Health benefits of lion's mane mushroom

What is lion's mane mushroom?

Lion's mane is an edible mushroom. It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a range of health problems. Its Latin name is Hericium erinaceus, but it also goes by a wide variety of creative names in different countries.

You might hear it referred to as ‘Bearded Tooth Fungus’, ’Monkey Head Mushroom’, ‘Satyr’s Beard’, ‘Bearded Hedgehog Mushroom’ or ‘Pom Pom Mushroom’.

In Japan, lion's mane goes by the name of ‘Yamabushitake’, which translates to ‘those who sleep in the mountains’. This is a reference to a sect of hermit monks called Shugendo who live in the mountains and wear long, flowing white robes.(1)

It can be eaten whole, and has a delicate texture which many people compare to seafood. It’s also widely available as a supplement or in the form of a powder. → See Medicinal Mushroom Products

Where does lion's mane grow?

Lion's mane mushrooms grow in beech forests in Asia, North America and Europe, where it feeds on deadwood. They play an important role in the ecosystem of the forest by collecting up nutrients from the wood of dead trees. They then make these available to other organisms, who eat the mushroom.

While it grows naturally in the UK, the loss of woodland areas has left lion's mane with a much reduced natural habitat. Because of its reported health benefits, it’s also a target for foragers. For these reasons, it’s a protected species in the UK, benefiting from the highest possible level of legal protection.(2)

Modern science is now beginning to recognise its potential. A number of studies have looked into how this medicinal mushroom could be used in modern medical treatment.

However, the majority of the knowledge available for lion's mane’s health benefits comes from traditional medicine.

Traditional use of lion's mane

Lion's mane mushroom has been a common feature in both Chinese and Japanese traditional medicine. Historically, it seems that traditional practitioners thought of lion's mane as a good ‘all-rounder’, with benefits for the whole body.

They believed that lion's mane nourished the five internal organs (the liver, lung, spleen, heart, and kidney) as well as helping with digestion, strength and ‘general vigour’.(3)

Traditional Chinese medicine also recommends lion's mane to treat Qi deficiency. Your ‘Qi’ is your vital energy, so symptoms of a Qi deficiency might include insomnia and a general feeling of weakness.(3)

Lion's mane mushrooms are especially associated with brain and cognitive health. Buddhist monks may have used them as a 'brain tonic' and to help them concentrate during long periods of meditation.(1)

Modern scientific research has been done to try and gather empirical data that proves the health benefits of lion's mane, based on its long traditional use.

Here are a few of the findings. → See Medicinal Mushroom Products

Lion's mane mushroom benefits: cognitive health

One of the most promising areas of study for lion's mane is its ability to help with cognitive impairment.

A recent review of ‘in-vivo’ studies looked at the effects of supplementing people’s diets with medicinal mushrooms. The studies covered reishi, cordyceps and lion's mane, and found that these mushrooms may have a beneficial effect on cognitive impairment. The authors of the review called for more research to confirm the effect.(4)

A Japanese double-blind medical trial looked at whether lion's mane could improve cognitive function in men and women between 50 and 80, who had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.

The participants took a tablet containing lion's mane three times a day for 16 weeks. The researchers then observed them for a further four weeks.

The people who had taken lion's mane scored higher on the cognitive function scale than a placebo group. The authors of the study concluded that their results suggested that lion's mane was an effective treatment for mild cognitive impairment.(5)

Related reading

• The Erbology guide to medicinal mushrooms
• Reishi mushroom health benefits