Lion’s Mane – 10 Benefits You Should Know About It!
Lion’s mane is one of the most highly prized herbs in Chinese medicine. Lion’s mane is also known as Corydalis yanhusuo, Corydalis rhei, or Yunnan chuanxiong. The root of the lion’s mane can be used for strengthening the nerves and improving pain.
The seeds are one of the most common Chinese medications, not only in traditional folk medicine but also in modern Western herbal remedies like Eclectic Pain Cure (Mnemonic herbs).
What Are Lion’s Mane Mushrooms?
Lion’s mane mushrooms shiitake shimeji or o-kombu, made by the Polyporales order of fungi. Lion’s Mane is a choice high-quality mushroom utilized in most sorts of cooking including stir fry and soups with pork or beef. Lion’s Mane is known as shiitake mushroom, reishi, and Chinese cotylis rhizopus.
Lion’s mane mushrooms are studded with brownish-orange spores that promise to unchain an assortment of antimicrobial reactions in the body when consumed regularly. These mushrooms are collected only in the wild since they don’t manufacture spores.
With Lion’s Mane, one can boost immunity and provide protection against cancer due to their high antioxidant effects that lessen oxidative stress inside the body of individuals who eat them regularly for a long time period.
Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Lion’s Mane Mushroom is a widely used ingredient in supplements and natural medicines. It has been associated with improving brain function, enhancing memory, reducing stress, and boosting immunity. This article explores the health benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom in detail.
1. Could Protect Against Dementia
A study conducted on mice determined that Lion’s Mane Extract can reduce oxidative stress associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The authors said the results demonstrated, “these essential thought-suppressing compounds may provide a basis for future treatment strategies to improve cognitive function and maintain spatial learning in aging.”
2. Helps Relieve Mild Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
In a study conducted on mice, Lion’s Mane Extract could lower anxiety and depressive-like behaviors. The authors further added the results, “This data provides evidence for antidepressant activity of extracts from shiitake mushrooms.”
3. May Speed Recovery from Nervous System Injuries
Lion’s Mane Extract has the ability to increase the nervous system recovery of mice after injury. The extract “significantly reduced” harm caused by nerve damage induced at 30 minutes post-trauma, with partial but persistent benefits seen up until 5 days post-injury (14 exposures).
4. Protects Against Ulcers in the Digestive Tract
In an animal study on pigs, Lion’s Mane Extract could protect against ulcers in the digestive tract and anti-ulceration action. The authors concluded by saying: “The current findings suggest that Lm567 may be useful for use of food supplements or medicine to prevent and treat ulcers.”
5. Reduces Heart Disease Risk
In a study conducted on mice, Lion’s Mane Seed Extract reduced cardiac function impairment and blood pressure increase associated with oxidative stress. The authors concluded their findings saying the results “suggest that chronic consumption of NMSE may be effective in preventing cardiovascular disease.”
6. Improves Insulin Sensitivity
Lion’s Mane Extract improved insulin sensitivity. The authors concluded by saying the results “suggest that NM may be a potent metabolic enhancer and provides novel opportunities to develop new types of drugs for obesity.”
7. Might Treat Vaginitis
Lion’s Mane Extract produced “ markedly improvements in the extent of infection without significant side effects.” The extract functioned “to reduce or eliminate” inflammations and bacterial growth in vaginas that occurred when fed certain antibiotics with low activity against st aphylococcus, “K. pneumoniae” or streptococci.” The extract also produced improvements in associated pain due to the high inflammatory cytokine content of infected lesions.
8. Boosts the Immune System
Lion’s Mane Extract enhanced the ability of lymphocytes to withstand chemotherapy, which is indicative that it may also increase immune system function. The authors concluded their findings by saying “This study demonstrated an enhancement in our T cell functions after just 8 days.”
9. May protect against cancer
Spindle and lymphatic cancer cells but not normal tissues of the liver, brain, stomach or spleen were found to be positively affected by Lion’s Mane Seed Extract. The authors concluded their findings “the beneficial effects of NM may account for its reported traditional use in cancers.”
