Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is an incredibly potent medicinal mushroom, and sits at the top of the pile with the other heavy hitters like the clinker polypore, the spirit plant , Cordyceps sinensis and yun zhi.
Exploding in popularity recently due to it's powerful 'nootropic' brain-enhancing and cognitive-boosting properties, Hericium erinaceus is now potentially the most widely-known natural nootropic available.
Having been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for thousands of years, it's profile has received a massive boost lately as more clinical studies uncover it's benefits, and a wide-range of high-level athletes (e.g. Ben Greenfield), 'biohackers' (e.g. Dave Asprey), CEO's (e.g. Tom Bilyeu) and celebrities (e.g. Joe Rogan) adopt it to help improve their performance and productivity.
As the demand medicinal mushrooms have increased, so has the number of companies that now sell it - leading to a flood of products that are poor-quality with low-potency and questionable sourcing.
This article will outline who I believe are the best producers of Lion's Mane Mushroom, what makes them so good and where you should go to get it (as well as subscriber-only bonus on offer for our readers).
What Is Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium Erinaceus)?
Lion's Mane, also known as hou tou gu or yamabushitake, is a fascinating and powerful medicinal mushroom found growing wild on decaying timber throughout Asia, Europe and North America.
While now being popular for focus and concentration, the effects of Lion's Mane are wide-ranging with the indicated benefits including:
- Supports a robust immune system
- Helps regenerate the brain and nerve growth
- Improves cognitive function and nervous system support
- Aid's with blood cholesterol regulation
- Helps alleviate stress, depression and anxiety
- Reduces inflammation
- Assists with gastrointestinal problems
Its also one of the most interesting mushrooms to look at, with its unique appearance lending itself to many different names and comparisons. Named in modern times due to its unique resemblance to a Lion's Mane, it's traditional Latin name translates to 'hedgehog mushroom' with many also touting its close resemblance to ocean coral.
Lion's Mane mushroom has been used in Traditional Chinese & Japanese Medicine for thousands of years, primarily for boosting and improving the brain and nervous system function as well as supporting good digestion and treating gastric ulcers.
In the last few years, it has seen another increase in popularity due to its potent 'nootropic' properties - namely, its ability to increase focus and concentration.
Beyond a noticeable cognitive boost though, Lion's Mane is also famous for a number of other health benefits with the most notable and highly researched being immune system support, nervous system support and mood regulation.
To top it all off - Lion's Mane is also considered a 'gourmet edible' and highly sought after culinary item! If you can source yourself a whole fruiting body, they are described as having a firm and chewy texture with a taste reminiscent of seafood.
Wondering if you should try Lion's Mane extracts? Learn more about whether or not you should take mushroom supplements, or read on for more about Lion's Mane specifically.
Is It Better To Take Lion's Mane Mushroom Powder, Capsules Or Liquid Extracts?
As you can expect from a product so popular, there are a lot of different choices as to how you can take it. But which is best? Well, it's actually just personal preference! The most important thing to look for when buying any medicinal mushrooms is high-quality products with no 'fillers', once you've found a great product that you can trust then it's up to you to decide what best works for you.
Whether you want something quick and easy, 100% pure or to save a couple dollars, each different product comes with it's own pros and cons.
All of these statistics are based on our 4 favourite Lion's Mane Mushroom products, which you can read about in more detail below.
Powder
Pros
- Can be stirred into a hot drink, or some delicious recipes such as a Teelixir's Matcha Mint Protein Shake or Lentil Bolognaise
- 100% pure mushroom extract
Cons
- Not as quick and easy as other types of product
Capsules
Pros
- Easier to take than powder as it doesn't need to be mixed into anything
Cons
- On average, work out slightly more expensive per portion (although we are literally talking a couple cents per capsule!)
