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Lion's Mane

Lion's mane, (aka yamabushitake, bearded tooth fungus and bearded hedgehog,) latin name: hericium erinaceus is a species of hydnoid fungi (aka tooth fungi). This edible, white mushroom typically grows upon and feeds on dead hardwood trees and is native to Europe and North America. It's spores can remain viable for up to seven years. As well as being used as a supplement it is considered a delicacy in gourmet food.

Lion's mane may have the following potential benefits;

  • brain cell regeneration and stimulation (as it contains hericenones and erinacines);
    • this may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease
    • reduced memory loss
    • prevent neuronal damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques
    • improve the function of the hippocampus
  • anti-inflammatory effects
    • this may reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression
    • also anti-oxidant
    • may specifically help with IBD and liver damage
  • may help speed recovery from these types of injuries by stimulating the growth and repair of nerve cells
  • may protect against the development of stomach ulcers by inhibiting the growth of H. pylori and protecting the stomach lining from damage
  • may improve fat metabolism
  • can help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the bloodstream
  • contain a compound called hericenone B, which can decrease the rate of blood clotting and lower the risk of heart attack or stroke
  • can cause significantly lower blood sugar levels in mice with diabetes (one way that lion’s mane lowers blood sugars is by blocking the activityTrusted Source of the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which breaks down carbs in the small intestine)
  • may slow cancer
  • may boost the immune system

Very little of the research referenced comes from human trials and mostly relates to animal and 'test tube' studies

Contains linoleic acid; a polyunsaturated, essential omega−6 fatty acid.

Can be mixed with coffee.

Myths

Food Sources

Forms/Types

TBC

Quality

As with all supplements - buyer beware. It's quite common for supplements to be contaminated with a variety of impurities, often in the form of heavy metals, and/or contain far more or less of the ingredients stated on the label. There's no simple rule of thumb to avoid this, such as avoiding cheap or imported products; expensive or well-known brands produced in-country may be just as bad. Ideally you should take some time to find products (if you can) that;

  • have been laboratory tested on behalf of the manufacturer by a reputable body or company that operates in your country or region (here's an example of a Peak Supps creatine supplement available on Amazon in the UK which has been tested by Eurofins: Creatine Monohydrate Powder 1Kg | Pure Micronised | Packaging May Vary - see pictures 3 & 4)
  • have been laboratory tested by an independent testing company that ranks product purity and ingredient amount accuracy on behalf of consumers (usually funded by affiliate sales of those products). An example of this is Labdoor
  • in the UK & EU, are manufactured in facilities that meet the minimum standards of good manufacturing practice (GMP) in their production processes (for medicines).12 Facilities are inspected for compliance and manufacturers' product(s) must:
    • be of consistent high quality
    • be appropriate to their intended use
    • meet the requirements of the marketing authorisation (MA) or product specification

Be wary of any manufacturers or brands making claims around these valid but irrelevant standards;

  • HACCP: this standard relates to food safety which indicates that the seller is claiming their supplement is a food; whilst meeting this standard is worthwhile, GMP (detailed above) would be a more appropriate standard
  • ISO22000: same as HACPP
  • ISO9001: this standard is focussed on quality control management systems in the context of managing a business or organisation, not directly on the the quality of the products that business produces (although it may have a beneficial impact)

Dosage - How Much?

3-5mg a day for cognition benefits but much lower is probably still effective.

Split into two or three doses over the day.

Toxicity - Too Much

Unknown.

Side Effects

???

When to Avoid Use - Interactions/Contraindications

If you are allergic to mushrooms.

Random Facts

References

Metadata

Created: 2026-09-14

Last Updated: 2026-09-17

  1. Medicines: good manufacturing practice and good distribution practice ↩

  2. Good manufacturing practice ↩

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