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Hericium erinaceus | Lion's Mane
Hericium erinaceus | Lion's Mane
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Focus | Mental Clarity | Cognitive Function
Shop Lion’s Mane powder wholesale with the Mushroom Dispensary.
Note: Can be purchased as powders or made up in blends to personal specifications, and supplied in capsules or powders upon request.
All of our mushroom specimens and extracts are lab-tested, quality-controlled, and supplied by trusted growers on farms we have personally visited.
Summary
Summary
This unique and delicious mushroom has been referred to as ‘Nature’s Nutrient for the Neurons’ on account of its ability to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF) ¹,². Two families of compounds from H. erinaceus have been identified as being active in the stimulation of NGF production: the aromatic hericenones (isolated from the fruiting body) and the diterpenoid erinacines (isolated from the mycelium). Critically these molecules are small enough to pass through the blood-brain barrier. There is also evidence that they can increase myelination ¹,¹⁶⁻¹⁸. In China, the mycelium is used to make H. erinaceus pills to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, and gastric and oesophageal cancer.
Recommended Medicinal Uses
Recommended Medicinal Uses
• Beneficial for functional capacity in mild dementia ¹,¹⁷
• Improving the myelination process in mature myelinating fibres with possible benefits for MS patients ¹⁸,¹⁹
• Reported to reduce pain in patients with HIV-associated sensory neuropathy ²⁴,²⁵
• Potential benefits in the early stages of nerve regeneration ²⁸⁻³¹
• Reducing anxiety and depression
• Reducing symptoms related to menopause and perimenopause
• Clearing Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ³⁴
• Beneficial in treating gastric ulcers ³⁵⁻³⁹
Dose
Dose
Clinical trials support the use of dried fruiting body at a dose of 3-5g/day for increasing NGF production while animal studies on the use of H. erinaceus for gastric ulcers produced the best results with a daily intake of 500mg/kg, which equates to the dosage prescribed in the Chinese Phamacopoeia of 25-50g/day ⁴⁰. Similar doses would likely be required in cases of MRSA. One study reports reduction in anxiety and depression from consumption of 2g/day (taken in cookies) and patients often report increased feelings of well-being when taking H. erinaceus. Many patients report a reduction in symptoms related to menopause and perimenopause, including sleep disturbance, anxiety and hot flushes (hot flashes) from consumption of H. erinaceus 3-5g/day, although this is as yet unsupported by clinical research.
Contraindications
Contraindications
Caution should be exercised when prescribing to patients with asthma and other allergic conditions. Erinacine E is a potent agonist of the kappa opioid receptor with potential hallucinogenic properties ³³. We recommend that medical professionals prescribing Lion’s Mane check contraindications with patients’ medical history and active prescriptions.
Research
Research
1. The anti-Dementia effect of Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) and its clinical application. Kawagishi H, Zhuang C, Shnidman E.Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 249, 2004.
2. Erinacines E, F, and G, stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF)-synthesis, from the mycelia ofHericium erinaceum. Kawagishi H, Shimada A, Hosokawa S, Mori H, Sakamoto H, Ishiguro Y, Sakemi S, Bordner J, Kojima N, Furukawa S.Tetra Lett. 1996;37(41):7399–7402.
3. Erinacine A increases catecholamine and nerve growth factor content in the central nervous system of rats. Shimbo M, Kawagishi H, Yokogoshi H.Nutr Res. 2005;25(6):617–623.
4. NGF and BDNF: from nerves to adipose tissue, from neurokines to metabokines. Chaldakov GN, Tonchev AB, Aloe L.Riv Psichiatr. 2009;44(2):79–87.
5. Development of a non-invasive NGF-based therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Covaceuszach S, Capsoni S, Ugolini G, Spirito F, Vignone D, Cattaneo A.Curr Alzheimer Res. 2009;6(2):158–170.
6. Neurotrophins: from pathophysiology to treatment in Alzheimer’s disease. Schulte-Herbrüggen O, Jockers-Scherübl MC, Hellweg R.Curr Alzheimer Res. 2008;5(1):38–44.
7. One hundred years after the discovery of Alzheimer’s disease. A turning point for therapy? Giacobini E, Becker RE.J Alzheimers Dis. 2007;12(1):37–52.
