Lion’s mane mushroom can be found growing on dead hardwood trees (maple, oak, etc) in temperate regions of North America, Europe, and East Asia. It has been used as a part of Asian and Chinese medicine for centuries. So why has it gained so much popularity in the United States over the past few years?
Lion’s mane has numerous medicinal properties that are just too good to overlook. Lion’s mane contains compounds such as polysaccharides, acetylcholine, and choline acetyltransferase that help support immune health, digestion, liver health, brain health, and nerve health.
Lion’s mane mushrooms have been used to help enhance memory, stimulate cognitive functions, and prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases. This amazing mushroom has also been used to stimulate Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) which is important in the repair of the myelin sheath and helps with nerve function. Research shows that lion’s mane can reverse cell degeneration in the brain, and help repair primary and secondary nerve damage caused by diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s. These powerful mushrooms are useful in improving a number of mental health issues, including insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
These beautiful white-spined mushrooms can be harvested in the late summer and autumn. Just gently cut the mushroom from the tree with a knife, avoiding cutting it all off, so as to leave some to help establish a new crop for the following year.
Lion’s mane can be cooked and eaten on their own, or they can be made into a powder and enjoyed as tea or mixed hot water, tea, smoothies, or other beverages.
