Lion's Mane Mushroom: A Superfood for Your Brain and Body

Superfoods are one of our many gifts from Nature. Although the term superfood is rooted more in marketing than science, it describes those nutrient-dense foods that also offer significant health benefits.  

From leafy greens to nuts, berries, and mushrooms, consuming a variety of these foods is believed to promote health and even help combat chronic illnesses.  

Lion's Mane Mushroom is a popular culinary and medicinal herb classified as a superfood. Having been used for centuries in Chinese Medicine, modern research has also confirmed the numerous benefits of the Lion’s Mane mushroom for physical and mental health.  

In this article, we explore the various health benefits of Lion's Mane for the brain and body and how you can get the most out of this superfood.  

What is Lion’s Mane Mushroom?  

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a white pom-pom-shaped mushroom that grows on the trunks of broadleaf trees across forests in Asia, North America, and Europe. 

Structurally, the mushroom has a large visible fruiting body and an underground root-like mycelium. Both body parts contain compounds that are associated with the health benefits of Lion's Mane and are also included in its commercial products.  

Lion's mane mushroom is a rich source of vitamins and minerals like thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, zinc, manganese, and potassium. It also contains other bioactive substances like hericenones and erinacines which have been shown in studies to support brain health and other nerve functions.  

The mushroom is consumed extensively in many Asian countries in its fresh, cooked, and dried forms which can be sourced in grocery stores. As a supplement, it is available as powder, oils, and pills. Lion's mane pills come in varying dosage strengths ranging between 250-1000 mg and sometimes in combination with other medicinal mushrooms.  

Making Your Own Lion’s Mane Mushroom Capsules 

To maximize the benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom, as we will discuss fully below, supplementing it might be a good option as this allows taking the right amounts to sustain its effects.  

However, you may choose to take control of your health regimen and create your own Lion’s Mane capsules at home.  

This way, you can customize your supplements in a more conscious way, without the use of filler, tailor the dosage, and combine other desired ingredients to meet your needs.  

If you are excited about this, here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started. 

- Step 1: Source a high-quality lion's mane mushroom product from a local or online store.  

You can choose between the powdered form or the fresh herb in which case you handle the extraction and blending yourself.  

- Step 2:  Select the appropriate capsule size and type from Capsuline.  

We offer a range of sizes and materials, including gelatin and vegetarian options, to suit different dietary preferences and supplement volumes. Our vertically integrated supply chain ensures consistent quality and traceability of our products, all manufactured in cGMP-certified facilities in North and South America. 

Once you have your lion's mane powder and capsules ready.

- Step 3: Determine the dose and amount of ingredients needed.  

Make a blend of your supplements if you wish to add in other ingredients.  

Use a digital scale to measure each ingredient precisely and mix them thoroughly for an even distribution of the active compounds in every capsule. 

- Step 4: Fill the capsules either manually or with a capsule-filling machine.  

For small batches, the easiest way is to use a capsule holder and tamper. Simply place the capsule halves in the holder, fill them with your supplement blend, and then press the halves together. For larger quantities, a capsule-filling machine can save you time and ensure uniformity.  

After filling, store your capsules in a cool, dry place to maintain their potency. Airtight containers can help protect them from moisture and contaminants. 

Research Findings: Health Benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom  

In many laboratory, animal, and human studies, the disease-fighting and health-promoting effects of the Lion's Mane mushroom on the body have been shown.

According to a comprehensive review, these benefits span the physical, cognitive, and mental health domains, including anticancer effects and brain, heart, liver, kidney, and nerve protection benefits.  

However, it should be noted that the herb has not been approved for any specific condition due to limited human studies.  More so, not all claims on the supplement labels are verifiable.

Some of the benefits of the lion’s mane mushroom supported by science are highlighted below.  

Physical health benefits

Antioxidant action: fighting free radicals and inflammation 

Chronic inflammation and free radical damage are at the core of many disease conditions including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and aging. Lab studies have shown that lion's mane mushrooms contain potent antioxidant compounds that mop up free radicals.  

These compounds include phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids. They also possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory actions to stem inflammation and strengthen the immune system.  

In animal studies, the mushroom and its extracts have been shown to offer therapeutic benefits in several diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune disorders, liver damage, and cancers of the colon, lungs, stomach, liver, and blood.  

