The Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) - A Versatile Medicinal for Optimal Health and Memory
Introduction
The Lion’s Mane Mushroom - Hericium erinaceus
Quietly growing in the vast forests of the world is a medicinal powerhouse! Hericium erinaceous,
a beautiful and superb gourmet edible mushroom, is progressively becoming recognized for its multitude
of health promoting effects. Similar to the more extensively researched medicinal mushrooms, Reishi
(Ganoderma lucidum) and Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Hericium confers a broad range of
health augmenting and "quality of life" extending properties. These include: immunomodulation, glucose
regulation (blood sugar level reducing), lipid (triglyceride and cholesterol) reducing and anti-cancer/
anti-metastasis properties.
A summary of these effects and representative publications detailing this line of research is summarized in
Table 1. In addition to these tremendously beneficial qualities, another
desirable property which is exclusively unique to this species of medicinal mushroom and not apparent in
any other, is its ability to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in the central and peripheral
nervous system. This effect is a dramatic finding and a key feature shown to correlate with the
amelioration of cognitive dysfunction and age associated memory loss. All of these conferred effects
will be explored......