Hericium erinaceus, also called Lion’s Mane, Hou Tou Gu and Yamabushitake, is an edible mushroom with a long history of use in traditional East Asian practice. It grows in Asia, Europe and North America. Lion’s Mane contains a variety of naturally occurring compounds, vitamins and other nutrients.[1][7]
In this article, we will discuss the health benefits of Lion’s Mane, the effects of it (and side effects), when to take Lion’s Mane mushroom, how much to take, and what options are available when you’re thinking about integrating Lion’s Mane extracts into your nutrition and lifestyle.
When to take Lion’s Mane and what are the effects?
The best time to take…
- Take Lion’s Mane every morning for pleasant boost for the day
The best time to take Lion’s Mane is in the morning, it will give you a pleasant boost for the day. But here I feel obligated to say that actually… you can take it through the day, whenever you feel like it.
Lion’s Mane mushroom protects the human organism and increases the well-being of the immune system[2]. So, the mushroom helps to promote the work of the white blood cells, which protects the body and attacks inflammatory organisms[3]. Daily usage of Lion’s Mane can prevent problems with memory[4].
- Take Lion’s Mane before or after work-out for quicker recovery
We recommend taking Lion’s Mane before or after a workout. Lion’s Mane energizes the brain and removes fatigue. So you can feel clear, without brain fog and enjoy your workout. After training Lion’s Mane gives a delightful amount of minerals and vitamins, so you can recover smoothly.[5]
- Take Lion’s Mane before bed for a good night sleep
Usually, we recommend taking Lion’s Mane in the morning to have a more productive and clearer day, then some of the research has found that it is better to take Lion’s Mane before bed because it has healing effects against insomnia. The mushroom has a calming effect, which is good for sleep. Lion’s Mane stimulates nerve growth factors (NGF), ensuring a good nightly sleep cycle quality and deepening REM sleep. [4]
Lion’s Mane benefits
I will bring out some of the Lion’s Mane benefits from the King-of-the-mushrooms Paul Stamets. [1]
- A favorite in brain research
Lion’s Mane is one of the most studied mushrooms in brain research, and scientists continue to explore its compounds, such as hericenones and erinacines.[7]
- Improves digestive functions
Because Lion’s Mane has anti-inflammatory effects, its bioactive components and polysaccharides protect the digestive system from stomach ulcers. Research shows that Lion’s Mane can heal the inflammations in digestion, like gastritis and other inflammatory bowel diseases. [3]
- Reduces inflammation in the Body
Lion’s Mane has an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory impact on the body. It heals the inflammation that is already in the body and prevents new outbreaks. It means your overall health and immune system will heal and become stronger. [5]
How much Lion’s Mane to take?
With natural food supplements, it is always hard to tell the right amount of dosage. Every organism is different and feels different and the right amount depends on the human age and the quality of the Lion’s Mane extract.
Everyone should listen to their body and understand if he or she is suitable for the bigger or smaller dosage.
However, studies show that the best amount to take is 250 to 1000 mg of Lion’s mane powder at a time. [6] Lion’s Mane capsules containing 750 mg of Lion’s Mane extract should be taken three times a day.
There are no official dosage guidelines for Lion’s Mane, so follow the recommended daily dose on the package. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a health condition or take medication, talk to your doctor first.
How to take Lion’s Mane mushroom extract?
When consuming mushrooms daily, we STRONGLY recommend being familiar with the quality of the Lion’s Mane powder, Lion’s Mane capsules, Lion’s Mane extract overall and the provider.
Unfortunately, many companies today use medicinal mushrooms for the purpose of generating money.
Make sure that your Lion’s mane powder is only made from the mushroom’s fruit body. The other option is that it is pulverized from the whole mushroom mycelium (including the fruit body and other parts of the mushroom). In nature, it is as good as the fruit body but in today’s mushroom businesses the raw material is usually grown in laboratories, and you have no idea what it is raised on. It could be potatoes, carrots, rice or who knows… The result is a mushroom powder with unknown additives.
Our Mighti team has tested our Lion’s Mane extract, and the results are HERE. It is tested, pure and high quality. Our Lion’s Mane extract has a concentration of 20:1, which means that 20 kg of dried mushrooms has been used to obtain 1 kg of double extract.
You can consume Lion’s Mane raw and natural as well as a processed extract, where all the beneficial active substances have been extracted from the fruit body.
Lion’s Mane powder
You can consume Lion’s Mane as a powder. You can add one tablespoon to your morning coffee, smoothie, or porridge. Studies show that cooking bread with lion’s mane could be extra beneficial for your health. [7] If you add Lion’s Mane into yoghurt it could be a wonderful nootropic afternoon snack. You can also add Lion’s Mane powder to tea, plant milk, syrup, cakes, muesli etc. We like to say that the more creative you are the more colours you have in your life!
Lion’s Mane capsules
You can consume Lion’s Mane as capsules. We recommend taking a maximum of three Lion’s mane capsules after breakfast. Why? Because with healthy fats from breakfast, the nutrients from the mushroom are better absorbed by the body.
But honestly, you can take Lion’s Mane whenever you want. It is a natural food–supplement and people are different. Some of us don’t even eat breakfast and are well-fueled by the cup of coffee. We encourage you to listen to your body! Usually, it knows exactly when and how much Lion’s Mane is nourishing for it.
How long does it take for Lion’s mane to work?
There is no concrete answer to the question “How long does it take for Lion’s Mane to work?”
The effects usually show in two weeks. More sensitive organisms could feel the difference in a couple of days and in a few weeks can lower the dosage. Different persons on the other hand can take the whole course (90 Lion’s mane capsules for a month) and feel only slightly better. For them, we recommend extending the course up to three months. The longer you consume this wonderful mushroom, the better the results. Simple!
With this information, you should know now WHY, HOW and WHEN to take Lion’s Mane functional mushroom. We encourage you to know exactly what product you consume and who provides it.
Our recommendation is Mighti Lion’s Mane extract: we have it lab-tested and publish the results, so you know exactly what you are getting.
We truly believe it! You should first TRY IT and then BELIEVE IT!
Works Cited
[1] Stamets, P. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mushroomsknowbest.com/cognitive-health