Lion's Mane
Monograph · BLion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Mushroom-derived hericenones + erinacines stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis and BDNF expression in mammalian brain tissue.
How it clearsHalf cleared in ~8h. Most (~96%) gone by ~2d.
Edible medicinal mushroom (Yamabushitake) used in Traditional Chinese + Japanese medicine. Two compound classes drive the nootropic claims: hericenones (in fruiting body, water-soluble) cross the blood-brain barrier marginally; erinacines (in mycelium, fat-soluble) cross more readily. NGF + BDNF upregulation has been demonstrated in vitro and in rodent models. Human RCTs at 1-3 g/day fruiting-body powder show modest improvements in mild cognitive impairment; healthy-cohort cognitive benefits are less consistent.
Promising cognitive signal that holds up in early trials — but cognitive effects resist self-assessment at low deltas. The brain adjusts to its own baseline quickly, meaning real improvements can feel like nothing from the inside. Task performance tracks better than sensation here.
Quality varies wildly between vendors — extract ratio, fruiting-body vs mycelium-on-grain, beta-glucan content all matter. Choose third-party-tested extracts (Real Mushrooms, Nootropics Depot, Host Defense disclose lab data). Allergy risk in those sensitive to other fungi. Anecdotal reports of mood blunting + emotional flatness with chronic high-dose use.
Upload your data to see how it relates to Lion's Mane.
Upload a lab file (LabCorp / Quest) or DNA file (23andMe / AncestryDNA). Stack will show your specific markers alongside the literature-reported response windows.
Upload in /historyPer-claim grading. Each claim is graded independently — same peptide, different claims can carry different grades.
- CLimited evidence
Lion's Mane extracts stimulate NGF-related pathways in preclinical models
1 supporting referencesVerified 23d ago - BModerate evidence
Oral Lion's Mane has a favorable tolerability profile in published human trials
1 supporting referencesVerified 23d ago
External links to PubMed searches, ClinicalTrials.gov, and FDA materials. We do not host papers — we point at canonical sources.
- PubMedENRCTAcademic-fundedVerified 48d agoMori K et al. — Improving effects of Lion's Mane on mild cognitive impairment (Phytother Res 2009 RCT)
- PubMedENREVIEWAcademic-fundedVerified 48d agoLai PL et al. — Neurotrophic properties of Hericium erinaceus (Int J Med Mushrooms 2013)
- ReferenceENANECDOTALIndustry-fundedVerified 48d agoStamets P — Stamets Stack (lion's mane + niacin + psilocybin) protocol
DSHEA-classified dietary supplement in US. EU novel-food authorized 2022. Sold OTC.
Distilled themes from named communities — Reddit threads, forums, creator commentary. Not direct quotes; not clinical evidence. Useful for calibrating expectations against what real self-experimenters report.
Cohort splits clean: ~half report distinct cognitive sharpening within 2-4 weeks; the other half feel emotional flattening or no effect. Dual-extract formulations report higher hit-rate than fruiting-body-only.
Next visit & citations
Handoff & sources
Running this compound? Log it in /history, then open Dr Passport before your visit. Methodology explains grades; the research dashboard sorts the full catalog with citations.