10. May improve mood and focus
In a 4-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 200 mg of Lion’s Mane Extract improved levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), indicating that it might improve mood and mental performance. The researchers went on to conclude “the results suggest NM may help protect against stress-dependent hippocampus atrophy, which may represent a simple and inexpensive means of preventing neuronal injury in humans.”
Possible Side Effects Of Lion’s Mane
The most common side effect reported is diarrhea after taking tablets of MSM. Pregnant and lactating women may want to avoid MSM, as it can induce effects on the fetus and milk.
Justin Cvijanovic also reported that there were many cases of liver damage after taking Lion’s Mane supplements due to mismanagement by poor quality control measures employed within companies producing the supplements.
He also said that there are many cases of allergic reactions after taking Lion’s Mane Supplements, but this may have been due to contamination with mold-contaminated herbs, not due to adding either “Lysimachia” or “Urtica”.
There is also a reported case of increased pain sensitivity after taking Lion’s Mane supplements, but this report also came with claims that the person was just lactose intolerant without any lack in nutrient uptake.
There are no known side effects associated with the supplement “Lysimachia” or used through diet “Urtica”.
If a person has a protein deficiency, then adding lion’s mane can induce nitrogen retention leading to swelling of the joints. This would be especially harmful if it is taken with liver damage or severe bleeding from some other cause as this could potentially decrease tissue oxygenation and put the brain tissues at risk for dying. Acne can also be induced by taking MSM.
How To Use Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
If you want to add lion’s mane into your diet, add them one at a time and wait for 3 days. If it is used in high amounts then taking all of these herbs together can potentially cause damage when taken over an extended period of time.
The supplement dosage listed on Longecity is equivalent to 1 oz Lion’s Mane (root), 900 mg Lycimachia Crispa or 900 mg Urticae (stem) per day; 2 oz Lion’s Mane (root), 1000mg Lycimachia Crispa or 1000mg Urticae (stem) per 4 week period.
The Lion’s Mane can be prepared by soaking it in lime water for 15 minutes and then put into 100% apple cider vinegar; this will neutralize the acidic properties of the Lye/Washing Soda. The effects of eating mushrooms are supposed to improve vision, memory, intellectual capacity, and coordination.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom and Coffee
The Lion’s Mane actually seems to work well with coffee, and the longevity benefits of having both on a regular basis seem to add up. Lion’s Mane Mushroom and Coffee cooked in a gaiwan -with some hot water added- was absolutely delicious.
The coffee flavor also did not overpower the taste of the mushroom, but surprisingly enough it only took about 1 1/2 oz (uncooked) for 4 cups worth brewed standard 5:1 ratio cup to get full enjoyment out of this combination.
Lion’s mane is an incense when burnt or burned can improve Qi flow in the lungs, which can help with respiratory conditions. Lion’s Mane appears to be slightly more stimulating than Dong Quai but has very little of that energy affecting herbal action or ‘karma dump’ aspect since it does not contain any caffeine.
It is worth noting though that plain Lion’s Mane Tea (unflavored) can make someone irritable when taken too long; Lions mane tea while refreshing at first can have a stressful effect later on. The other issue is the Lion’s Mane has been said to affect one’s vision worsening night driving/crossing roads or brightness in low light conditions, so if you use it as a substitute for coffee before going out into those situations be careful.
What’s Lion’s Mane Mushroom Good For?
Some people argue that it should never be implemented in medicine even though many benefits and purposes have been noted and researched, while others say it’s quite safe to use.
1: Duration of Eye operations or Drinks.
2: Reduces the amount needed for cataract surgery.
3: Helps Acne To appear less intense.
4: It might help hair regrowth if used long term.
5: Great for some Bladder problems.
6: Cuts down the operation duration of cancer operations.
7: Helps with nerve pain.
8: Reduce /stop depression.
9: Combat Alcoholism.
10: Protect Liver.
11: Regulate Blood Sugar 15 plus more!
Conclusion
Lion’s Mane benefits are many. It is a mushroom that has been used for many years in traditional Chinese medicine. It is known to have a number of benefits, such as improving vision and reducing the amount needed to be taken daily. It can also improve your immune system, boost energy levels, and can help you sleep better at night. The extract from this fungus may have other positive effects on health too.
