Always ask permission when harvesting.

Pick Lion's mane while it is still white for the best flavor. If they are pinkish in hue, they have likely developed too far for a favorable dining experience. Cut the fruiting body from the base with a sharp paring/curved knife. Choose the cleanest mushrooms you can find if you are harvesting from a large patch.

Don't be afraid to take almost all of the mushroom when harvesting; it lives only on dead wood and appears only after thoroughly establishing itself. Leaving a small amount of fruiting body will allow for better spawning of the next round of fruiting bodies and will give you a chance to find the patch later on!

Carry the mushrooms in a net bag to allow dirt and debris to fall from its body during transport without crushing the spines. Treat the delicate lion's mane fungus gently to prevent bruising.

Known as "Hou Tou Go" in Chinese, translating literally to “monkey brain”, although it’s commonly stated that eating Lion's mane would give one nerves of steel and the memory of a lion. 

In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to treat ulcers and other problems of the gastrointestinal system. In North America, native Indian tribes used it as an anti-hemorrhagic (blood clotting) agent, applying it to the wound in dried and pulverized form. 

Historically, Lion's mane was reserved only for royalty. Its tender white flesh tastes similar to seafood (lobster/crab) and compliments many different types of cuisine. For most of the human relationship with Lion's mane it has been harvested mostly for food purposes as a delicacy! 

Benefits take time to settle in, yet they compound upon each other with long term use. 

Lion's mane has been used for age-related cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, depression, anxiety, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and to improve overall cognitive function and memory. It is also used orally for chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcers, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections, diabetes, cancer, hyperlipidemia, and weight loss. 

Primary actions: 

Nervine; Inflammation modulator; Nervous system trophorestorative; Immune modulator; Nootropic

Secondary actions:

Anti-microbial; Anti-inflammatory; Hypolipidemic; Styptic 

Cyathane derivatives – This describes a group of three carbon ring structures, resembling cholesterol, with low molecular weight, also found in birds nest fungi, which have been studied for neuroregenerative effects. Meaning they help generate new neurons in our nervous system.

Erinacines – Similar to the above, but named for the Lion’s Mane genus. 

Hericenones – Another cyanthane derivative that stimulates nerve growth factor (NGF-2) and crosses the blood brain barrier. It differs from the above constituents, having a six membered ring with various functional groups and a medium length carbon chain. 

Beta-D-glucans –Polysaccharides with a range of actions dependent on exact structure and origin. Most widely known for lowering LDL cholesterol levels.

Galactoxyloglucan – Branched polysaccharide (heteropolysaccharide) with possible cytotoxic effects that can kill pathogens and cancer cells.

Glucoxylan – Immune tonic AKA boosts our immune system.

Ergosterol – a precursor to Vitamin D2, which is technically Vitamin D, however D2 is still a precursor to the form our bodies use, D3. May help lower cholesterol levels by acting in a similar way to statins.

Several pharmacological actions have been documented for Lion's Mane, based primarily on in vitro and animal studies.

Neuroprotective effects 

Lion's mane is able to prevent build up of amyloid plaques that typically initiate and progress Alzheimer's disease. It may also help protect against Parkinson's disease by preventing dopamine neuronal loss by preventing apoptosis caused by oxidative stress. It has also been shown to prevent damage due to ischemic events. (1) 

Neurotrophic effects 

Lion's mane has been shown to directly promote nerve growth factor synthesis, via stimulation of NGF-2, in astrocytes as well as the hippocampus. Hericenone E can potential help regenerate neural cells and tissues in the brain, spinal cord, and retina. (2) 

Anti-cancer 

Lion's mane has a cytotoxic (kills cells) effect on gastric, hepatic/liver, and colon cancer cells possibly related to it's ability to downregulate TNF-a induced activation by NF-kB & MMP-9. Other research has shown Lion's mane can induce apoptosis (cell death) by activating caspase-3 & -9. (3) 

Lion's mane also has research showing that it may prevent metastases by preventing the expression of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes such as MMP-2 & -9, and u-PA. Cerebroside E may also inhibit VEGF induced tube formation which plays a role in cancer metastases. (4) 

Finally Lion's mane is a great tool to use during chemotherapy as it lessens neurotoxic and nephrotoxic (kidney) effects preventing further damage to these sensitive organs.  

Anti-diabetic 

A study showed a that a 28 day course of liquid Lion's mane extract decreased resting blood sugar, increased serum insulin levels, and increased HDL cholesterol. it reduced total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides in diabetic rats. (5) 

Anti-fatigue 

Evidence from animal research shows that administering polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus daily for 28 days increases exhaustive swimming times by about 18% to 58% in mice. This anti-fatigue effect is attributed to the ability of these polysaccharides to decrease blood lactic acid (BLA), serum urea nitrogen (SUN), and malondialdehyde (MDA); increase glycogen content of tissue; and increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes. (6) 

Cardiovascular 

There is a possibility Lion's mane can protect against vascular disease by preventing LDL oxidation and HMG-CoA reductase activity by over 60%. (7) 

Gastrointestinal 

In vitro research shows that a polysaccharide from Hericium erinaceus mycelium can interfere with the proliferation of precancerous gastric epithelial cells, a model for chronic atrophic gastritis, by inducing cell cycle arrest. (8) 

Liver protection 

Decreased oxidative damage to protect against alcohol-induced liver damage. (9) 

We utilize Lion's mane in our Day formula, which is a blend of nootropic, energy supplying, and performance optimizing herbs and nutrients that allow the body to establish healthy connections and communication throughout all it's systems.

1. Cheng, J. H., Tsai, C. L., Lien, Y. Y., Lee, M. S., & Sheu, S. C. (2016). High molecular weight of polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus against amyloid beta-induced neurotoxicity. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 16(1), 170. 
   
2. Mori, K., Obara, Y., Hirota, M., Azumi, Y., Kinugasa, S., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2008). Nerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 31(9), 1727-1732.
   
3. Li, W., Zhou, W., Kim, E. J., Shim, S. H., Kang, H. K., & Kim, Y. H. (2015). Isolation and identification of aromatic compounds in Lion’s Mane Mushroom and their anticancer activities. Food chemistry, 170, 336-342.
   
4. Kim, S. P., Nam, S. H., & Friedman, M. (2013). Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) mushroom extracts inhibit metastasis of cancer cells to the lung in CT-26 colon cancer-tansplanted mice. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 61(20), 4898-4904.
   
5. Liang, B., Guo, Z., Xie, F., & Zhao, A. (2013). Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus in experimental diabetic rats. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 13(1), 253.
   
6. Liu, J., Du, C., Wang, Y., & Yu, Z. (2015). Anti-fatigue activities of polysaccharides extracted from Hericium erinaceus. Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 9(2), 483-487.
   
7. Hiwatashi, K., Kosaka, Y., Suzuki, N., Hata, K., Mukaiyama, T., Sakamoto, K., ... & Komai, M. (2010). Yamabushitake mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) improved lipid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat diet. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 74(7), 1447-1451.
   
8. Xu, C. P., Liu, W. W., Liu, F. X., Chen, S. S., Liao, F. Q., Xu, Z., ... & Lu, X. H. (1985). A double-blind study of effectiveness of hericium erinaceus pers therapy on chronic atrophic gastritis. A preliminary report. Chinese medical journal, 98(6), 455.
   
9. Cui, F., Gao, X., Zhang, J., Liu, M., Zhang, C., Xu, N., ... & Jia, L. (2016). Protective effects of extracellular and intracellular polysaccharides on hepatotoxicity by Hericium erinaceus SG-02. Current microbiology, 73(3), 379-385.