Lion’s Mane: Support Nerve Food
Lion’s Mane Mushroom The Lion’s Mane mushroom is one of nature's most powerful supplements for the brain. There is evidence that is has the ability to permanently enhance brain function as well as protect the brain and even promote neurogenesis.
Lion’s Mane mushroom is an ancient Chinese medicine that’s developing a strong following in the world of modern smart drugs. Its ability to enhance overall cognitive function, proven neuroprotective capability, and linked to the production of NGF, or Nerve Growth Factor, are making Lion’s Mane one of the most promising and popular natural nootropics.
Used for centuries as a general tonic and health treatment, Lion’s Mane (also known as Hericium Erinaceus, Yamabushitake or Satyr’s beard) is native to China, Japan, North America and Europe. Though it was traditionally prescribed as a general restorative, its effect on the brain has always been recognized and ancient physicians used it to treat what we would now describe as neurodegenerative diseases.
In recent years the considerable nootropic capabilities of Lion’s Mane have come to the fore, sparked in large part by the discovery of its connection to NGF, a protein that is crucial for the survival and function of nerve cells.
Lion’s Mane increases the amount of NGF in the brain, which enhances cognition by reducing inflammation, encouraging neural growth, and improving overall brain health. But while cognitive enhancement is among the most important effects of Lion’s Mane, it’s far from the only one; studies suggest that Lion’s Mane is a powerful neuroprotectant that could be useful in the treatment of a startling variety of conditions ranging from cardiovascular health to obesity and even some types of cancer.
Lion’s Mane is a unique nootropic; just about everything about it, from effects to timeframe to methods of action are quite different from modern nootropics like the racetams. But ongoing research continues to confirm its potency and potential as a brain and cognition enhancer and millions of nootropic users are finding it a valuable addition to their supplement regimen.
Benefits and Effects
Enhanced Memory and Brain Function
Of course, the biggest draw for Lion’s Mane supplementation is for its nootropic effects. Lion’s Mane has been clinically demonstrated to enhance cognition including improved memory and recall.
It also helps with maintaining focus and attention – something practically every person can benefit from. By increasing a person’s ability to place focus on work or study, individuals will find themselves becoming more efficient in the school or workplace.
Lion’s Mane is a natural supplement that improves overall brain function.
Neuroprotection and Nerve Growth Factor
Although most people are initially interested in Lion’s Mane for its nootropic benefits, it also has an impressive ability to prevent and treat nerve damage.
There are over a dozen studies that support the claim that Lion’s Mane supports neurogenesis, the creation of new neurons, resulting in permanent improvements to brain health. A study conducted by the Tohoku University in 2008 explored the effects of mushrooms on nerve growth and has come to a startling conclusion.
Specifically, they found out that out of all the edible mushrooms available today, it is only Lion’s Mane that has positive impact on nerve repair. What happens is that some particles of Lion’s Mane are digested and distributed through the body – allowing them to pass the blood-brain barrier. Once these particles manage to pass the line, they are capable of directly stimulating the production of enzymes that release the Nerve Growth Factor and repairing nerve myelin.
This ability to enhance nerve regeneration could helpful in managing current conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, senility, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s Disease, and other neurological problems.
Depression and Anxiety
Human studies also suggest that Lion’s Mane can help improve depression and anxiety symptoms after several weeks of supplementation.
Other Health Benefits
The most traditional use of Lion’s Mane is to treat stomach problems.
It’s actually a traditional Chinese medicine but research has shown that sufficient minerals back up the perceived benefits of the mushroom. It contains antibacterial properties and provides anti-inflammatory effects. Other notable effects that can also be helpful for individuals include regulated blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
This makes it ideal for adults who are suffering from diabetes or may have heart problems. The mushroom also helps with detoxification, capable of removing the harmful materials usually floating inside the body. Hence, it doesn’t just prevent problems but also boosts the immune system, preparing it for infections and bacteria. Get an iPad Air 2!
How it Works
How it Works Lion’s Mane’s mechanisms of action are quite different from those of other nootropics. While the racetams and other synthetic smart drugs work by modulating the production of various neurotransmitters, Lion’s Mane enhances cognition by increasing the amount of Nerve Growth Factor or NGF in the brain.