8. Neurotrophic factors—a tool for therapeutic strategies in neurological, neuropsychiatric and neuroimmunological diseases? Schulte-Herbrüggen O, Braun A, Rochlitzer S, Jockers-Scherübl MC, Hellweg R.Curr Med Chem. 2007;14(22):2318–2329.
9. The nerve growth factor and the neuroscience chess board. Levi-Montalcini R.Prog Brain Res. 2004;146:525–527.
10. Neurotrophin presence in human coronary atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome: a role for NGF and BDNF in cardiovascular disease? Chaldakov GN, Fiore M, Stankulov IS, Manni L, Hristova MG, Antonelli A, Ghenev PI, Aloe L.Prog Brain Res. 2004;146:279–289.
11. Reduced plasma levels of NGF and BDNF in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Manni L, Nikolova V, Vyagova D, Chaldakov GN, Aloe L.Int J Cardiol. 2005;102(1):169–171.
12. Homo obesus: a metabotrophin-deficient species. Pharmacology and nutrition insight. Chaldakov GN, Fiore M, Tonchev AB, Dimitrov D, Pancheva R, Rancic G, Aloe L.Curr Pharm Des. 2007;13(21):2176–2179.
13. Nerve growth factor and wound healing. Kawamoto K, Matsuda H.Prog Brain Res. 2004;146:369–384.
14. Expression of nerve growth factor in the airways and its possible role in asthma. Freund V, Frossard N.Prog Brain Res. 2004;146:335–346.
15. Role of nerve growth factor and other trophic factors in brain inflammation. Villoslada P, Genain CP.Prog Brain Res. 2004;146:403–414.
16. Nerve growth factor-inducing activity ofHericium erinaceusin 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Mori K, Obara Y, Hirota M, Azumi Y, Kinugasa S, Inatomi S, Nakahata N.Biol Pharm Bull. 2008;31(9):1727-1732.
17. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T.Phytother Res. 2009;23(3):367–372.
18. The influence ofHericium erinaceusextract on myelination processin vitro. Kolotushkina EV, Moldavan MG, Voronin KY, Skibo GG.Fiziol ZH. 2003;49(1):38–45.
19.Hericium erinaceus(Bull.: Fr.) Pers. extract effect on nerve cells. Grygansky AP, Moldavan MG, Kolotushkina OV, Kirchhoff B, Skibo GG.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2001;3(2-3):152.
20. Haploinsufficiency of the nerve growth factor beta gene in a 1p13 deleted female child with an insensitivity to pain. Fitzgibbon GJ, Kingston H, Needham M, Gaunt L.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2009;51(10):833–837.
21. Protection of sensory function in diabetic rats by Neotrofin. Calcutt NA, Freshwater JD, Hauptmann N, Taylor EM, Mizisin AP.Eur J Pharmacol. 2006;534(1-3):187–193.
22. Nerve growth factor is critical for cardiac sensory innervation and rescues neuropathy in diabetic hearts. Ieda M, Kanazawa H, Ieda Y, Kimura K, Matsumura K, Tomita Y, Yagi T, Onizuka T, Shimoji K, Ogawa S, Makino S, Sano M, Fukuda K.Circulation. 2006;114(22):2351–2363.
23. Recombinant human nerve growth factor in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy. Apfel SC, Kessler JA, Adornato BT, Litchy WJ, Sanders C, Rask CA.Neurology. 1998;51(3):695–702.
24. Long-term treatment with recombinant nerve growth factor for HIV-associated sensory neuropathy. Schifitto G, Yiannoutsos C, Simpson DM, Adornato BT, Singer EJ, Hollander H, Marra CM, Rubin M, Cohen BA, Tucker T, Koralnik IJ, Katzenstein D, Haidich B, Smith ME, Shriver S, Millar L, Clifford DB, McArthur JC; AIDS Clinical Trials Group Team 291.Neurology. 2001;57(7):1313–1316.
25. A phase II trial of nerve growth factor for sensory neuropathy associated with HIV infection. McArthur JC, Yiannoutsos C, Simpson DM, Adornato BT, Singer EJ, Hollander H, Marra C, Rubin M, Cohen BA, Tucker T, Navia BA, Schifitto G, Katzenstein D, Rask C, Zaborski L, Smith ME, Shriver S, Millar L, Clifford DB, Karalnik IJ.Neurology. 2000;54(5): 1080–1088.
