Lion's Mane Mushroom

Lion’s mane mushroom, as known as Hericium erinaceus, has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. More recently, scientific research about this exceptional fungus’s medicinal properties has piqued interest in the Western world. 

Promotes brain health
Lion’s mane may be most famous for promoting brain health. Research shows that this mushroom enhances the outgrowth of axons and dendrites from neurons in the brain, which means that it could be used to regenerate brain cells that have been damaged. Therefore, it may have the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. One study using a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease demonstrated that Lion’s mane had a protective effect by limiting the progression of the disease. Another study showed that supplementation with Lion’s mane improved Alzheimer’s symptoms, especially by increasing cognitive skills and recognition memory; however, these cognitive benefits are even evident in people without a neurodegenerative disease. Lion’s mane has also been proven to help in the prevention of ischemic strokes by decreasing the levels of inflammatory cytokines and free radicals in the brain. Additionally, this mushroom may benefit those suffering from depression and anxiety. According to one study, women given Lion’s mane extract for four weeks experienced lower rates of depression and anxiety compared to those who received placebo.
           
​Treats cancer
Another important area of research is the use of Lion’s mane in the treatment of cancer. The antioxidants in this mushroom reduce cell damage and thus help to prevent the occurrence of cancer. Several studies show that Lion’s mane causes apoptosis (death) of cancer cells, prevents cell proliferation (tumour formation), prevents angiogenesis (the formation of blood vessels that feed a tumour), and prevents metastasis (the spread of tumours to other areas of the body). It also activates the cells of the body’s immune system that fight cancerous cells. So far, Lion’s mane has been demonstrated to be effective against leukemia, breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, and gastric cancer. However, larger scale studies are still needed.
           
Other benefits
Additional research indicates that further functions of Lion’s mane may include preventing cardiovascular disease, increasing immune function, protecting the digestive system from gastric ulcers, improving blood glucose levels in diabetics, improving liver and kidney health, acting as a natural antibiotic, and reducing overall inflammation, which is a significant cause of disease.