The Health Benefits of Lion's Mane

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPotential BenefitsSide EffectsHow to Take Lion’s ManePrecautions and InteractionsWhat to Look ForWhere to Find Lion’s Mane

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Potential Benefits

Side Effects

How to Take Lion’s Mane

Precautions and Interactions

What to Look For

Where to Find Lion’s Mane

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Consult your doctor before consuming lion’s mane or any other supplement.Call 911 immediately if you have problems breathing, throat inflammation, or other allergy symptoms.Use caution if you are taking diabetes or anticoagulant/antiplatelet medications.

Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a type of medicinal mushroom long used in traditional Chinese medicine that’s widely available fresh, dried, and as a supplement. This article discusses the potential health benefits of lion’s mane.

Potential Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane

So far, scientific exploration of lion’s mane and its effects is limited primarily to animal-based research, test-tube studies, and small clinical trials. More research is needed to understand its potential positive and negative effects and mechanisms of action in the body. Some research, however, points to possible benefits.

Brain Function

Lion’s mane has shown promise in the realm of cognitive function. For example, it had positive effects in the brains of mice in a 2023 study, enhancing memory and brain cell growth.Likewise, a small study of the mushroom’s impact on cognitive function and moods in young adults hinted at faster processing times and decreased stress levels. Many other studies support the idea that lion’s mane might augment the brain’s performance.

Likewise, lion’s mane may benefit older adults with mild cognitive impairment, according to a small 2009 study. Researchers assigned 30 older adults with mild cognitive impairment to take lion’s mane extract or aplaceboevery day for 16 weeks. In cognitive tests at weeks eight, 12, and 16 of the study, members of the lion’s mane group showed significantly greater improvements in function than members of the placebo group.

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Depression and Anxiety

Research to date suggests that lion’s mane may help alleviatedepressionand anxiety. For example, a 2020 review of the literature called lion’s mane “a potential alternative medicine for the treatment of depression.”

Likewise, a 2021 research review detailed several studies that showed significant anti-anxiety effects. Lion’s mane appears to offer “neuroprotective functions, cytotoxicity, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and herbicidal activities,” as well.

Due to a lack of supporting research, it’s too soon to recommend lion’s mane for any specific health condition.If you’re considering the use of lion’s mane for a chronic condition, make sure to consult your physician before starting your supplement regimen. Self-treating a chronic condition with lion’s mane and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences.

Possible Side Effects of Lion’s Mane

Little is known about the safety of long-term use and side effects of lion’s mane supplements.However, there’s some concern that lion’s mane may aggravate symptoms in people with allergies and asthma. Therefore, it’s important to consult your physician prior to using lion’s mane or any other supplement, especially if you have a history of allergies, asthma, and/or any other medical condition.

Studies on the potential benefits of lion’s mane in humans have shown promise, but more research is necessary. Always consult your healthcare provider before ingesting lion’s mane or any other supplement.

Lion’s mane hasn’t been studied enough to establish standard dosages and preparation.General guidelines follow, but always heed your physician’s specific advice regarding medicines and supplements.

Dosage

Always consult your doctor for specific advice on how much you should take each day.

Lion’s Mane Precautions and Interactions

Avoid using lion’s mane mushroom products if you’re pregnant. Not enough research has been done to determine if any dosage is safe during pregnancy.

If you take diabetes medications, be aware that Lion’s mane mushroom can lower your blood glucose levels too much. Keep a close eye on your readings.

Likewise, taking lion’s mane along with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs can cause blood clotting difficulties that can result in bleeding or bruising.

Some people are allergic to lion’s mane. Seek medical help immediately if you notice throat swelling, breathing trouble, or other signs and symptoms after taking lion’s mane.

What to Look For When Buying Lion’s Mane

Some lion’s mane supplements are marketed with unsupported claims, such as weight loss, brain health improvement, and heart disease prevention. Remember that these claims have not been proven definitively, Ask your healthcare provider about lion’s mane before taking it for any reason.

For example, in 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to Pure Nootropics, LLC, for making unsubstantiated claims about some of their products, including their lion’s mane powder. The company was marketing the supplement as “great for brain injury recovery” and to “reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.” Since then, the company has replaced this language with the claim that the product “supports overall cognitive health,” with the disclaimer that the FDA has not evaluated it and it’s not intended to prevent or treat any condition or disease.

Lion’s mane is widely available in big-box stores, groceries, drugstores, and online stores. Its many forms include fresh, dried, and powdered, in capsules, teas, and more. In nature, lion’s mane mushrooms grow in logs, decaying wood, and tree wounds.

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Martínez‐Mármol R, Chai Y, Conroy JN, et al. Hericerin derivatives activates a pan‐neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1 /2 signaling enhancing spatial memory.Journal of Neurochemistry. 2023;165(6):791-808. doi:10.1111/jnc.15767Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T.Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Phytother Res.2009;23(3):367-72. doi:10.1002/ptr.2634Mori K, Obara Y, Moriya T, Inatomi S, Nakahata N.Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β(25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice.Biomed Res.2011;32(1):67-72.I-Chen Li, et al.Neurohealth Properties ofHericium erinaceusMycelia Enriched with Erinacines.Neurol. 2018; 2018. doi:10.1155/2018/5802634Chong PS, Fung ML, Wong KH, Lim LW.Therapeutic potential of hericium erinaceus for depressive disorder.IJMS. 2019;21(1):163. doi:10.3390/ijms21010163Hericium erinaceus- A rich source of diverse bioactive metabolites.FunBiotec. 2021;1(2):10-38. doi:10.5943/FunBiotec/1/2/2Sabaratnam V, Kah-hui W, Naidu M, Rosie David P.Neuronal health - Can culinary and medicinal mushrooms help?.J Tradit Complement Med. 2013;3(1):62-8. doi:10.4103/2225-4110.106549Sabaratnam V, Kah-hui W, Naidu M, Rosie David P.Neuronal health - Can culinary and medicinal mushrooms help?.J Tradit Complement Med. 2013;3(1):62-8. doi:10.4103/2225-4110.106549Lion’s Mane Mushroom - Uses, Side Effects, and More. WebMD. Updated June 28, 2021.