- Not 100% pure mushroom extract, contains brown rice and Pullulan (an extra-cellular polysaccharide)
Liquid Extracts
Pros
- As with capsules, it's easier to take than powder as it doesn't need to be mixed into anything (although Life Cykel do recommend mixing their extract into a drink for best results)
- On average works out the cheapest of all the options (again though, only a few cents per portion)
Cons
- Not 100% pure mushroom extract, 30% organic alcohol
Who Are The Best Producers Of Lion's Mane Mushroom?
As the popularity of Lion's Mane has exploded, so has the number of suppliers and producers. As with all medicinal mushrooms though, for every high-quality extract on the market, there are 10 you shouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole!
It's important to be well informed when purchasing Lion's Mane as many extracts are not only low-potency and packed with 'filler', but also grown and harvested in an unethical manner from potentially contaminated areas.
Below I'll run through my 4 favourite suppliers for Lion's Mane mushroom, available no matter where you are in the world.
All of these extracts are independently tested for potency and contamination and all companies are completely transparent with their growing, sourcing and harvesting processes.
These are the 4 I confidently cycle between as they all offer subtle differences - check them out below:
1.) SuperFeast:
I've personally used and worked with SuperFeast for a number of years now and their dedication to customer service, product quality, and business ethics is very impressive. They are undoubtedly one of Australia's best producers - if you want to know more about this particular extract, read our full review of SuperFeast Lion's Mane Mushroom.
- Customer Service - with some of the best customer service I've experienced from any online retailer, SuperFeast has become quite well-known for having a brilliant buyer experience. Postage is quick, the team is super-friendly and every order comes with a personal hand-written note!
- Sourcing Standards - SuperFeast goes to extremes to uphold the Di Tao philosophy, meaning all products are sourced wild or wild-crafted in their home regions. In alignment with their 'Earth First' policy, SuperFeast's Lion's Mane is 'semi-wild' and cultivated on oak wood chips in its natural environment to reduce the rapid depletion of it in the wild!
- Complete Transparency - As a 100% family-owned business, SuperFeast put it all on the table. From internal and independent pesticide, heavy metal & microbiological testing through to regular audits and supplier visits, they are always working to operate to the highest standard. You can view all these practices in detail here.
- Uniquely Processed for Super High-Potency -SuperFeast's Lion's Mane powder is extracted in a 10:1 ratio, meaning that 10kg of mushroom is processed down to 1kg of powder. Processing is done in a 3 stage high-pressure single water extraction with respect to the individual temperature and extraction time limits of the herb. All of this results in maximum potency and bioavailability.
- Shipping? - Worldwide
If you'd like to see the 'why and how' behind SuperFeast's Lion's Mane Mushroom sourcing - hit play below!
2.) Life Cykel:
Founded in 2015, Life Cykel has fast become renowned as 'mushroom innovators' that create super high-quality extracts and unique eco-products. With locations in both Australia and the United States, they are a fascinating company with very high standards, great products, and excellent principles.
- Circular Economics - One of the driving principles of Life Cykel is to work within a 'circular economy' - meaning they look to recycle resources & reduce wastage as much as possible. Life Cykel recovers massive amounts of discarded coffee grounds as the substrate for many of their mushrooms, preventing it from going to landfill.
- Available As A Liquid Extract - Life Cykel is one of very few companies producing a Lion's Mane liquid extracts. It's Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free & considerably potent - made via a double extraction method (water & alcohol) in a 1:2 ratio (1kg mushroom gives 2L of extract). Many people find this easier to take than a powder extract as you can simply drop it under your tongue and get on with your day without having to stir it into something.
- Australian-Grown Lions Mane - Life Cykel is again, one of very few companies to produce their extracts from organic Lion's Mane grown here in Australia. Where SuperFeast chooses to source according to Traditional Chinese Medicine Di Tao principles, Life Cykel prefers to go with Australian-grown & made. Both are valid in my eyes and as for which one you prefer - that's up to you!
- Extensively Tested - Life Cykel has extensively tested their Lion's Mane extract with full results available for mycotoxins, pesticide & heavy metals. Transparent testing is an important factor when considering any medicinal mushroom products.
