Spotlight on Lion’s Mane
Lion's Mane,
Hericium erinaceus
What is Lion’s Mane?
Perhaps the most-well known functional mushroom for brain health, Lion’s Mane is a big, white, shaggy fungus friend of ours that grows on old, dying trees in the late summertime.
While this mushroom packs quite a punch on a functional, medicinal level, it is also quite tasty! It’s a culinary staple in Asian cuisine, and is quickly becoming a coveted culinary mushroom around the world.
Want to taste for yourself? Check out our favorite Lion’s mane ragu recipe.
Lion’s mane is most notable for containing bioactive compounds that promote the production of nerve growth factor (NGF). Our immune cells (located in the GI tract) also respond to NGF, therefore making Lion’s Mane beneficial to the gut, immunity, and brain health!
Think Lion’s Mane is pretty impressive? So do we! That’s why we include it in our super immunity mushroom extract blend.
For those looking for a taste of the brain power Lion’s Mane provides, our mastermind blend is the tincture for you.
History of Lion’s Mane
Not only is Lion’s Mane a staple culinary mushroom in Asian cuisine, it’s also been used medicinally for a long time in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Lion’s Mane was and is currently used as a tonic for supporting overall health and longevity in Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as being used to fortify the five internal organs: the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, and spleen.*
*Note: the organs in TCM do not correspond to the organs in Western Medicine. Read more about that here.
In traditional Chinese Medicine, Lion’s Mane is often used to restore strength to Qi (or the life force.)
It has also been said that Buddhist Monks used Lion's Mane mushroom powder as a tea to heighten their focus during meditation.
The Science Behind Lion’s Mane
There’s a lot of exciting scientific research coming out about Lion’s Mane and all of its magical benefits! There are two bioactive compounds found in Lion’s Mane that are being studied closely: hericenones and erinacines.
These special, microscopic compounds are extremely tiny, tiny enough to cross through the blood-brain barrier, which most compounds aren’t small enough to do. These compounds penetrate the blood-brain barrier, actively promoting NGF (nerve growth factor) synthesis in the brain. NGF promotes the growth and protection of nerve cells, and below average nerve cell counts have been linked to dementia.
These bioactive compounds have also been proven to enhance axon myelination, a key process for cell communication!
Want more nitty-gritty, scientific information on Lion’s Mane’s benefits? Check out this study.