Lion’s Mane Mushroom Benefits

In recent years, Lion's Mane mushroom has become very popular due to the effectiveness in strengthening memory, treating nerve diseases, and infections of the digestive system.

Primary Key Points

Antitumor Activities: Lion’s mane combats oxidative stress, induces cancer cell death (apoptosis), and prevents tumor formation by causing cell cycle arrest, making it effective against tumor growth.

Pain Reduction: Lion’s mane promotes nerve growth factor biosynthesis, which helps reduce pain by modulating pain receptor activity and alleviating nociceptive behavior.

Healing Ulcers: Lion’s mane protects the stomach’s mucosal layer and inhibits the adhesion of H. pylori, aiding in the healing of gastric ulcers.

Supporting Digestive Health: Lion’s mane benefits the entire digestive system, including the intestines, by improving inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms and reducing intestinal bleeding.

Introduction

Lion’s mane is a mushroom used widely in eastern Asia for cooking, nutrition, and medicine.

It is considered one of the most praised medicinal and edible mushrooms.

Lion’s mane is also known as Hericium ernaceus, its scientific name.

Although lion’s mane mushroom is used widely throughout Eastern Asia, it is not nearly as common in North America.

This is surprising, given all the benefits and medicinal uses for lion’s mane.

Lion’s mane’s benefits appear from its terpenoid, sterol, and aromatic compound content (1).

Let’s go through them together.

Benefits of lion’s mane mushroom

Traditional Chinese Medicine actions

Lion’s mane is often used in traditional Chinese medicine. In terms of actions, ancient Chinese medicine practitioners say that lion’s mane helps fortify the spleen, nourish the stomach, and tranquilize the mind (2).

Antitumor activities

Lion’s mane has antitumor activities. This is because lion’s mane combats oxidative stress, which is one of the significant factors in tumor growth and formation (3). Lion’s mane can also help fight tumor activity by its ability to induce cell apoptosis, which is the death of cancerous cells. Lion’s mane also leads to cell cycle arrest, stopping tumor formation (4).

Pain reduction

Lion’s mane can also be used for pain reduction. This is due to its ability to help promote nerve growth factor biosynthesis. Lion’s mane reduces nociceptive behavior, which is how pain receptors behave (5).

Helps to heal ulcers

Lion’s mane protects the mucosal layer of the stomach's inner lining. It is, therefore, healing to gastric ulcers (6). It also inhibits the ability of H pylori to adhere to the cells inside the stomach. H pylori is one of the leading causes of stomach ulcers (7).

Helps to heal IBD

It is beneficial not only to the upper digestive system but also to the digestive system. It can also benefit intestinal health. Scientific studies have demonstrated that lion’s mane significantly improves body weight and colon length in those with inflammatory bowel disease. Lion’s mane also helps decrease intestinal bleeding in these patients (8).

Helps against nervous system disease

The nervous system can also reap the benefits of lion’s mane mushroom. This is because lion’s mane produces natural cyathane diterpenoids, useful against nervous system diseases (9).

Several other benefits

Scientific studies have proven that lion’s mane has a wide array of additional benefits, including modulating the immune system, protecting the liver, lowering cholesterol, regulating blood sugar, helping with fatigue, and having anti-aging effects (10).

Uses of lion’s mane mushroom

Diseases of the stomach

Lion’s mane is often used in digestive diseases, such as gastritis, H pylori infections, stomach ulcers, and stomach cancer. Scientific research studies have shown that lion’s mane can help prevent stomach cancer progression (11).

Intestinal diseases

Lion’s mane is also helpful in inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (12).

Osteoporosis

Research has also demonstrated that lion’s mane has a valuable role in osteoporosis, where there is a reduction in bone density, common in elderly females (13).

Neurological conditions

Lion’s mane is also helpful in neurological conditions. For example, scientific research studies have demonstrated lion’s mane’s usefulness in treating dementia, among other nervous system diseases (14).

Conclusion

As you can see, lion’s mane has positive effects on several different organs and systems of the body. Unfortunately, the use of lion’s mane has not been more widely adopted here in North America. Ask your healthcare provider if lion’s mane mushroom is right for you.

Brain Tea pairs organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom with other brain-boosting ingredients. Supplementing with Lion’s Mane has the potential to boost your brain function daily. Get your Brain Tea now.

Read more about Lion's Mane in our detailed article

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Tea

FAQ

How does lion’s mane support traditional Chinese medicine practices?

Traditional Chinese medicine uses lion’s mane to fortify the spleen, nourish the stomach, and tranquilize the mind, promoting overall digestive and mental health.

What are the antitumor benefits of lion’s mane?

Lion’s mane fights oxidative stress, induces cancer cell death (apoptosis), and prevents tumor formation by causing cell cycle arrest, making it effective against tumor growth.

Can lion’s mane help with pain relief?

Yes, lion’s mane promotes nerve growth factor biosynthesis, which helps reduce pain by modulating pain receptor activity and alleviating nociceptive behavior.