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Martínez‐Mármol R, Chai Y, Conroy JN, et al. Hericerin derivatives activates a pan‐neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1 /2 signaling enhancing spatial memory.Journal of Neurochemistry. 2023;165(6):791-808. doi:10.1111/jnc.15767Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T.Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Phytother Res.2009;23(3):367-72. doi:10.1002/ptr.2634Mori K, Obara Y, Moriya T, Inatomi S, Nakahata N.Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β(25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice.Biomed Res.2011;32(1):67-72.I-Chen Li, et al.Neurohealth Properties ofHericium erinaceusMycelia Enriched with Erinacines.Neurol. 2018; 2018. doi:10.1155/2018/5802634Chong PS, Fung ML, Wong KH, Lim LW.Therapeutic potential of hericium erinaceus for depressive disorder.IJMS. 2019;21(1):163. doi:10.3390/ijms21010163Hericium erinaceus- A rich source of diverse bioactive metabolites.FunBiotec. 2021;1(2):10-38. doi:10.5943/FunBiotec/1/2/2Sabaratnam V, Kah-hui W, Naidu M, Rosie David P.Neuronal health - Can culinary and medicinal mushrooms help?.J Tradit Complement Med. 2013;3(1):62-8. doi:10.4103/2225-4110.106549Sabaratnam V, Kah-hui W, Naidu M, Rosie David P.Neuronal health - Can culinary and medicinal mushrooms help?.J Tradit Complement Med. 2013;3(1):62-8. doi:10.4103/2225-4110.106549Lion’s Mane Mushroom - Uses, Side Effects, and More. WebMD. Updated June 28, 2021.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Martínez‐Mármol R, Chai Y, Conroy JN, et al. Hericerin derivatives activates a pan‐neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1 /2 signaling enhancing spatial memory.Journal of Neurochemistry. 2023;165(6):791-808. doi:10.1111/jnc.15767Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T.Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Phytother Res.2009;23(3):367-72. doi:10.1002/ptr.2634Mori K, Obara Y, Moriya T, Inatomi S, Nakahata N.Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β(25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice.Biomed Res.2011;32(1):67-72.I-Chen Li, et al.Neurohealth Properties ofHericium erinaceusMycelia Enriched with Erinacines.Neurol. 2018; 2018. doi:10.1155/2018/5802634Chong PS, Fung ML, Wong KH, Lim LW.Therapeutic potential of hericium erinaceus for depressive disorder.IJMS. 2019;21(1):163. doi:10.3390/ijms21010163Hericium erinaceus- A rich source of diverse bioactive metabolites.FunBiotec. 2021;1(2):10-38. doi:10.5943/FunBiotec/1/2/2Sabaratnam V, Kah-hui W, Naidu M, Rosie David P.Neuronal health - Can culinary and medicinal mushrooms help?.J Tradit Complement Med. 2013;3(1):62-8. doi:10.4103/2225-4110.106549Sabaratnam V, Kah-hui W, Naidu M, Rosie David P.Neuronal health - Can culinary and medicinal mushrooms help?.J Tradit Complement Med. 2013;3(1):62-8. doi:10.4103/2225-4110.106549Lion’s Mane Mushroom - Uses, Side Effects, and More. WebMD. Updated June 28, 2021.

Martínez‐Mármol R, Chai Y, Conroy JN, et al. Hericerin derivatives activates a pan‐neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1 /2 signaling enhancing spatial memory.Journal of Neurochemistry. 2023;165(6):791-808. doi:10.1111/jnc.15767

Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T.Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Phytother Res.2009;23(3):367-72. doi:10.1002/ptr.2634

Mori K, Obara Y, Moriya T, Inatomi S, Nakahata N.Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β(25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice.Biomed Res.2011;32(1):67-72.

I-Chen Li, et al.Neurohealth Properties ofHericium erinaceusMycelia Enriched with Erinacines.Neurol. 2018; 2018. doi:10.1155/2018/5802634

Chong PS, Fung ML, Wong KH, Lim LW.Therapeutic potential of hericium erinaceus for depressive disorder.IJMS. 2019;21(1):163. doi:10.3390/ijms21010163

Hericium erinaceus- A rich source of diverse bioactive metabolites.FunBiotec. 2021;1(2):10-38. doi:10.5943/FunBiotec/1/2/2

Sabaratnam V, Kah-hui W, Naidu M, Rosie David P.Neuronal health - Can culinary and medicinal mushrooms help?.J Tradit Complement Med. 2013;3(1):62-8. doi:10.4103/2225-4110.106549

Lion’s Mane Mushroom - Uses, Side Effects, and More. WebMD. Updated June 28, 2021.

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