Lion's Mane

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Lion's Mane, known as Yamabushitake, is a dietary mushroom that can be a supplement. It appears to be a promising cognitive enhancer and immunomodulator (thought to stimulate or suppress inflammation depending on context).

Lion's Mane is most often used for

What else is Lion's Mane known as?
Note that Lion's Mane is also known as:
  • Hericium erinaceus
  • Monkey's Head
  • Houtou (infrequent)
  • Igelstachelbart
  • Pom Pom Blanc
  • Hedgehog Mushroom
  • Satyr’s Beard
  • Yamabushitake
Dosage information

Currently, the only human study has used an oral dose of 1,000 mg Lion's Mane (96% purity extract) thrice daily for a cumulative total of 3,000 mg extract. While it is unknown if this is the optimal dose or not, it appeared to be effective.

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References
1.^Mori K, Obara Y, Hirota M, Azumi Y, Kinugasa S, Inatomi S, Nakahata NNerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cellsBiol Pharm Bull.(2008 Sep)
4.^Yaoita Y, Danbara K, Kikuchi MTwo new aromatic compounds from Hericium erinaceum (BULL.: FR.) PERS(1)Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo).(2005 Sep)
6.^Ueda K, Tsujimori M, Kodani S, Chiba A, Kubo M, Masuno K, Sekiya A, Nagai K, Kawagishi HAn endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-suppressive compound and its analogues from the mushroom Hericium erinaceumBioorg Med Chem.(2008 Nov 1)
11.^Li JL, Lu L, Dai CC, Chen K, Qiu JYA comparative study on sterols of ethanol extract and water extract from Hericium erinaceusZhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi.(2001 Dec)
16.^Han ZH, Ye JM, Wang GFEvaluation of in vivo antioxidant activity of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharidesInt J Biol Macromol.(2013 Jan)
17.^Abdullah N, Ismail SM, Aminudin N, Shuib AS, Lau BFEvaluation of Selected Culinary-Medicinal Mushrooms for Antioxidant and ACE Inhibitory ActivitiesEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
21.^Ueda K, Kodani S, Kubo M, Masuno K, Sekiya A, Nagai K, Kawagishi HEndoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-suppressive compounds from scrap cultivation beds of the mushroom Hericium erinaceumBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(2009 Aug)
22.^Kolotushkina EV, Moldavan MG, Voronin KY, Skibo GGThe influence of Hericium erinaceus extract on myelination process in vitroFiziol Zh.(2003)
23.^Mori K, Obara Y, Moriya T, Inatomi S, Nakahata NEffects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β(25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in miceBiomed Res.(2011 Feb)
25.^Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, Hayashi C, Sato D, Kitagawa K, Ohnuki KReduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intakeBiomed Res.(2010 Aug)
26.^Wong KH, Naidu M, David P, Abdulla MA, Abdullah N, Kuppusamy UR, Sabaratnam VPeripheral Nerve Regeneration Following Crush Injury to Rat Peroneal Nerve by Aqueous Extract of Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae)Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2011)
28.^Farndale RW, Sixma JJ, Barnes MJ, de Groot PGThe role of collagen in thrombosis and hemostasisJ Thromb Haemost.(2004 Apr)
29.^Mori K, Kikuchi H, Obara Y, Iwashita M, Azumi Y, Kinugasa S, Inatomi S, Oshima Y, Nakahata NInhibitory effect of hericenone B from Hericium erinaceus on collagen-induced platelet aggregationPhytomedicine.(2010 Dec 1)
32.^Hagiwara SY, Takahashi M, Shen Y, Kaihou S, Tomiyama T, Yazawa M, Tamai Y, Sin Y, Kazusaka A, Terazawa MA phytochemical in the edible Tamogi-take mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae), D-mannitol, inhibits ACE activity and lowers the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive ratsBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(2005 Aug)
35.^Hiwatashi K, Kosaka Y, Suzuki N, Hata K, Mukaiyama T, Sakamoto K, Shirakawa H, Komai MYamabushitake mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) improved lipid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat dietBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(2010)
37.^Kim YO, Lee SW, Oh CH, Rhee YHHericium erinaceus suppresses LPS-induced pro-inflammation gene activation in RAW264.7 macrophagesImmunopharmacol Immunotoxicol.(2011 Nov 29)
41.^Park ID, Yoo HS, Lee YW, Son CG, Kwon M, Sung HJ, Cho CKToxicological study on MUNOPHIL, water extract of Panax ginseng and Hericium erinaceum in ratsJ Acupunct Meridian Stud.(2008 Dec)
42.^Nakatsugawa M, Takahashi H, Takezawa C, Nakajima K, Harada K, Sugawara Y, Kobayashi S, Kondo T, Abe SHericium erinaceum (yamabushitake) extract-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome monitored by serum surfactant proteinsIntern Med.(2003 Dec)