Also known as: Yamabushitake, Pom Pom Mushroom, “Nature’s Nootropic”
Primary compounds: Hericenones, erinacines, beta-glucans, polysaccharides
Origin: Native to North America, Europe, and Asia - grows on hardwood trees
Traditional use: Culinary and medicinal tonic for the brain, nerves, and digestion

What It Is

Lion’s Mane is one of nature’s most fascinating medicines, a mushroom that looks like cascading white threads and works like nourishment for the brain.

For centuries, it’s been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a restorative for the stomach, spleen, and nerves. Modern science has confirmed that Lion’s Mane contains compounds that stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF), helping to protect, repair, and regenerate neurons in the brain and throughout the body.

In functional medicine, Lion’s Mane is seen as both a neuroprotective and gut-healing powerhouse, bridging the connection between the mind, the microbiome, and mood.

Key Active Compounds

Hericenones (fruiting body): Stimulate production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the brain.
Erinacines (mycelium): Enhance neurogenesis and protect against neuronal damage.
Beta-glucans & polysaccharides: Support immune health, gut integrity, and energy balance.
Antioxidants: Reduce oxidative stress that contributes to cognitive decline.

Core Therapeutic Actions

Research Highlights

Lion’s Mane is one of the most researched mushrooms for brain and nerve health.
Studies show improved cognition, focus, and mood, including benefits for mild cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression. Animal studies demonstrate enhanced nerve regeneration after injury and protection against neuroinflammation and oxidative damage.

In integrative practice, it’s often used to support neurological conditions, traumatic brain injury recovery, and stress-related cognitive fatigue.

How to Use

Powdered extract or capsule: 1000–2000 mg daily for cognitive and gut-brain support.
Dual-extract tincture: Delivers both water-soluble (polysaccharides) and alcohol-soluble (hericenones/erinacines) compounds.
Functional beverage or coffee blend: Easy daily maintenance dose for focus and mood.

Best time to take: Morning or midday for focus and energy.
Consistency is key. Lion’s Mane builds its effects gradually through neuroregeneration, not stimulation.

Quality note: Choose dual-extracted products that include both fruiting body and mycelium to capture the full spectrum of hericenones and erinacines.

Precautions

Generally well tolerated.
May cause mild digestive changes as the microbiome adjusts.
Use caution with blood-thinning medications.

Eleeo Insight

Lion’s Mane is nourishment for the mind and spirit, medicine for the way we think, feel, and connect.
It helps reawaken communication within the nervous system, gently repairing pathways dulled by stress, trauma, or time.

At Eleeo, we see Lion’s Mane as a reminder that the brain can heal, that renewal is always possible. It restores clarity, creativity, and hope where fog and fatigue once lived.

Quick Reference

Properties: Neurotrophic • Neuroprotective • Antioxidant • Anti-inflammatory • Gut-healing • Immune-supportive

Supports: Cognitive function • Nerve repair • Focus & memory • Gut-brain axis • Mood balance

Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)