Lion's mane
Also sold as: Hericium erinaceus · Yamabushitake · Lion's mane mushroom
An edible mushroom marketed for cognition and nerve health. Small human trials suggest limited cognitive or mood signals, while nerve-regeneration and longevity claims remain unestablished in humans.
Focus Anxiety Longevity Energy
Community
Not enough ratings yet: 0 of 10
Scores appear after 10 ratings, so that one or two reports can't dominate. Tried it? Your rating counts.
Research
- Focus: A 30-person MCI trial found cognitive-scale improvement over 16 weeks; healthy-adult findings are inconsistent and the MCI benefit declined after stopping.
- Anxiety: A 30-woman, 4-week trial showed selected symptom signals; within-group depression improvement does not establish a broad placebo-controlled antidepressant effect.
- Energy: No established human endurance benefit; PPAR/animal models cannot establish athletic efficacy.
- Longevity: Human lifespan benefit is unestablished; animal claims are not a negative human RCT or a human promise.
REALITY CHECK // Small MCI and pilot cognition trials do not prove that lion's mane rebuilds the human brain. Fruiting-body powder, standardized extracts and grain-grown mycelium cannot be equated by marketing multipliers; no human head-to-head trial establishes a superior form, and persistent-harm narratives remain unverified.
Levels: how we grade evidence. Grey = evidence of no benefit; amber = evidence it makes this goal worse.
Ratings are self-reported by a self-selected group of users: how it felt, not proof that it works.
Check your bottle
Compare what your label says with what was used in trials. This is a trial range, not a personal prescription.
Enter the amount from your label to see the result.
How it was studied
UPPER LIMIT // No numerical EFSA/NIH UL is established in the dossier. Animal toxicity tolerance and the upper end of a trial range are not human safety ceilings.
Summary
Human evidence is small and short. The 2009 industry-affiliated MCI trial enrolled 30 Japanese adults aged 50-80; cognitive scores improved at weeks 8/12/16 on 3 g/day fruiting-body powder but declined after 4 weeks off. Healthy-user studies are mixed, and guayusa-combination results are confounded.
Mechanism
Hericenones, erinacines and other constituents show neurotrophic/NGF-related effects in cells or animals. No human RCT here measures demonstrated NGF-driven neurogenesis or nerve regeneration; a cognitive test change cannot prove that mechanism.
Typical studied dose
Dossier human preparations span approximately 0.75-3 g/day, without interchangeable composition. The MCI trial specifically used 3 g/day dried fruiting-body powder for 16 weeks. Extract ratios or beta-glucan percentages do not establish an equivalent MCI dose for another preparation.
Upper limit
No numerical EFSA/NIH UL is established in the dossier. Animal toxicity tolerance and the upper end of a trial range are not human safety ceilings.
Popular stacks with Lion's mane
Not enough stack data yet. A combination with Lion's mane appears here once 5 people rate the same set.
Forms and label traps
| Form on label | Active content | Studied range / day | Absorption & GI tolerance | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dried fruiting-body powder Best for: Preparation matching for the 16-week MCI trial. |
Extract weight · marker not quantified | 3000–3000 mg | Whole dried material used in the MCI trial; marker percentage not specified. Generally tolerated; occasional stomach symptoms. |
Studied standard SOURCE-SPECIFIC Compares full dry-powder mass, not beta-glucan dose. Threshold applies only to that trial population. |
| Fruiting-body water / dual extract Best for: Checking a product-specific beta-glucan assay and extraction method. |
Unstandardized: active content unknown | no comparable trial range | Water and alcohol extract different constituents; no validated cross-product human equivalence. Occasional GI symptoms; composition varies. |
Caution CHECK PREPARATION No assumed 10:1 ratio or common clinical target. |
| Mycelium on grain Best for: Distinguishing mycelial material from retained grain/starch. |
Unstandardized: active content unknown | no comparable trial range | Mycelial compounds studied preclinically do not prove superiority in humans. Grain substrate may matter for intolerance. |
Caution CHECK PREPARATION No fixed marker percentage or equivalence to fruiting-body powder. |
Common label traps
- TRAP_01 // It rebuilds human nerves through NGF
Cell/animal mechanisms are not human nerve-regeneration endpoints. - TRAP_02 // Extract milligrams equal trial powder milligrams
No verified extraction or marker equivalence is supplied. - TRAP_03 // It definitely extends human life
Human lifespan data are absent; unverified animal percentages are not used as promises. - TRAP_04 // Every persistent adverse report proves permanent damage
Reports deserve assessment but uncontrolled anecdotes cannot establish causation or incidence.
