Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Yes
Lion’s mane, the fungus known as Hericium erinaceus, has been used holistically to cure stress for centuries. Today there is increasing evidence to suggest its potential to boost brain function, memory and mood.
“Daily intake of lion’s mane-based products can provide significant long-term benefits for cognitive function and overall wellbeing,” says Guiseppe Venturella, a professor of forest botany and mycology at the University of Palermo. He refers to a review of articles published in Frontiers that concludes it “shows strong potential” in reducing mood and sleep disorders, improving focus and enhancing communicati…
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Yes
Lion’s mane, the fungus known as Hericium erinaceus, has been used holistically to cure stress for centuries. Today there is increasing evidence to suggest its potential to boost brain function, memory and mood.
“Daily intake of lion’s mane-based products can provide significant long-term benefits for cognitive function and overall wellbeing,” says Guiseppe Venturella, a professor of forest botany and mycology at the University of Palermo. He refers to a review of articles published in Frontiers that concludes it “shows strong potential” in reducing mood and sleep disorders, improving focus and enhancing communication between the gut and the brain.
Fat Fox Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Mushroom grow kit, £25
Since most human trials have been small-scale, the buzz around lion’s mane is limited to tests on cells and animals. These suggest that naturally occurring compounds within the mushroom – namely hericenones – “may support nerve growth [which can aid the brain’s ability to repair itself] and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress [both of which are linked to depression and brain fog],” says Dr Federica Amati, a medical scientist at Imperial College London.
Dr Paola Rossi, a professor in human nutrition at the University of Pavia, says that lion’s mane will be particularly useful for anyone with mild cognitive impairment (forgetting things more often, missing appointments or difficulty following instructions). In one double-blind study, a group taking lion’s mane showed significantly increased scores on the cognitive function scale versus a placebo group. Rossi also points to a 2010 study at Kyoto Bunkyo University in Japan which found that the fungus helped reduce anxiety in menopausal women.
Dirtea Focus Gummies
**Price: **£34 for 30 servings
Superoom Lion’s Mane tincture
**Price: **£39.99
Four Sigmatic dark roast Original Mushroom Coffee
**Price: **$20 for 283g
Mother Made Focus Lion’s Mane capsules
**Price: **£25 for 60 capsules
While there has yet to be a clinically defined standard of how to take lion’s mane, Rossi suggests starting with 15g of the fresh mushroom (grow your own with a kit from Fat Fox Mushrooms), and cooking it. Heating up the fungus can make its compounds more easy to digest.
Most people take lion’s mane as a supplement: Superoom makes a tincture, Dirtea sells apple-favoured gummies and Mother Made offers capsules. There’s also a vogue to blend it into coffee – see Four Sigmatic’s Original Mushroom Coffee – which is popular among the Silicon Valley crowd, including physician Dr Mark Hyman, author of Young Forever.
No
“Lion’s mane mushroom has become a darling of the wellness world, but much of this enthusiasm runs ahead of the science,” says Dr Amati. While she believes the findings hold promise, they are limited by not yet being tested on humans. “When we look at human studies, the evidence is sparse and far from definitive.”
Some studies show mixed or very few benefits: research conducted by the University of Surrey and University College London last year showed “no significant effect for measures of global cognitive function and mood”. In another study in Taiwan, four subjects dropped out of the trial with nausea. (Aside from this, however, significant side effects are seldom reported.)
Practical questions are also unresolved. “We don’t yet know optimal dosage or formulation; products on the market vary widely, and there is no agreed standard for potency,” says Dr Amati. There’s nothing to say if you’re taking the right amount, or if a supplement has been prepared in the best way to maximise benefits.”
Adds Marion Nestle, a professor of food, nutrition and public health at New York University: “Cognition depends on healthy lifestyle habits; it’s really hard for me to believe that any mushroom will make a significant difference to health.”
For those seeking support for mood or cognitive health, Dr Amati says that “other nutrients such as B-vitamin derivatives and zinc have a far more substantial evidence base”. Dr Rossi also warns that lion’s mane might interact with other medication; you should consult a doctor before taking it. For now, she says, you’re best off sticking to the old-fashioned formula of “a Mediterranean diet, aerobic exercise and sleep”.