Lion's mane mushrooms are also very nutritious and are rich in vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. It's also a good source of essential minerals such as manganese, zinc, and potassium. Research shows that lion's mane has many health-promoting ingredients that come with several benefits.
Depending on your biochemistry, you may feel energizing or anxiolytic effects of lion's mane after just a couple of days. Many users report decreased anxiety and increased mental clarity after 2-5 days of use. Depending, of course, on the dosage.
You may have to give it up to a month before you start to notice the benefits. Most medicinal mushrooms, including Lion's mane mushroom takes around two weeks to work and give the desired result. Many experts claim that Lion's mane mushroom can give a notable result if you want to improve your sleep.
Lion's mane can be taken up to three times per day, though it is not recommended to exceed this limit. Daily dosages of 250mg to 750mg have also been shown to be effective. We recommend mixing one scoop of lion's mane powdered mix into your tea or coffee, once a day for a two week period.
The other five species, Maitake, Reishi, Cordyceps, Chaga, and Lion's Mane are banned.
What side effects does lion's mane have? Fresh lion's mane is generally well-tolerated. But there are some side effects associated with lion's mane supplements, including abdominal discomfort, nausea, and skin rash. It may also interact with blood-clotting medications (such as warfarin) and diabetes treatments.
Even if you're taking high doses of lion's mane, you won't experience any side effects or withdrawal symptoms once you stop taking it, although you'll also stop reaping its benefits.
In short - no, lion's mane mushroom will not make you sleepy. However, due to the noted benefits on anti-anxiety and possible improvements in sleep quality, it may be a good idea to take lion's mane before bedtime as part of your unwinding routine!
The websites we reviewed, which touted the shaggy white mushroom, acknowledged the dearth of published research studies examining the use of lion's mane for ADHD. No research shows that it impacts the production or transmission of dopamine, the primary neurotransmitter involved in ADHD.
Reduces Anxiety and Stress
The study authors theorize that the nerve growth effect of lion's mane mushroom contributes to its anti-anxiety action.
Lion's Mane has been shown to reduce mild symptoms of both anxiety and depression. Unlike prescribed anti-depressants or other psychoactive drugs, there is no risk of becoming addicted or physically dependent on lion's mane.
Studies show that the lion's mane reverses the levels of excitatory neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin; this may increase serotonin levels in a depressed person.
Lion's Mane mushroom or just mushrooms, in general, are known to improve the level of testosterone in the body, giving you better muscle growth and overall energy throughout the day. Therefore, no Lion's mane has no evidence that it lowers testosterone as a side effect.
Lion's Mane supplements have been found to increase levels in both depression and stress hormones like cortisol, while also reducing symptoms associated with mood disorders.
As with all medicinal mushrooms, taking lion's mane in a hot liquid will really get the most out of the powder, as hot water helps extract those healthy nutrients. However, lion's mane tastes so nice we've even made a cracker with it!
Supplementing the neurotrophins
A growing body of research supports the neuroprotective effects of Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) mushroom, so much so that it has earned itself the moniker “the smart mushroom” due to its ability to improve cognitive performance and reduce brain fog.
Avoid using lion's mane mushroom products if you're pregnant. Not enough research has been done to determine if any dosage is safe during pregnancy. If you take diabetes medications, be aware that Lion's mane mushroom can lower your blood glucose levels too much. Keep a close eye on your readings.
No, lion's mane can't get you high. Mushrooms that can cause a high contain a compound called psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic that can alter your state of mind. As lion's mane does not contain psilocybin or other psychoactive compounds, there is no risk of you getting high from consuming the fungus.
Lion's mane should be contraindicated for people with allergy and asthma. Times of allergy result in degranulation of immune calls known as mast cells, and NGF is one of the substances these sentinels of the immune system release when under threat.
Adaptogenic mushroom extracts are brain boosters and may provide stimulant effects similar to caffeine. Therefore, you should avoid taking a lion's mane mushroom supplement before bed, especially if you're sensitive to caffeine, as it may make you restless and unable to fall asleep.
Preclinical studies suggest that Lion's mane may reduce inflammation and biological markers of Alzheimer's (i.e., amyloid plaques), improve cognition, and increase the release of nerve growth factor, a protein that can increase the length of nerve cell processes [3; 4; 5; 6; 7].
For now, know that lion's mane may have some beneficial effects in nerve repair and it's nontoxic and completely safe, so there is no harm in using it.
Lion's Mane mushroom is generally considered safe for humans in both edible and supplement forms. However, there have been isolated cases where individuals who have allergies to other mushroom species have experienced reactions to Lion's Mane mushroom. These reactions include skin rashes 1.
Lion's mane mushrooms have the potential to affect the production of hormones by promoting the growth of nerve cells, particularly in the hypothalamus. A known nootropic, Hericium erinaceus appears to stimulate neurogenesis.