- Shipping? - Worldwide
3.) Teelixir:
With the driving mission of sourcing, developing and providing a complete range of medicinal mushrooms and tonic elixirs to address health from the ground up, Teelixir has fast become one of Australia's most respected and well-reviewed Australian producers.
- 'Teelixir Gold Standard' for heavy metals - This is the internal benchmark regarding heavy metals that all of their products must meet to be included in the Teelixir range. For products and ingredients to meet that standard they must undergo strict 3rd party testing.
- Complete Transparency - On top of their internal 'Gold Standard', Teelixir is also incredibly diligent regarding the sourcing standards and production processes for all of their products. They are completely transparent with all methods with their procedures easily found on their website here.
- Di Tao Sourcing - All Teelixir mushrooms and herbs are sourced according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine 'Di Tao' principles. This refers to harvesting them from their natural growing regions and environments for maximum potency and effectiveness.
- Shipping? - Worldwide
4.) Host Defense:
Founded by the renowned and award-winning mycologist Paul Stamets, Host Defense is one of the most reputable and experienced medicinal mushroom producers in the world.
- Capsules - Host Defense Lion's Mane comes as vegetarian-friendly capsules, making it easy to take without needing to stir it into food or drink like you do an extract powder.
- Mycelium & Fruiting Bodies - Many suppliers tend to only use the 'fruiting body' of the mushroom in their extracts, whereas Host Defense chooses to use both the fruiting body and mycelium. Research from Paul Stamets suggests that the mycelium is essentially the 'immune system of the mushroom' and contains many of the beneficial compounds. This is a point of contention in the medicinal mushroom world with scientists and fungi-experts weighing in on both sides of the debate.
- Leading The Way - Paul Stamets is widely recognised as one of the global pioneers of the medicinal mushroom movement and a key researcher in understanding how they work. With over 40 years experience, a host of published books and numerous industry awards, he's what you'd call a true 'mushroom celebrity' - having been featured on the TED stage, Joe Rogan podcast and appointed as a character in the Star Trek: Discovery series!
- All 'In-House' - All Host Defense mushrooms are certified organic and sustainably grown on their own farm in Washington State, USA. This is done to maintain a consistent organic standard free from all contaminants.
- Shipping? - Worldwide
This should give you all the options you need to find the right Lion's Mane extract for you. All of these extracts show some subtle differences but are all potent, ethical, safe and of excellent quality.
FAQ:
Are Lion's Mane Mushrooms Psychedelic?
No, Lion's Mane Mushroom is not psychedelic and cannot get you 'high'. It does not contain any psychoactive properties or compounds (e.g. psilocybin)
Are Lion's Mane Mushrooms Edible?
Yes, Lion's mane mushrooms definitely are edible and can be eaten raw, cooked, dried or steeped as a tea. The flavour is most commonly described as 'seafood like'.
What Are The Side Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom?
There are no known or recorded side effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom for humans. Even high-dose animal studies have shown no negative side effects.
What's Lion's Mane Mushroom Good For?
As we mentioned above, the health benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom are wide-ranging and it truly is a powerhouse of a medicinal mushroom. To briefly summarise again, research indicates Lion's Mane may help with:
- Packed with anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties
- Can help repair damaged nerves
- Helps relieve anxiety and depression symptoms
- Boosts brain function and cognitive ability
- May help protect against dementia
- Helps strengthen the immune system
- Has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, ulcers and diabetes in animals such as dogs.
That's A Wrap:
I hope you've gained some good recommendations from this article and feel more confident in deciding which Lion's Mane supplier is for you. Ultimately, I'd recommend trying a few over time and seeing if you can notice any subtle differences!
There is no way we'd be using and promoting any of these companies unless we'd tried, tested and loved their products - Go and get that focus!
(As always - Alternative treatments and supplements may have interactions with prescription medicines, so if you are suffering from any condition and are considering Lion's Mane to assist it - please check with your doctor and get professional medical advice. )
