Lion’s mane – the vital mushroom for the intestines and nerves

Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a medicinal mushroom that looks like a lion’s mane.

Hence the name. The mushroom is also known as monkey head mushroom or hedgehog beard mushroom.

It colonizes dead wood of oak, beech and spruce and is native to East Asia, North America and Northern Europe.

Lion's mane is known as a mushroom for the intestines and nerves. In traditional medicine (TCM) it is used primarily for gastrointestinal complaints.

Lion's mane is also very popular as an edible mushroom. Its taste is reminiscent of lobster, with aromas similar to citrus fruits and coconut.

Ingredients of Lion's Mane

Lion’s mane contains valuable ingredients that are responsible for the positive effects of lion’s mane:

• β-glucans – polysaccharides with immunomodulating effects.
• Ergothioneine – can bind heavy metals
• Lovastatin – natural cholesterol lowering agent
• Triterpenes
• Orcinol derivatives

There are many studies on lion's mane. The following effects are currently being investigated:

Nerve protection and regeneration

Lion's mane can stimulate the nerve growth factor NGF. ¹ In addition, the fungus can promote the myelination of nerve cells in cell culture. ² Myelin is an insulating protective layer that surrounds nerve cells. Once damaged, it is very difficult to rebuild.

Lion's mane is therefore of interest in neurodegenerative diseases. Initial studies also show that lion's mane could help with depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. ³

Immune defense

Lion's mane, like other medicinal mushrooms , appears to have an immunomodulating effect. This is due to the β-glucans it contains. In cell culture, lion's mane can activate natural killer cells (NK cells). ⁴

Cholesterol reduction

Lion's mane contains lovastatin, which is considered a natural cholesterol-lowering agent (statin). ⁵ Lovastatin can inhibit HMG-CoA reductase in vitro, thereby reducing cholesterol synthesis. ⁶

Gastrointestinal health

Lion's mane is very promising for inflammatory bowel disease. In animals, lion's mane was able to promote the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria. ⁷

Lion's mane also appears to be able to ^inhibit Helicobacter pylori . 8 A Helicobacter pylori infection can cause gastritis and gastrointestinal complaints.

Buy Lion's Mane

There are huge differences in quality when it comes to medicinal mushrooms and you should definitely pay attention to good quality. There are many fake products on the market that do not contain the medicinal mushroom at all or only in very small quantities. ⁹

High-quality medicinal mushrooms are of course a bit more expensive than any other product on Amazon. So make sure you get good value for money and transparency in the list of ingredients and their origin.

Viktilabs relies on the highest quality for lion's mane: the medicinal mushroom is laboratory-tested, contains no unnecessary additives and was developed in Germany. The preparation also contains vitamin C, which can improve bioavailability.

Here you can find the Lion's Mane from Viktilabs .