Lion's Mane Fungus

As visually striking as it is rare in the wild, Lion's Mane grows on broad-leaf trees in temperate areas of North America, Europe, and Asia.

The name comes from its waterfall-like flowing tendrils, which has led to other nicknames like Bearded Tooth and the Pom Pom Mushroom.

Traditionally it was reserved for use by the nobility, but with today's cultivation techniques its benefits are available to all.
Like other medicinal mushrooms, Lion's Mane are excellent for the immune system, containing polysaccharides and antioxidants.

What truly makes Lion's Mane truly sought after, however, is the exciting research into its positive effects on the brain and overall nervous system.

Lion's Mane has been shown to improve both cognition and concentration, and to reduce depression and anxiety.

Lion's Mane also has compounds which stimulate the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). NGF could be a valuable tool to treat people with nerve damage, but NGF itself can't pass through the blood-brain barrier, meaning that injecting it into patients doesn't help. Lion's Mane works differently, indirectly causing an increase in NGF. It is the only mushroom that has shown this trait.

Additionally, Lion's Mane protects the network of "wires" that nerves use to send signals by promoting the growth of the insulation around them (called myelin).

Some devastating neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis, involve damaged nerve function because of myelin degradation. Lion's Mane, then, may in the future be part of treating or even curing these conditions.

Lion's Mane is extremely versatile in the kitchen. However, the compounds responsible for these nervous system benefits need to be extracted in a specific way, using alcohol as a solvent.

Like other mushrooms, other health benefits can be released with heat and water, but to get the most out of Lion's Mane, you'll want to supplement your intake with one of the commercially available "dual-extract" Lion's Mane products.