Other outcomes studied
Outside the five leaderboard goals. Same evidence levels as above.
- mci_cognition Limited · benefit
30 adults aged 50-80, 3 g/day powder, 16 weeks: HDS-R improvement at weeks 8/12/16; scores declined 4 weeks after stopping. Review pooled MMSE increase about 1.17 points from one RCT and one controlled trial; small evidence base.
PMID 18844328 PMID 40959699 - healthy_adult_cognition Limited · benefit
Small trials show inconsistent selected cognitive/stress signals; an acute guayusa combination cannot isolate lion's mane.
PMID 31413233 PMID 38004235 PMID 38140277 - menopausal_mood Limited · benefit
30 women over 4 weeks: some within-group CES-D/complaint changes and selected placebo-comparison subscale effects, not established clinical depression treatment.
PMID 20834180 - ngf_nerve_regeneration No established evidence
Human efficacy is unestablished; neurotrophic and peripheral nerve-repair findings are cell/animal work and preclinical reviews.
PMID 24266378 PMID 30570422 PMID 23510212 PMID 41562932 - metabolic_effects No established evidence
Glucose, lipid and microbiota findings are predominantly animal/cell studies, including the cataloged 2026 beta-glucan paper; no established human therapy.
PMID 37270132 PMID 24090482 PMID 42603129 - endurance_ppar No established evidence
Experimental/in-silico PPAR findings do not establish improved human exercise performance.
PMID 41915570 - als No established evidence
Critical ALSUntangled review finds insufficient evidence to recommend it in ALS; this is a review, not an RCT.
PMID 38141002 - liver_safety_signal Limited · makes it worse
A case of grade-3 cytolysis involved a multi-mushroom powder in metastatic colorectal cancer; confounding prevents attribution to lion's mane alone.
PMID 39223928
Reader questions
Does 125 mg extract equal 1500 mg powder?
Not without a verified extraction ratio and matched composition, and even those do not prove clinical equivalence. Check total serving size as well as capsule count.
Is fruiting body better than mycelium?
They have different constituents and grain dilution can matter, but a human head-to-head superiority trial is absent. A beta-glucan assay is a quality detail, not proof of cognitive benefit.
Are persistent anxiety or anhedonia reports real?
Symptoms should be taken seriously and assessed. Published evidence here cannot establish persistent-syndrome causation or incidence; stop use and seek care if symptoms develop.
Can it treat neuropathy or ALS?
No demonstrated human nerve-regeneration treatment is established. The ALS critical review does not recommend it as a therapy.
Stack interactions
- Caution Anticoagulants / antiplatelets and surgery [CAUTION // CONTEXT]
Precaution based on theoretical/preclinical platelet effects; no human interaction magnitude is established. - Caution Glucose-lowering drugs [CAUTION // CONTEXT]
Possible additive effect is extrapolated from diabetic rats, not established human hypoglycemia.
PMID 24090482 - Caution Immunosuppressants / psychiatric medicines [CAUTION // CONTEXT]
Immunomodulation is theoretical; specific human psychiatric/stimulant interactions remain unstudied. Seek individualized review.