Promoting metabolic health 

In many lab and animal studies, Lion's mane has been shown to lower high triglycerides, bad cholesterol, and high sugar levels to improve metabolic health.  

For example, in one study,  giving daily doses of lion’s mane extract to rats fed with a high-fat diet resulted in  27% lower triglyceride levels and 42% less weight gain after 28 days relative to the controls.  

In another study with diabetic mice with nerve damage, Lion's mane at low doses of 6 mg/kg body weight given for 1 month was found to reduce the sugar level and pain and increase the levels of circulating antioxidants.  

However, further studies in humans are needed to substantiate its benefits in clinical diabetes.  

Supporting gastrointestinal health 

Lion's Mane has been shown to possess gastric ulcer-healing effects. The mushroom is believed to strengthen the mucus lining of the gut and inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria responsible for a number of gut issues including peptic ulcer disease.  

Mental health benefits 

Enhances cognitive ability and fights dementia 

Research has also demonstrated the nootropic effect (i.e. cognitive enhancement) of Lion's Mane Mushroom. It is thought to improve dementia symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease and mental performance in normal subjects.

The mushroom components, particularly hericenones and erinacines, have been found to enhance the release and function of the nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain. This accelerates the growth of the brain cells and other nerve cells.

In a clinical trial, cognitive function testing scores increased among adults ages 50 to 80 who took four 250-milligram powdered lion’s mane tablets three times daily for 16 weeks, compared to those who took placebo. The cognitive ability increases with the duration of supplementation and scores testing reduced months after discontinuing the supplement. 

Alternative therapy for depression and anxiety 

Lion’s Mane's action on nerve growth has also shown its potential in the management of anxiety and depression. Research suggests that NGF is lower among people with major depression.

In a 2010 trial among a cohort of Japanese women with anxiety and depression, some were given cookies made from 5 grams of Lion's Mane extract and others were given cookies made from a placebo for 4 weeks. The Lion's Mane group reported lower depressive symptoms and anxiety and better sleep quality after the treatment period compared to the placebo group.  

Recovery from traumatic brain injury 

Lion's Mane Mushroom also signals promising potential in enhancing recovery from traumatic brain injury.

As demonstrated in a study, treatment with a lion's mane and another mushroom (turkey tail) reduced the neurodegeneration and oxidative processes in the brains of mice with brain injuries. The antioxidant property of Lion's Mane mushroom was theorized to be responsible for this effect.

However, further studies in humans are required to determine the clinical benefits.  

Lion’s Mane Mushroom side effect 

Lion's Mane appears to be a well-tolerated herb with low potential for toxicity even in large doses. The main reported side effects include abdominal discomfort and nausea. Some people have also reported possible allergic reactions such as hives and breathing problems after taking lion's mane. Hence, if you have had any mushroom allergies in the past, speak to your doctor before eating or taking lion's mane mushrooms as supplements.  

Getting the best out of Lion's Mane Mushroom  

Although there are limited human studies, evidence suggests that lion's mane mushroom is indeed a superfood with multi-focal benefits for the body and brain. 

In many oriental countries, this mushroom is a regular part of the diet, consumed whole or as a spice, or in teas. Consumers describe the flavor of Lion's Mane as similar to seafood. That is one way to incorporate this superfood into your diet.

However, for controlled exposure and sustained effects, supplementation on a specific dose of the mushroom may prove more effective. While there is no standard dosage regimen for lion mane use, due to limited human studies, a conservative approach– starting with smaller dose strengths– is advised.

Lastly, as with all supplements, it may be helpful to speak with your doctor before incorporating lion's mane mushroom into your diet or supplement formula, especially if you are new to it.  

Learn more

Interested in lion's mane supplements, either as a nutraceutical manufacturer or enthusiast? Capsuline offers a vertically integrated supply chain model to ensure reliable long-term supply, complete traceability, and superior quality of raw materials. We manufacture all our capsules in cGMP-certified facilities, based in North and South America.   

We offer both gelatin and vegetarian capsules. Give us a call at 866.536.2277 or drop us an email; we’ll be happy to discuss your encapsulation needs. And if you are ready to purchase, contact Capsuline for the best selection of empty capsules in the industry!