Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) has gained popularity in recent years, with the rise of medicinal and gourmet mushrooms sweeping the world.
You may recognize it from one of your medicinal mushie blends, or perhaps you’ve seen it at the local farmer’s market or health foods store. With its shaggy, sea anemone-like appearance, and white creamy color, lion’s mane doesn’t look like your typical stem & cap mushroom fruiting body. Maybe more like a cute little fluffy pet or one of those rubber stretch balls us 90s kids used to get in goodie bags. Some also say it resembles a brain, which gives a good hint to some of its potential health benefits.
Lion’s Mane has a long and storied history in Asian culture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with records dating back as far as 618 AD during the Tang Dynasty.
In TCM, it has been valued for supporting digestive health and treating gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers and chronic gastritis. The mushroom is said to nourish the stomach and spleen, acting as an overall tonic to strengthen vitality across major organ systems and promote the smooth flow of Qi, the body’s vital life force. A deficiency in Qi often manifests as fatigue, insomnia, and anxiety, and Lion’s mane is supportive in regulating the nervous system which helps alleviate these symptoms.
Early records of medicinal use of lion’s mane mushroom also highlight its perceived ability to enhance longevity and brain function, seen in traditional Korean & Japanese medical practices, in addition to TCM.
However, these records likely represent only the first written mentions of a much older relationship between humans and this fungus. Beyond Asia, evidence suggests that Native American tribes, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, utilized Lion’s Mane as a topical styptic or poultice to stop bleeding and alleviate pain, demonstrating its diverse and cross-cultural history of healing applications.
Turns out the hype around Lion’s Mane is real, and for good reason. Lion’s mane is rich in bioactive compounds, making it a potent healer, protector and restorer.
After reviewing several peer-reviewed studies, here are some of the most prominent health benefits of lion’s mane mushroom, backed by science.
Some of the most prominent health benefits of Lion’s Mane mushrom include:
Anti-Inflammatory
Its polysaccharides, terpenoids, peptides, and other constituents modulate inflammatory signaling (e.g. suppressing NF-κB pathways) to help calm chronic inflammation.
Antioxidant
These same chemical compounds (polysaccharides, terpenoids, and peptides) as well as ergothioneine–first discovered in the ergot fungus, which has its own psychoactive properties, but that is a story for another time 😉– help scavenge free radicals and induce endogenous antioxidant enzymes, protecting neurons (brain cells) and other tissues from oxidative stress.
Neurodegenerative / Neurotrophic
Arguably the most fascinating realm of lion’s mane (at least the one that has gained the most attention in the public sphere), lion’s mane has been proven to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis with compounds from both the fruiting body AND mycelium! By enhancing NGF expressions and supporting myelination, lion’s mane strengthens the myelin sheath around nerves and neurons, giving Lion’s Mane lots of potential in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies in animal studies suggest lion’s mane may repair damaged nerves and speed up the recovery of peripheral nerve injury, which can come from things like trauma, B12 deficiency, alcohol & drug abuse and more.
Because NGF and neuroplasticity play key roles in emotional and psychological recovery, lion’s mane is also being explored for its potential to support healing from PTSD and emotional trauma, helping the brain form new, healthier pathways after stress or injury. This regenerative action may complement psilocybin’s neuroplastic effects, which is also shown to enhance neural connectivity and emotional resilience, quite literally forming new neural pathways in the brain! It used to be widely accepted that neurons could not be regenerated, but our fungal friends are proving us otherwise 😁
Antimicrobial
A lesser-known effect, studies show that lion’s mane extracts display inhibitory activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens. These antibacterial and antifungal compounds disrupt the bacteria and/or fungi from multiplying, making it a helpful ally for immune support and recovering from infection.
When foraging Hericium erinaceus, you’re not searching the forest floor. You’re looking UP: particularly on old, wounded hardwoods (oak, beech, maple, walnut) that bear scars, cavities, or decayed limbs. Lion’s Mane grows on dead or dying hardwood trees, especially oak, beech, maple, or birch. It may be helpful to bring binoculars or a long stick to help spot them. Lions mane mushrooms are commonly found in deciduous forests throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
Late summer through fall (August – November) after a good rainfall. We suggest looking for them when daytime temps are cool (50–70°F / 10–21°C), but really anytime during this season in the woods with dead or dying hardwood trees you can get lucky and find these gems of the forest!
While Lion’s Mane is fairly distinctive, a few related Hericium species and some unrelated fungi can resemble it:
Has many branched arms and clusters of smaller spines rather than a single pom-pom. Also edible and delicious.
Looks like a cross between Lion’s Mane and Comb Tooth (above) but branched with longer dangling spines. Also edible!
Found mostly on conifer wood, not hardwood. Edible but less flavorful; confirm your substrate to distinguish it.
Lion’s Mane mushrooms are surprisingly simple to grow once you understand their unique needs. Unlike other mushrooms that grow from soil, Lion’s Mane thrives on hardwood substrates, such as oak, beech, or maple. In nature, they grow directly from fallen logs and trees, so we can emulate this in a more controlled environment. To cultivate them at home, maintaining the right environment is key. Lion’s Mane loves cool, moist, and well-aerated conditions. Too little airflow or too much CO₂ can cause the fruiting bodies to form in odd shapes, while overly dry air will prevent them from growing at all. With patience, you’ll be rewarded with fluffy, brain-like clusters ready to harvest in just a few weeks.
We cover the full process step-by-step, including how to choose genetics, manage humidity, and prevent contamination in our Mushroom Cultivation Course, where you’ll gain hands-on guidance from experienced cultivators. For a deeper look at the full workflow of growing mushrooms and spawning your own lion’s mane cultures, check out our detailed blog, How to Grow Lion’s Mane Mushrooms.
