Lion’s Mane Mushroom / Hyrecium erinaceus
Common names:
Lions mane, Yamabusitake (Japanese: mountain hidden mushroom), Pom-Pom, blanc, hóu tóu gu (chinese.: monkey’s head), nam dau khi, Norugongdengi-beoseot (vietnamese.: deertail mushroom), monkey’s head, bearded tooth mushroom, hedgehog mushroom, bearded hedgehog mushroom or bearded tooth fungus
Natural habitat:
The Lion’s Mane prefers dead hardwood such as oak, walnut, beech, maple, sycamore tree. Common during late summer and fall in deciduous forests of Europe, North America and Asia (in particular in China and Japan).
Hericium erinaceus is an edible mushroom and vital mushroom in the tooth fungus group. It can be identified by its tendency to grow all the spines out from one group (rather than branches), long spines and its appearance on hardwoods. Although it is growing in Europe, it is not well known.
For its unique delicious taste and the very decorative coral-like look the lion’s mane mushroom becomes more and more a sought component of nouvelle cuisine. It has been proven that Hericium contains potassium, zinc, iron, germanium, selenium, phosphorus, but only little sodium; in addition, all essential amino acids, as well as polysaccharides and polypeptides.
Medicinal Uses:
Hericipin is an active component of The Lion’s Mane mushroom. It induces the synthesis of nerve growth factor. Hericipin is used in healing of intelligence declining, neurasthena and the declining of automotive nerve, especially showing effectiveness to Alzheimer type dementia.
Hericium erinaceus has been used to stimulate the activity of the syntheses of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) which may enhance cognitive function and help to slow down the onset of dementia, brain dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s. It has been reported to have improved memory and concentration. Supports the nervous system and reduces anxiety and neurological disorders.
Lion’s mane mushroom and its extracts have been shown to reduce symptoms of memory loss in mice, as well as prevent neuronal damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques, which accumulate in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease (1, 2, 3).
A 2020 study of people with mild Alzheimer’s disease found that supplementation with 1 gram of lion’s mane mushroom daily for 49 weeks significantly improved cognitive test scores compared with a placebo (4).
One small 2010 study of menopausal women found that eating cookies containing lion’s mane mushrooms daily for 1 month helped reduce self-reported feelings of irritation and anxiety (5, 6).
The ability of lion’s mane mushroom to promote nerve growth and protect the brain from Alzheimer’s-related damage may explain some of its beneficial effects on brain health.
Brain or spinal cord injuries can cause various adverse medical outcomes. They often cause paralysis or loss of mental functions and can take a long time to heal.
However, research has found that lion’s mane mushroom extract may help speed recovery from these types of injuries by stimulating the growth and repair of nerve cells (7, 8). It may also help reduce the severity of brain damage after a stroke.
Benefits:
· Supports healthy brain function.
· Assists in strengthening nervous system to endure low energy, stress and exhaustion.
· Supports mental clarity and focus.
· Supports stimulation of Nerve Growth Factor.
· Supports recovery after illness or medical treatment.
· Promotes anti-ageing.
· Acts as a digestive tonic.
Sources:
1, www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pubmed/27350344
2, www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc5133811
3, www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/pmc4895996
4, www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/pmc7283924
5, www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pubmed/20834180
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