Benefits of Adaptogenic Mushrooms: Lion’s Mane

Spotlights
Written By Ellie Kroeger

Adaptogens are natural substances (herbs, seeds, mushrooms, etc.) with powerful mechanisms of action that help our bodies manage stress, maintain homeostasis, and fight inflammation, amongst other things. They are considered non-specific enhancers of health because of their broad range of benefits. Lion’s mane, in particular, offers cognitive, intestinal, and endocrine benefits that make it one of my favorite homeopathic remedies for personal use.

  • Neuroprotection

    • Not only is lion’s mane capable of crossing the blood-brain-barrier (BBB), once there, it can stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, as well as decrease inflammation.¹ This may enhance cognitive health, increase longevity by fighting Alzheimer’s and dementia, and protect the integrity of the BBB (which can become leaky as we age).² The increased neurogenesis and lowering of brain inflammation may also explain why lion’s mane is associated with reduced depressive symptoms and has even been suggested as a potential anti-depressant.³

  • Anti-Inflammation

    • Lion’s mane is capable of lowering inflammation, which is the driver of most chronic diseases, wreaking hormonal and metabolic havoc on our bodies. Lion’s mane may suppress TNFalpha and IL-6 (pro-inflammatory cytokines) and inhibit JNK activation.⁴

  • Intestinal Health & Microbiome Modulation

    • Lion’s mane has been shown to reduce IBS severity by improving the gut microbiome composition⁶ and protecting the gastric mucosa.⁵ Its antioxidant properties are partially responsible for its intestinal health benefits, as well as the prebiotic polysaccharides found in lion’s mane.

  • Cancer Prevention

    • In combination with its antioxidative properties, studies have shown lion’s mane to possess anti-cancer properties by inhibiting metastatis or inducing apoptosis.⁷

  • Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

    • Studies have found lion’s mane can lower blood glucose, increase insulin sensitivity, improve hyperlipidemia, and lower oxidative stress in animals.⁸

Caution must be taken when searching for a proper lion’s mane supplement (or any supplement, for that matter). Because supplements are largely unregulated, it is up to the consumer to discern the safety of their mushroom sourcing. Always do your research to ensure you are ingesting a reliable product with third-party testing.

References

  1. Martínez-Mármol R, Chai Y, Conroy JN, Khan Z, Hong S-M, Kim SB, et al. Hericerin derivatives activates a pan‐neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1/2 signaling enhancing spatial memory. J Neurochem [Internet]. 2023;165(6):791–808. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15767

  2. Li I-C, Chang H-H, Lin C-H, Chen W-P, Lu T-H, Lee L-Y, et al. Prevention of early Alzheimer’s disease by erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia pilot double-blind placebo-controlled study. Front Aging Neurosci [Internet]. 2020;12. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2020.00155

  3. Ryu S, Kim HG, Kim JY, Kim SY, Cho K-O. Hericium erinaceus extract reduces anxiety and depressive behaviors by promoting hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult mouse brain. J Med Food [Internet]. 2018;21(2):174–80. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2017.4006

  4. Mori K, Ouchi K, Hirasawa N. The anti-inflammatory effects of lion’s mane culinary-medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (higher basidiomycetes) in a coculture system of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW264 macrophages. Int J Med Mushrooms [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2023 Jul 21];17(7):609–18. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26559695/

  5. Wong J-Y, Abdulla MA, Raman J, Phan C-W, Kuppusamy UR, Golbabapour S, et al. Gastroprotective effects of lion’s mane mushroom Hericium erinaceus (bull.:Fr.) pers. (aphyllophoromycetideae) extract against ethanol-induced ulcer in rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2023 Jul 21];2013:492976. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/492976

  6. Diling C, Xin Y, Chaoqun Z, Jian Y, Xiaocui T, Jun C, et al. Extracts from Hericium erinaceus relieve inflammatory bowel disease by regulating immunity and gut microbiota. Oncotarget [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2023 Jul 21];8(49):85838–57. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.20689

  7. Kim SP, Nam SH, Friedman M. Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) mushroom extracts inhibit metastasis of cancer cells to the lung in CT-26 colon cancer-tansplanted mice. J Agric Food Chem [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2023 Jul 21];61(20):4898–904. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23668749/

  8. Liang B, Guo Z, Xie F, Zhao A. Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus in experimental diabetic rats. BMC Complement Altern Med [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2023 Jul 21];13(1):253. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-253

Ellie Kroeger
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