Every family has an uncle who used to be a hippie and freely expresses how he experimented with different substances in the ‘60s. They tend to be very fun to be around and generally all-around happy people. Why is this? Keep reading to learn more about the lion’s mane mushroom and its potential benefits:
Health Benefits of Mushrooms
Emerging research is shedding light on the health benefits of mushrooms. A psychedelic component of mushrooms is called psilocybin. Psilocybin is related to many substances called serotonergic hallucinogens. It binds to the serotonin sub-receptor 2 alpha. Defects in this receptor can cause many maladies, including schizophrenia and depression.
A recent article published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine examined 30 patients with severe, treatment-resistant depression. The study showed that a single dose of psilocybin can have long-lasting treatment effects on depression[1]. A single dose of psilocybin reduced the patients’ depression score by 20 points for up to 18 months. Compare that to SSRIs like Prozac that only show a 3-point improvement with continuous use.
But…there’s always a but. Psilocybin is classified as a schedule I controlled substance and is federally illegal. The hallucinogenic properties of this substance obviate its use as a traditional medication. Which started me thinking about alternatives that don’t have these psycho active effects..
What is Lion’s Mane?
Hericium erinaceus is a medicinal-culinary mushroom widely found in East Asian countries and is commonly known as lion’s mane. It has been used for centuries as a medical food. In a 2019 review article[2], researchers from the University of Hong Kong reviewed eight studies that examined the effect of lion’s mane mushrooms on conditions including depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and sleep disorders in mice. These studies helped to elucidate the mechanism of action of the lion’s mane extract. It found that the extract helped to induce brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and decrease inflammation by decreasing tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) among other mechanisms.
The studies also demonstrated positive effects on the aforementioned neurological conditions in animal models. These findings make sense given that lion’s mane is in the same biological phylum as the mushrooms producing psilocybin. That’s all great for mice, but what about humans?
Lion’s Mane Benefits
In 2010, Nagano examined the effects of 0.5 grams of lion’s mane on 30 female patients and found that the mushroom alleviated symptoms of depression, anxiety, frustration, and palpitations[3]. In 2019, Vigna and colleagues examined the effects of lion’s mane extract on mood and sleep disorders in overweight and obese patients[4]. They found that the extract significantly reduced depression and anxiety as well as improved sleep after 8 weeks of oral administration.
Lion’s mane may also have utility in improving memory. In 2023, researchers from the Center for Applied Health Sciences in Canfield, OH, examined the effects of lion’s mane on cognitive performance[5]. In a randomized, double-blinded, three-arm, placebo-controlled crossover trial of 40 men and women, the researchers found that lion’s mane helped improve working memory, complex attention, and reaction time two hours after ingestion and perceptions of happiness over a two-hour period.
Lion’s Mane Research Today
Research regarding lion’s mane is ongoing, with mechanisms being elucidated. It was found that the extract of lion’s mane enriched with erinacine A modulates the expression level of serotonin (your happy hormone), noradrenaline (your “flight or fight” hormone), dopamine (your feel-good hormone), and BDNF. Although research into this area is exciting, there are still many questions to be answered, such as:
- What are the active compounds in lion’s mane that produce its effect?
- What are the doses that provide the most reliable clinical effects?
- Are there side effects or other concerns that need to be addressed?
- What are the exact parameters and disease states for which patients could benefit?
Lion’s Mane Supplements
If you would like to try lion’s mane in a standardized extract, Keystone Pharmacy has a lion’s mane mushroom supplement. Reach out if you would like to discuss further.
References:
[1] Goodwin, GM et al. (2022) Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment Resistant Episode of Major Depression. NEJM:387:1637-1648
[2] Chong et al. (2019). Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder. Int J Mol Sci: Dec 25;21(1):163
[3] Nagano M., Shimizu K., Kondo R., Hayashi C., Sato D., Kitagawa K., Ohnuki K. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomed. Res. 2010;31:231–237. doi: 10.2220/biomedres.31.231. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
[4] Vigna L. et al. Hericium erinaceus improves mood and sleep disorders in patients affected by overweight or obesity: Could circulating pro-BDNF and BDNF be potential biomarkers? Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med. 2019;2019:7861297. doi: 10.1155/2019/7861297. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
[5] La Monica et. al. (2023). Acute effects of naturally occurring guayana tea and Nordic lion’s mane extracts on cognitive performance. Nutrients; 15(24) 5018
