Lion’s Mane is a medicinal and edible mushroom that was long-revered in ancient China. Today, Lion’s Mane is becoming more and more popular because of its proven potential as a natural “nootropic.” If you’re familiar with the Bradley Cooper movie Limitless, you’re familiar with the idea of nootropics: they are substances used to enhance memory and other cognitive functions.
The problem with most nootropics is that for the longest time, the substances were a lot like pharmaceuticals, and a lot like the drug in Limitless: giving you a big boost, and then either a crash, crazy side effects, or a disappearance of effects and benefits altogether. Moreover, a lot of these substances tend to be destabilizing and over-excitatory if used long term.
In comparison, a nootropic like Lion’s Mane will not only give your brain the boost it needs, but it is safe to use over long periods of time, provides nothing but physical health benefits in addition to its cognitive support, has virtually no side effects, and actually soothes the nervous system, even aiding in sleep.
Other benefits of Lion’s Mane include:
- Reduction in brain fog
- Increased focus and concentration
- General improvement in overall brain functions
- Immune-modulation
- Aid to digestive organs like the stomach, liver, intestine and colon
- Anxiety, depressive, and stress disorder management
- Overall mood and creativity booster
- Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Anti-microbial
- Heart-protective
- Regulation of blood sugar
For these reasons and many more, Lion’s Mane is my go-to recommendation for anyone seeking full spectrum cognitive and brain support. It is an excellent choice for college students, knowledge workers, and creative types, as well as anyone with a cognitively demanding job. It may also prove helpful for those looking to naturally prevent or alleviate neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s (that said, please consult with a health professional before consuming Lion’s Mane or attempting to treat medical conditions).
So we can probably agree by now that Lion’s Mane is pretty awesome… but how does it actually do all these things? In the following sections, I’m going to explain just what it is about Lion’s Mane that allows it to achieve so many things in the brain and body.
Increase blood flow to the brain to boost mood and mental energy
One of the mechanisms that facilitates Lion’s Mane’s ability to heal and help the brain is increased blood flow to the brain itself. As I mentioned before, Lion’s Mane is not only a nootropic but will also benefit your physical health. One of the ways it does this is with its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Inflammation can impede the circulation of blood throughout the body, and this includes the flow of blood to the brain. By lowering inflammation, Lion’s Mane can increase the amount of blood and oxygen available to your brain. This is one of the ways Lion’s Mane allows for improved brain function as well as mood support.
Regrow neurons and stimulate healing by producing NGF (Nerve Growth Factor)
Once it passes the blood-brain barrier, Lion’s Mane works by stimulating enzyme production that releases something called Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). Nerve Growth Factor regulates growth, maintenance and proliferation of neurons. By facilitating the release of NGF, Lion’s Mane stimulates the repair and creation of new neurons in the brain. This is why I recommend Lion’s Mane as a core supplement for rebuilding and rebalancing the nervous system after years of stress and depletion.
Building a better brain - reducing brain fog
Lion’s Mane also boosts neurotransmitters and signaling that affects memory, learning, recall, and mood. By restoring memory and mental alertness, Lion’s Mane is a potent tool to help eliminate brain fog. Many users also report that Lion’s Mane helps alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Summary
Lion’s Mane is a potent, natural nootropic with many benefits, and without the unwanted side effects and negatives associated with other nootropics. Lion’s Mane boosts brain function and mood by increasing blood flow to the brain, and allowing growth of new neurons through the production of Nerve Growth Factor.
To learn more about the benefits that Lion’s Mane can offer you, check out the product page here