Benefits of Lions Mane Mushroom
Lions Mane (Hericium erinaceus):
The white, round, mane like mushroom/fungi is one of the most popular mushrooms in today’s date, even more than Reishi and Chaga due to its ability to regenerate nerve and carrying high antioxidant levels. Lion’s mane is used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Interestingly it is also known as “Monkey’s Head” mushroom. The long, white, dangling spines look like teeth rather than having a cap.
Other Names: Yamabushitake (mountain priest mushroom), sheep’s head, bear’s head, bearded tooth mushroom, satyr’s beard, bearded hedgehog mushroom, and pom pom blanc.
Herbal Profile: Anti-anxiety, antibiotic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, immune stimulating and neuroprotective.
Location: China, Japan, Europe and North America.
Unique Compounds: Two unique compounds found in Lion’s Mane are hericenones and erinacines which are small enough to easily cross the blood-brain barrier, which allows them to boost NGF level in the brain.
Health Conditions: Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Diabetes, Depression, Anxiety, IBD, ulcer, post-surgery nerve repair. May also be used in bipolar disorder, dementia, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia.
Benefits:
- The most popular benefit of Lion’s mane is that it stimulates the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF – a protein that assists in regenerations of neurons).
- Lion’s Mane has also known to be effective reducing anxiety and depression.
- Lion’s Mane is also known to improve memory, enhance brain function, benefits the nervous system, improve cognition and focus.
- In a study it was shown that Lion’s Mane improved sleep, in menopausal women.
- By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation Lion’s Mane can boost the immune system.
- Lion’s Mane also have a cholesterol lowering effect which in turn improves heart health.
- The high antioxidant properties in Lion’s Mane can be cancer protective. Studies have shown that Lion’s Mane have impact on leukemia, liver, lung, breast, cervical, colon and gastric cancer.
- Lion’s Mane is also known to support the growth of gut-friendly good bacteria or probiotics, hence is beneficial for inflammatory bowel conditions. Also known to be useful in gastric ulcer due to its anti-bacterial effect on Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) which is a type of bacteria.
- Lion’s Mane extract has shown positive impact on skin wound for fast healing.
- Lion’s mane rebuilds myelin sheath(a protective coating surrounding nerve fibers) that is known to speed up communication between brain cells. Therefore, may be beneficial for “multiple sclerosis.”
- Lion’s Mane is also known to lower blood sugar levels and can be used for diabetes.
- Lion’s Mane provide cerebral nervous system support and can be used headaches, dizziness and memory loss after a head injury and concussion.