NGF is a neurotrophin, a small secreted protein that is essential for the growth and survival of neurons. Though it is secreted in the brain and is crucial to optimal brain function, there is evidence that NGF is circulated through the entire body and is crucial to maintaining a stable internal environment in response to changes in external conditions.
First identified in the 1950s by Rita Levi-Montalcini and Stanley Cohen, who later won a Nobel prize for its discovery, NGF has been extensively studied and shown to be one of the primary building blocks of brain health and neuroplasticity. The presence of sufficient NGF enhances cognition by encouraging the growth and branching of axons, the long threadlike nerve cell extensions along which impulses are conducted; insufficient NGF impairs cognition by leading to neuronal decay and the eventual death of nerve cells.
The more axons that exist and the better their health, the more rapidly and efficiently impulses can be transmitted and the better the cognition and overall brain function.
Another way in which NGF enhances cognition is by promoting myelination, the development of the lipid/protein sheath that encases and protects axons. Myelin acts much like an electrical insulator, increasing the speed at which impulses travel along the axons by increasing the electrical resistance of the neural cell walls and preventing the impulse from dissipating or leaving the axon.
Mylenation also lays a groundwork for the repair and regrowth of severed or damaged axons, providing a track along which regrowth can occur.
This is an important factor in protecting the brain from the ravages of aging, and may also be useful in the treatment of neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis as well as psychiatric disorders including dementia, depression, schizophrenia, autism,and Alzheimer’s disease.
Ongoing research suggests that the NGF production stimulated by Lion’s Mane may also have significant anti-anxiety and mood elevating benefits, and could possibly facilitate weight loss by improving fat metabolism. Unlike most modern nootropics, Lion’s Mane does not generally produce immediate effects and must be taken over a period of time in order to maximize its benefits.
Dosage
The dosage of Lion’s Mane depends on the strength of the extract. For a typical strength of 10:1 Extract (30% polysaccharide content) a common dosage to experience the aforementioned effects ranges from 500-3000 mg per day.
Dosing higher should not cause any adverse effects but there is no evidence that quantities over 3 g per day will result in any further benefits.
When choosing a a Lion’s Mane supplement, make sure that it uses a combination of both hot water and alcohol extraction to ensure that all the desirable medicinal compounds are successfully extracted from the mushroom.
This type of dual extraction ensures that you reap the whole spectrum of natural benefits from Lion’s Mane such as stimulating the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and promoting neuroprotection.
Choose your source of Lion’s Mane supplement accordingly.
Side Effects
There are very few reported side effects that arise from Lion’s Mane supplementation. Most users that experience side effects report a sensation of itchy skin which may be explained by an increase in Nerve Growth Factor.
Unless accompanied by other allergy-like symptoms, this is most likely the cause and may actually be an indication that the Lion’s Mane is increasing your NGF levels. Lion’s Mane has been tested in mice and has shown no signs of toxicity even up to 5 g/kg and is therefore considered very safe.
It is still recommended to supplement within the recommended dosages.
Stacking
Lion’s Mane is effective on its own and is also an excellent addition to other nootropic stacks.
Lion’s Mane Stack for Immediate Cognitive Boost
For an immediate cognitive boost Lion’s Mane can be stacked with fast-acting nootropics like piracetam, pramiracetam, aniracetam, or oxiracetam.
When racetams are part of a stack it’s particularly important to include a high quality choline like Alpha GPC, CDP Choline, or centrophenoxine to ensure that there is ample choline available for transformation to acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter most closely associated with cognition.
Lion’s Mane Stack for Long-term Cognitive Enhancement
Lion’s Mane’s most desirable benefits lie in long-term supplementation (several weeks to months) resulting in lasting improvements to brain function.
Some of the supplements that best compliment Lion’s Mane include Uridine and fish oil, both of which protect cellular membranes; zinc, which regulates synaptic function; and ALCAR or Acetyl-L-Carnitine, which reduces brain cell death.
Other good additions to a Lion’s Mane stack would be Pregnenolone or P5, which encourages production of new neurons, and melatonin, which reduces neuronal death.
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