’s Mane Guidelines
Lion’s Mane dosage: As a dietary supplement, take 1 – 2 capsules per day.
Effect onset and duration: Though Lion’s Mane does not have the immediate effects of modern synthetic nootropics, it has long-lasting improvements to memory and overall brain function.
Extended use: Commercial preparations of Lion’s Mane vary considerably in strength, purity, and composition, which makes it difficult to identify an optimal dosage. The amount needed to experience its benefits depends largely on the potency of the extract, so follow the directions on the product label.
Usage notes:
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom is well tolerated. When used orally and appropriately, it is considered safe for short-term use. The safety of long-term use is not known due to insufficient research and clinical studies. Side effects seem to be limited to mild gastrointestinal discomfort.
- It stacks well with Aniracetam, Alpha-GPC and Omega-3’s.
Caution: Anyone who is allergic or sensitive to mushrooms should avoid Lion’s Mane since it is a species of mushroom.
Alcohol note: No interaction is known.
Always consult with a qualified healthcare physician before taking any new dietary supplement. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Further Information
Third-party purity testing:
Certificate of Authenticity – Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Other names: Hericium Erinaceus, Yamabushitake, Monkey’s Head, Satyr’s Beard and Houtou.
Half-life: 2 hours
Side effects: Lion’s Mane appears to be well tolerated and associated with very few side effects. In animal testing, no signs of toxicity were observed even at very high dosages. The most commonly reported side effect is a sensation of itchy skin, which may be explained by an increase in nerve growth factor levels. Lion’s Mane is well studied and is considered safe at standard doses, but if side effects do occur, please exercise caution. If discomfort persists or intensifies, always consult a medical practitioner.
Further information (off-site)
1. Examine.com Article
2. Wikipedia
3. Healthline
4. Braintropic
References
• Provides mood support
• Supports overall cognitive health
• Enhances nerve-growth factor
• Promotes healthy blood sugar
• Promotes increased energy levels
1. Neurological Activity of Lion’s Mane (Hericium Erinaceus)
2. Reduction…by 4 Weeks Hericium Erinaceus Intake
3. Improving Effects of the Mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium Erinaceus) on Mild Cognitive Impairment: a Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
4. Nerve Growth Factor-Inducing Activity of Hericium Erinaceus in 1321N1 Human Astrocytoma Cells
5. Antihyperglycemic and Antihyperlipidemic Activities of Aqueous Extract of Hericium Erinaceus in Experimental Diabetic Rats
6. Anti-Fatigue Activities of Polysaccharides Extracted from Hericium Erinaceus
7. Hericium Erinaceus
