How to Improve Neuronal Health: a Forgotten Lions Mane Formula

Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a nutritious and delicious mushroom. Here are a few reasons mushroom cultivation should become your new fantastically fun fungal hobby while providing a healthy brain-protecting treat. Therefore, fungi can be added to daily routines to reap the medicinal benefits of mushrooms.

1. What is Lions Mane?
2. Where does Lions Mane Grow?
3. Efficacy of Hericium erinaceus
4. How to grow Lions Mane
5. Where to find Hericium erinaceus
6. How to cook Lions Mane
7. Hericium erinaceus supplements

1. What is Lions Mane?:

Lion’s Mane is a soft-bodied medicinal mushroom. This fungal fruit body grows tooth-like structures and is a part of the tooth fungus family. For the most part, young Lions Mane mushrooms are white or cream and may darken to yellow or brown color with age.

2. Where does Lions Mane Grow?:

Hericium erinaceus originates from across North America, Asia, and Europe. The mycelium prefers to grow on decaying hardwood trees. Alternatively, indoor cultivators have succeeded with various substrates, and many consider Lion’s mane relatively easy to grow. In brief, the type of substrate and specific strain of fungi used to produce the mycelium will affect the nutrient content of the fruit and mycelium [1, 2].

In the United Kingdom, harvesting Lions Mane is illegal. Nevertheless, cultivation of Hericium is legal.

3. Efficacy of Hericium erinaceus:

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has used Lions Mane to treat various bodily organs and ailments. Moreover, in Eastern and Western cultures, Hericium treats digestive to cognitive problems. Current research investigates the use of Lions Mane to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, ischemic stroke, and dementia [3, 4]. Lions Mane is purported to increase nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain [5]. To sum up, the increased production of NGF may recuse the nervous system from the deleterious effects of cognitive decline disorders.

Notably, mental health is directly associated with physical health, Lions Mane has been shown effective in helping individuals with anxiety and depression [6]. Given these points, addressing physical health ailments will alleviate stress on mental health and vice-versa. Not to mention the perceived benefits of taking Lions Mane, as the placebo effect can drastically improve health [7].

4. How to grow Lions Mane:

Lions Mane is a wood-loving fungus and prefers to grow on wood-based substances: logs, woodchips, cardboard, and other agricultural waste.

Lions Mane spores or substrates are available online for purchase. Therefore, within several months an amateur mycologist can cultivate their own medicinal-gourmet mushrooms at home with little start-up cost.

High Desert Spores provides quality spores and spawn. Use the code RACHELSCOURT for 10% of your order.

Fun Fungi Fact:

Light is not necessary for Lions Mane mushrooms’ growth. In other words, light acts as a guiding cue for the mushrooms. Without a light source (from the sun or artificial light), the fungal fruit may abort or become deformed.

Hericium erinaceus Cultivation Requirements:

• Wood-based substrate
• Temperature: Incubation (70-75 °F), Pinning (50-60 °F), Fruiting (65-75 °F)
• Humidity: Incubation (100%), Pinning (95-100%), Fruiting (85-95%)
• FAE: Consistent fresh air exchange

5. Where to find Hericium erinaceus:

Since mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, the fruit has a short shelf life following harvesting. When stored correctly (e.g., paper bag – mushrooms need to breathe), fresh mushrooms can last upwards of two weeks while refrigerated. Finding fresh Lions Mane can be a challenge as it is less commonly grown than the typical creminis (Agaricus bisporus), oysters (Pleurotus ostreatus), and other mushrooms found in local grocery stores.

Undoubtedly, sourcing dried Hericium erinaceus is a much simpler task as it is gaining popularity due to its delicious taste and benefits. Dried Lions Mane can be purchased to be reconstituted and added to meals. For the most part, supplements can be found ranging from cocoa-mushroom bars and powders to mushroom capsules with tailored doses for various health ailments.

An important factor in sourcing mushrooms is where and how the fungi is grown. Although mushrooms can digest carbon-based organic compounds, they cannot break down heavy metals. In fact, heavy metals are known to accumulate in mushrooms grown in soil or substrate containing heavy metals [8, 9].

6. How to cook Lions Mane:

When prepared, several mushrooms are known to have a seafood-like taste, and Lions Mane is debatably one of the best. To summarize, Hericium erinaceus can be eaten raw, cooked, or dehydrated for later use. 

7. Hericium erinaceus supplements:

Mushroom supplements are often made from dried mushrooms. Mushrooms lose about 90% of their weight in the drying process. Once dried, the mushrooms can be preserved long-term (stored correctly: in a dark and dry environment) and added to any dish to add an umami flavor with incredible health benefits.

Additionally, Hericium erinaceus can be processed into tinctures. Tinctures are typically ethanol based and use fresh mushrooms. A tincture extracts the bioactive compounds from the fungi. The end result of the tincture is a concentrated solution containing the medicinal bioactive compounds. Fungal tinctures can be taken orally or added to food and drinks for easy consumption.

Works Cited:

1. Sardar, H., et al., Agro-industrial residues influence mineral elements accumulation and nutritional composition of king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii). Scientia Horticulturae, 2017. 225: p. 327-334.

2.         Hoa, H.T., C.-L. Wang, and C.-H. Wang, The Effects of Different Substrates on the Growth, Yield, and Nutritional Composition of Two Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus cystidiosus). Mycobiology, 2015. 43(4): p. 423-434.

3.         Khan, M.A., et al., Hericium erinaceus: an edible mushroom with medicinal values. J Complement Integr Med, 2013. 10.

4.         Li, I.C., et al., Neurohealth Properties of Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Erinacines. Behav Neurol, 2018. 2018: p. 5802634.

5.         Lai, P.L., et al., Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. Int J Med Mushrooms, 2013. 15(6): p. 539-54.

6.         Friedman, M., Chemistry, Nutrition, and Health-Promoting Properties of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) Mushroom Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia and Their Bioactive Compounds. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2015. 63(32): p. 7108-7123.

7.         Wampold, B.E., et al., The placebo is powerful: Estimating placebo effects in medicine and psychotherapy from randomized clinical trials. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2005. 61(7): p. 835-854.

8.         Chen, X.-H., H.-B. Zhou, and G.-Z. Qiu, Analysis of Several Heavy Metals in Wild Edible Mushrooms from Regions of China. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2009. 83(2): p. 280-285.

9.         Fang, Y., et al., Concentrations and health risks of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in rice and edible mushrooms in China. Food Chem, 2014. 147: p. 147-51.

Five fascinating facts about fungi: become a mycologist