Lion’s Mane mushroom’s most well known benefit is it’s ability to enhance cognitive function, by definition that would in fact make Lion’s Mane a nootropic, however like most things it isn’t quite that simple. Simply taking a generic Lion’s Mane supplement often isn’t going to do anything at all to boost your brain power. And there’s one good reason for this. And that is, the fact we’re looking for one specific compound, and it only makes up 0.27% of the mushroom, and it comes from the mycelium, despite the fact that many manufacturers will promote specifically the fruiting body, but we’ll talk more about why that is later.
Which compounds in Lion’s Mane are Nootropic?
There are multiple compounds in Lion’s Mane and when we’re looking for its brain boosting effects, we’re mostly looking for erinacines. Now, there are other compounds in Lions Mane Mushroom that do have neuroprotective effects and there is even one other compound that can boost the brains NGF (nerve growth factor), but erinacines are the main thing we’re looking for as they’re the most effective at crossing the blood brain barrier. In other words means it means the actually get to where they need to go. And out of all erinacines most of the studies we have are done on erinacine A.
Hericenones are the other compound that’s been shown to boost NGF, and they do come from the fruiting body, originally in the test tube studies these looked the most effective, but when it came to their behaviour in the human body the molecule is too large to get to the brain effectively and as a result erinacine A was shown to be far more effective.
What does Lion’s Mane boosting NGF actually mean?
Boosting Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) means increasing the levels of a protein that helps grow, repair, and protect nerve cells. NGF is crucial for brain and nerve health, as it supports the survival of neurons, repairs damaged nerve fibers, and strengthens the connections between them. This process, called neuroplasticity, is essential for learning, memory, and adapting to new information. By promoting the protective myelin sheath around nerves and reducing cell death, higher NGF levels can also guard against neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
When NGF is boosted, it can improve focus, memory, and overall brain function, while also aiding recovery from nerve injuries. Natural compounds like erinacines from Lion's Mane mushroom, regular exercise, and good sleep are known to increase NGF. Scientists are also exploring how NGF can treat nerve damage and slow cognitive decline.
So how much erinacines do you need for a full dose of Lion's Mane?
Generally, you'll need 5mg of erinacines from Lion's Mane to get the unique effects at the low end, but keep in mind a standard 10:1 lion’s mane extract would result in 0.5 -2 mg of erinacines per 1000mg (approximately 1 large capsule). This assuming that we have a full spectrum and high quality mushroom to begin with. And being generous on the percentage of the mushroom that has this compound. Which is of course why you need to standardize for this compound specifically.
What about the other compounds in lion’s mane?
As we mentioned before lion’s mane contains other compounds that can contribute to brain health, they’re just not unique and not as potent. The most well known of these are beta glucans. Beta Glucans are a polysaccharide which has antioxidant effects and helps boost the immune system. It’s also what you’ll see most cheaper mushroom supplements standardize for. Now, it’s still great for you, and we standardize our supplements to make sure you get a full dose of this along with the erinacines, but it’s common amongst mushrooms in general, not just lion’s mane.
Another key group of compounds are terpenoids, which contribute to Lion's Mane’s neuroprotective properties. These bioactive molecules help modulate neurotransmitters, improve synaptic plasticity, and support the repair of damaged neurons. But, there are other mushrooms which are richer in these compounds.
Additionally, phenolic compounds in Lion’s Mane act as antioxidants and may protect against neural degeneration by neutralizing harmful free radicals in the brain. But, once again, these aren’t unique and are an additional benefit rather than the star of the show.
How to select good lion’s mane mushrooms for brain health?
Of course you’ll want to make sure they’re standardized for erinacines, meaning you’re going to need something with mycelium and if a brand says fruiting bodies are always best be wary. Whilst it’s true of the majority of mushrooms that fruiting bodies are where most of the good stuff if found that isn’t the case here.
That’s where the received wisdom comes from, that and the fact it’s the best place to get beta glucans from, which are cheaper to standardize for. And were up until recent years what most people were looking for.
And whilst you can always just buy our lion’s mane supplements, if you’re interested in checking out a different brand there’s a couple of other things to watch out for.
Firstly, tinctures don’t work very well with lion’s mane as erinacines break down in alcohol over 20% and most tinctures are 22%.
Secondly, avoid cheaper brands that are focused on beta glucans, and remember that a 10:1 extract doesn’t mean you’re getting enough.
Keep in mind gummies really struggle to get enough erinacines in, and ultimately getting a proper standardized lion’s mane supplement isn’t going to come cheaply. As far as we know we are currently the cheapest on the market to do this.
Lastly, if you are looking for a work around, getting a larger serving and going for a powder with 5 grams of lion’s mane per serving can be a way to get around standardization issues. It’s still not perfect of course, but it does increase the chances of you getting the nootropic benefits of lion’s mane.