Plant Profile: Lion's Mane
The Ultimate Brain & Nerve Food
This sound like you?
Perhaps you're dealing with mental fog and having trouble concentrating. Maybe your vision and hearing isn't what it once was, or other senses are fading. Maybe you're low energy, sluggish, and sinking into depression, or your nerves are frayed and you're battling nervous exhaustion. Or perhaps the situation is more serious than that, and you've suffered a spinal cord or brain injury. Maybe there are signs of Dementia, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. Maybe you're recovering from trauma, or have recently been diagnosed with stomach, esophagus, liver, or skin cancer. Or maybe your immune system is weak, damaged, or disabled (cough jab cough), and you need to activate those natural killer cells. If any of this rings true, there's a little forest hedgehog you might want to meet.
You need Lion’s Mane when:
You want to boost memory and concentration, or deepen your meditation practice.
You'd like to nourish your central nervous system to calm anxiety or ADHD, or simply heal damage to restore sensation.
You're working to heal brain and/or spinal cord injuries, or damages caused by a stroke.
You're looking for a natural way to heal without anti-convulsant pharmaceuticals.
You're looking for protection against spinocerebellar degeneration and/or nerve damage/demyelination.
You've been diagnosed with Dementia, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.
You've been diagnosed with cancer and are seeking an anti-tumor supplement that won't interfere with chemo or radiation.
You're struggling with digestive issues, such as gastric ulcers.
A Very Brief Rundown on Lion’s Mane Benefits:
Supports those with insulin sensitivity
Works to repair gut health against gastric ulcers as well as cancers of the esophagus and stomach
Helps in the recovery of PTSD (see Stamets' Stack - but you didn't hear it from me)
Improves motor function
Has shown great promise in treating Alzheimer's and other chronic nerve/brain diseases
Regarded as a potent inducer of brain tissue regeneration and has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to support mental function (also, this mushroom sort of resembles a brain...see Doctrine of Signatures)
The compound found within Lion's Mane known as erinacine is a potent anti-convulsant and powerful inducer of nerve growth factor (NGF), which are responsible for the production, growth, and maintenance of neurons in the brain
Recent studies in Japan have demonstrated Lion's Mane's ability to improve the functional independence and perceptual capacities of those diagnosed with Parkinson's, cerebovascular disease (most commonly presented as a stroke), diabetic neuropathy, and spinocerebellar degeneration, as well as those dealing with spinal cord injuries
Increases speed and precision of nerve signal delivery, which benefits vision, muscle coordination, and speech
Promotes remyelination (aka regeneration/repair of the Central Nervous System) (For example, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) results in an erosion of the myelin coasting of CNS neurons, or demyelination.)
Studies have also shown that consumption of Lion's Mane triggers an indirect activation of natural killer cells to boost the immune system and inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells
Considered "anti-tumor" (as most medicinal mushrooms are) by not only enhancing the immune system but also making it more discerning
Contains antioxidants to drive down inflammation and support overall health and longevity
Calms the Spirit, thus reducing anxiety, ADHD, and similar forms of over-stimulation
How to Use Lion’s Mane:
Considered to be very safe for consumption, Lion's Mane is food medicine. Nowadays it's also easy to find at your local grocery store. It has a texture similar to seafood and is delicious when sautéed in butter with a little sea salt. However, if you're looking to use Lion's Mane as a plant ally against a certain medical condition, I would suggest working with the mushroom in either powdered, tinctured, or pill form. All three options are available through Host Defense, a company started by the world's go-to mushroom guy, Paul Stamets. In capsule form, the recommended general dose is 2 capsules 1-6 times per day. Try for 30 days and see how it works for you.
As always...
You are your own master.
Consume medicinal mushrooms at your own risk.
Do your own due diligence, as every action of each herbal medicine is unique, and in combination with the unique variables of your body and personal health, the result of any treatment suggested in this post cannot be anticipated and is never guaranteed.
The intent of sharing this general information is to help you on your quest for emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. As such, I, the author, assume no responsibility for your actions, and share only with the understanding that you accept complete responsibility for your own health and well-being.
If you’d like to support my work, please consider purchasing my novel, Gambler’s Choice. You can read sample chapters, watch the trailer, and choose your vendor by visiting www.lunasophiapublishing.com.