Red flags: interactions and who should avoid it
Interactions
Antiplatelet/anticoagulant concerns are theoretical/preclinical. Glucose-lowering interaction is extrapolated from diabetic rats, not proven in patients. Beta-glucan immunomodulation warrants individual review with immunosuppression. Human interaction data with psychiatric medicines/stimulants and nootropic stacks are insufficient.
Avoid or ask a doctor first if
Avoid with mushroom allergy and during pregnancy/breastfeeding or childhood without specialist advice because human safety data are lacking. Review use around surgery, with anticoagulants or immunosuppression. Stop for significant allergy or new persistent neurologic/mood symptoms and seek assessment. Long-lasting adverse-effect reports are unverified anecdotes, not established frequency or causation.
Sources (PubMed, 17)
- Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
PMID 18844328 · 2009 · Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trialSmall MCI trial, specific fruiting-body powder preparation, benefit declined off treatment.
- Benefits, side effects, and uses of Hericium erinaceus as a supplement: a systematic review.
PMID 40959699 · 2025 · Systematic reviewSmall heterogeneous human efficacy/safety literature; pooled cognition signal is preliminary.
- Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus.
PMID 31413233 · 2019 · Randomized controlled trialSelected healthy-adult cognitive measures.
- The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study.
PMID 38004235 · 2023 · Randomized double-blind pilot studyAcute/chronic cognition, stress and mood signals in young adults.
- Acute Effects of Naturally Occurring Guayusa Tea and Nordic Lion's Mane Extracts on Cognitive Performance.
PMID 38140277 · 2023 · Randomized trial of a combinationGuayusa and lion's mane together; cannot isolate mushroom efficacy.
- Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake.
PMID 20834180 · 2010 · Small randomized trialSelected mood/complaint outcomes in women over 4 weeks.
- Neurotrophic properties of the Lion's mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia.
PMID 24266378 · 2013 · In vitro studyNeurotrophic properties, not human nerve regeneration.
- Regenerative activity of Hericium erinaceus on axonal injury model using in vitro laser microdissection technique.
PMID 30570422 · 2019 · In vitro axonal-injury studyCellular repair model, not human neuropathy treatment.
- Neuroregenerative potential of lion's mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury (review).
PMID 23510212 · 2012 · Review of preclinical nerve evidencePeripheral-nerve regeneration hypothesis.
- Application of Medicinal Mushrooms for the Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review.
PMID 41562932 · 2026 · Systematic review of preclinical studiesMedicinal-mushroom peripheral-nerve evidence is preclinical.
- Structural characterization of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides and the mechanism of anti-T2DM by modulating the gut microbiota and metabolites.
PMID 37270132 · 2023 · Animal/mechanistic studyPolysaccharides, microbiota and diabetes models.
- Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus in experimental diabetic rats.
PMID 24090482 · 2013 · Animal studyGlucose/lipid findings in diabetic rats.
- Hericium erinaceus β-Glucan Improves Post-Prandial Glycemic Homeostasis in Association With Changes in Akkermansia muciniphila, Serum Metabolites, and Gut Hormones.
PMID 42603129 · 2026 · Animal studyBeta-glucan glycemia and microbiota associations; catalog classifies it as nonhuman.
- Bioactives of Lion's Mane Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes) Targeting PPAR Signaling Pathway: An Experimental and In Silico Investigation.
PMID 41915570 · 2026 · Experimental and in silico studyPPAR bioactive mechanism, not human endurance benefit.
- ALSUntangled #73: Lion's Mane.
PMID 38141002 · 2024 · Critical clinical-evidence review
- Grade 3 cytolysis in a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer consuming a mushroom powder-based alternative therapy.
PMID 39223928 · 2025 · Case reportConfounded liver injury during multi-mushroom alternative therapy in cancer.
- Two New Cyathane Diterpenoids from Mycelial Cultures of the Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus and the Rare Species, Hericium flagellum.
PMID 29509661 · 2018 · In vitro / chemical characterization studyMycelial diterpenoids, not proof of clinical form superiority.
Community comments
No approved comments yet. Comments are held for moderation.