Lion’s Mane: The Wellness Supplement That’s Breaking the Internet
Meet your new best friend: Lion’s Mane! This #1 therapeutic mushroom in the UK has racked up over 87 million views on TikTok. Long before it became a mainstream sensation, Lion’s Mane was a staple in traditional Chinese medicine, renowned for relieving anxiety and stress. It plays a crucial role in supporting the central nervous system, enhancing cognitive function, emotions, and behaviour.
“Everyone who is anyone takes Lion’s Mane,” says Lisa Hogan, Jeremy Clarkson’s partner, following the surge in popularity from the recent Clarkson’s Farm programme. But what’s all the hype about? Should we all jump on the Lion’s Mane bandwagon? To get the low down, we chatted with Simon Salter, Co-Founder of DIRTEA, the UK’s leading functional mushroom brand. Get ready to discover why Lion’s Mane is the ultimate supplement everyone’s buzzing about.
What is lion’s mane?
Lion’s Mane, also known as the ‘smart mushroom,’ has been renowned for centuries for its potential to enhance cognitive function, including focus. Although there has been little research, the research that does exist is incredibly promising and suggests that Lion’s Mane can boost the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), a molecule in the brain essential for the maintenance and survival of neurons, which in turn supports cognitive health and function.
Historically, Shaolin Buddhist monks consumed powdered Lion’s Mane due to its reputed cognitive benefits and potential to enhance their deep meditation practices. Lion’s Mane has been traditionally used to support digestive health and the immune system. It contains specific compounds, including beta-glucans, that can help support immunity.
When is the best time to take it?
One thing to understand about functional mushrooms is that they are neither sedative nor stimulant, so you can have them any time of the day.
Lion’s Mane for instance, is a nice alternative to coffee, not because it offers a kick, but the feeling of focus.
Things to consider when choosing lion’s mane supplements?
Quality and Purity: When looking for the best quality product to take, one of the main things to look for is a powder from 100% of the fruiting body. The fruiting body contains the highest concentration of active ingredients with health and beauty-boosting properties, such as beta-glucans, triterpenes, polysaccharides, and other active compounds.
If a mushroom is extracted from mycelial biomass, rice grain or purely mycelium, you are not getting the full embodiment of the compounds and minerals the body requires. A lot of brands use this as it’s cheaper, easier, and quicker for them to get to market.
Potency: Another thing to look for is the extraction process used, as this can define the bioavailability of the active compounds and, therefore, their potency and power.
Ideally, you should be looking for a dual extraction process which uses both an alcohol extraction and a water extraction. This is because some of the active compounds in functional mushrooms are soluble in water (at high temperatures) and others in alcohol, so using both will ensure you get the maximum benefit.
Source + Sustainability: You should also look at where the mushrooms have been grown. Wild-harvested mushrooms are the best as they contain a greater number of active compounds, but they’re also the most expensive as they are harder to obtain. Mushrooms are grown on natural substrates such as trees and logs (like how they grow in the wild but cultivated for larger-scale production) are the next best thing, so they are perfect if you’re looking for a superior quality but affordable mushroom supplement.
I would steer away from a mushroom powder or supplement which has been cultivated on grain because this isn’t the mushrooms’ natural food, and therefore those mushrooms won’t have the same concentration of active ingredients and beneficial medicinal compounds.
Common misconceptions about mushrooms
History shows that we have an irrational fear of mushrooms, despite the evidence that they are fundamental to the existence of our planet. Functional mushrooms belong to the Fungi Kingdom, a vast realm with 6 million species, outnumbering plants 8 to 1. Despite this diversity, mushrooms have been plagued by misconceptions for centuries. Think about it: throughout our lives, we see every other kingdom – animals, plants, insects, and trees – regularly. However, mushrooms often go unnoticed, as they fruit and perish within a few days.
Lastly, is this just another wellness trend?
Absolutely not! Lion’s Mane and functional mushrooms are more than just a “moment”, they are a movement. Now more than ever, people are increasingly seeking natural and preventative ways to support their mental and physical well-being, and functional mushrooms fit this exact bill. Recent studies highlight the benefits of functional mushrooms, such as Lion’s Mane’s neuroprotective properties and this scientific backing only bolsters the ever-growing interest in the category.
The best lion’s mane supplements
The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some products purchased through affiliate links.