26. Regeneration of primary sensory neurons. Donnerer J.Pharmacology. 2003;67(4):169–181.
27. Nerve growth factor and diabetic neuropathy. Pittenger G, Vinik A.Exp Diabesity Res. 2003;4(4):271–285.
28. Functional recovery enhancement following injury to rodent peroneal nerve by Lion’s Mane mushroom,Hericium erinaceus(Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae). Wong KH, Naidu M, David RP, Abdulla MA, Abdullah N, Kuppusamy UR, Vikineswary S.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2009;11(3):225–230.
29. Potential activity of aqueous extract of culinary-medicinal Lion’s Mane mushroom,Hericium erinaceus(Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) in accelerating wound healing in rats. Abdulla MA, Fard AA, Vikineswary S, Wong KH, Kuppusamy UR, Abdullah N, Ismail S.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2011;13(1):33–39.
30. Neuroregenerative potential of Lion’s Mane mushroom,Hericium erinaceus(Bull. Fr.) Pers. (Higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury (Review). Wong KH, Naidu M, David RP, Bakar R, Vikineswary S.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2012;14(5):427–446.
31. Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s Mane medicinal mushroom,Hericium erinaceus(Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. Lai PL, Naidu M, Vikineswary S, Wong KH, David RP, Kuppusamy UR, Abdullah N, Malek SNA.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(6):539–554.
32. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeksHericium erinaceusintake. Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, Hayashi C, Sato D, Kitagawa K, Ohnuki K.Biomed Res. 2010;31(4):231–237.
33. Erinacine E as a kappa opioid receptor agonist and its new analogs from a basidiomycete,Hericium ramosum. Saito T, Aoki F, Hirai H, Inagaki T, Matsunaga Y, Sakakibara T, Sakemi S, Suzuki Y, Watanabe S, Suga O, Sujaku T, Smogowicz AA, Truesdell SJ, Wong JW, Nagahisa A, Kojima Y, Kojima N.J Antibiot. 1998;51(11):983–990.
34. Anti-MRSA compounds ofHericium erinaceus. Kawagishi H.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2005;7(3):350.
35. A double-blind study of effectiveness ofHericium erinaceusPers. therapy on chronic atrophic gastritis. A preliminary report. Xu CP, Liu WW, Liu FX, Chen SS, Liao FQ, Xu Z, Jiang LG, Wang CA, Lu XH.Chin Med J(Engl). 1985;98(6):455–456.
36. Cytoprotective effects ofHericium erinaceuson gastricmucosa in rats. Yu CG, Xu ZM, Zhu QK, Zhang ZH, Chen ZR, Sun CH, Zhang YF, Wang N.Chin J Gastroenterol. 1999;4(2):93–96.
37. Effect of culinary-medicinal Lion’s Mane mushroom,Hericium erinaceus(Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae), on Ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Abdulla MA, Noor S, Wong KH, Ali HM.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2008;10(4):325–330.
38. Gastroprotective effects of Lion’s Mane mushroomHericium erinaceus(Bull.:Fr.) Pers (Aphyllophoromycetideae) extract against ethanol-induced ulcer in rats. Wong JY, Abdulla MA, Raman J, Phan CW, Kuppusamy UR, Golbabapour S, Vikineswary S.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:492976.
39.In vitroanti-Helicobacter pylorieffects of medicinal mushroom extracts, with special emphasis on the Lion’s Mane mushroom,Hericium erinaceus(Higher Basidiomycetes). Shang X, Tan Q, Liu R, Yu K, Li P, Zhao GP.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(2):165–174.
40.Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Beijing : Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Publishing House, 2010.
41. Activity of aqueous extracts of Lion’s Mane mushroomHericium erinaceus(Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) on the neural cell line NG108-15. Wong KH, Vikineswary S, Abdullah N, Naidu M, Keynes R.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2007;9(1):57–65.
42. Neurotropic and trophic action of Lion’s Mane mushroomHericium erinaceus(Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) extracts on nerve cellsin vitro. Moldavan MG, Grygansky AP, Kolotushkina OV, Kirchhoff B, Skibo GG, Pedarzani P.Int J Med Mushrooms. 2007;9(1):15–28.
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