Lion's Mane mushrooms, also known as Hericium erinaceus, have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries.
This mushroom has been called "the king of herbs" because of its nutritional benefits and ability to boost brain health. The name "lion's mane" comes from the appearance of its long, white spines, which are said to resemble a lion's mane.
The lion's mane mushroom is extremely high in antioxidants and can help improve your mood and cognitive function. It has also been shown to decrease inflammation in the body and promote better digestion overall.
Rare Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) - AlbyDeTweede
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Lion's Mane is a type of mushroom that's been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It is known hóu tóu gū (“monkey head mushroom”).
In TCM, lion's mane is said to be nutritive to the five internal organs (liver, lung, spleen, heart, and kidney) and promotes good digestion and increases vitality. It is also recommended for gastric and duodenal ulcers, as well as chronic gastritis (in prepared tablet form).The mushroom is also known for its effects on the central nervous system.
In TCM lion's mane is classified as a tonic herb that improves resistance to disease by strengthening Qi – the vital energy that flows through your body. It also helps with insomnia by calming your mind.
There are many benefits of Lion's Mane mushrooms.
Lions mane mushrooms are one of the most powerful medicinal mushrooms around. They're a real powerhouse for your brain, heart and immune system, skin, digestive health and more.
The reasons why lions mane is so good for you are actually very simple: its antioxidants help fight free radicals that cause oxidative damage to cells. These antioxidants also help reduce inflammation in the body as well as boost immunity.
Lions mane mushrooms are a good source of protein, vitamin D, selenium and copper. They have some B vitamins and zinc in them as well. This can be particularly beneficial for vegans who don't eat any meat or dairy products.
The benefits of lion's mane mushroom include:
It has more antioxidants than blueberries or acai berry juice! Antioxidants help to fight free radicals which cause cancer cells to grow out of control while also preventing other diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.
It prevents depression by increasing serotonin levels in the brain (the happiness hormone). Some studies show that over 80% of patients taking antidepressants stop using them after just two weeks after switching to lion's mane supplements because it works so much better!
Lion’s mane is packed full of nerve growth factor (NGF), which helps to repair damaged nerves in the brain. This can help with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. It's also a natural anti-inflammatory which means it can be used to treat pain that comes from arthritis or migraines.
Lion's mane is also great for your digestive system as it helps to improve leaky gut syndrome. This is where the lining of your intestines become inflamed and porous which allows food particles, bacteria and toxins to seep out into your bloodstream causing inflammation.
Lion's mane helps to heal your gut by increasing the production of mucus in your stomach, which helps to protect your digestive system from bacteria and viruses. It also boosts the production of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacillus. These are probiotics that help improve digestion and prevent constipation.
Edible Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) in the Netherlands - By AlbyDeTweede
Brain health
Lion's mane mushrooms are a good source of vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, selenium and zinc. These nutrients play an important role in maintaining normal brain function and promote healthy blood flow to the brain. They also contain D-fraction which may enhance cognitive performance by improving communication between neurons as well as supporting memory and learning ability.
Stress and anxiety
If you suffer from stress or anxiety, you may want to consider adding lions mane mushrooms to your diet. The compounds in this mushroom have been shown to calm the mind and promote feelings of peace and tranquility. These are just some of the many benefits that come with using these mushrooms as a natural remedy for reducing stress and anxiety.
Reducing depression symptoms
Ever felt like you're struggling with anxiety or depression? You’re not alone. Millions of people suffer from these conditions, which are usually treatable with therapy and medication. But one herb you may not have heard of is showing promise for reducing symptoms: lions mane mushroom.
The active compounds in this mushroom bind to receptors in the brain that reduce stress and anxiety, which can lead to depression. A recent study found that taking a supplement containing this mushroom reduced symptoms of depression better than placebo in women with moderate-to-severe postpartum depression (PPD). In another study, women who were given supplements containing lions mane over 6 weeks reported significantly less overall mental distress than those who received placebos during the same period—and their improvements lasted for up to 2 months after they stopped taking supplements!
Protects against Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia
it has been shown to have neuroprotective properties that can help support cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease patients. It may also be beneficial for those suffering from other types of dementia or cognitive decline due to age-related changes in the brain.
Lion’s Mane has been shown to protect against Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia by preventing beta-amyloid aggregation and tau hyperphosphorylation (the abnormal phosphorylation of tau, a protein that forms neurofibrillary tangles).
It also helps protect brain cells from oxidative stress and enhances nerve growth factor (NGF) production. NGF is essential to the survival of neurons in several areas of the brain, including the hippocampus and cortex — regions involved in memory and learning.
In addition to its neuroprotective properties, Lion’s Mane may also improve cognitive function by increasing cerebral blood flow in the frontal lobe region of the brain – an area associated with executive functions like planning, problem solving and decision making.
Heart health
Research shows that Lion's Mane mushrooms can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and improve heart health. In one study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in January 2019, researchers from India concluded that Lion's Mane mushroom extract has a significant effect on lowering high blood pressure.
A study published in January 2018 in the Journal of Food Science found that supplementing with lion's mane extract could also improve cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease. The researchers noted that this benefit was particularly noticeable among those who were overweight or obese at the start of the study period.
Another study conducted by a group of Chinese scientists found that taking lion’s mane supplements for 60 days significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (the top number) by an average of 8 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) decreased by an average of 4 mmHg
Fights inflammation
Inflammation is the body's response to injury, illness or irritation. It is a natural part of healing, but can also be a sign that something is wrong. Inflammation has many benefits—it helps fight infection and protects against disease.
Inflammation can cause pain and discomfort as well as redness and swelling in the affected area. The main symptoms include:
Pain in your joints, muscles or tendons (sometimes called arthralgia)
Joint stiffness or limited movement (sometimes called joint stiffness)
A feeling that your skin isn't quite right (sometimes called paresthesia)
Helps control blood sugar levels
It is known that lion’s mane mushroom helps lower blood sugar levels. It also helps control blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes. It has been shown in studies that lion’s mane mushroom can help prevent metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, which are both risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
Lion's mane mushroom on tree bark - By Anolis01
Growing/Eating Lion's Mane
You're probably wondering how you can add Lion's Mane into your diet? There are a few ways:
1) You can purchase dried or freeze-dried Lion's Mane online or at your local health food store. These options aren't as easy to prepare as fresh Lion's Mane, but they're still viable options if you don't have access to fresh ones in your area.
2) You can grow your own! If you have access to fresh Lion's Mane mushrooms (or know someone who does), they should be able to give or sell some to you if you ask nicely (or offer them some money). Then all you need to do is dry them out and grind them into powder form—easy peasy!
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to say that the Lion's mane mushroom is a great source of nutrients and incredible in terms of what it can do for your health. The main reason why it is so beneficial is because of its antioxidants and its ability to boost the immune system. It also helps you with many different symptoms such as anxiety and depression, as well as helping with memory loss or dementia.
This is just a small list of what this amazing mushroom can do for you! So next time you go grocery shopping, make sure you pick up some Lion's mane mushrooms and give it a try!
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