Officially named as Hericium Erinaceus, these Lions mane mushrooms are expensive with retail prices of about $25 a pound.
Nonetheless, the edible Lion’s mane fungus is inexpensive in comparison to other more expensive mushroom species.
Lions Mane Mushrooms
These mushrooms are available all year round due to their medicinal properties.
Lion’s mane is known for healing nerve damage, neurological conditions, or anything related to memory such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
Prices for Lion’s mane mushrooms vary by the season of that year and where they come from!
When you buy mushrooms in the off-season, they will generally cost you a little more depending on whose stocks are available because the products will either be from overseas or dried/stored with long shelf life.
Lion’s mane mushrooms will be ready to pick at the end of the year; from mid-August to the end of December in the United States.
In Europe, you will find Lion’s mane mushrooms during autumn/winter as the weather will not be very favorable to their growth in most parts of the continent.
Sometimes scientists grow them in a lab, but the average consumer prefers organic varieties.
What Do Lions Mane Mushrooms Look Like?
Mushrooms feature a unique structure.
True to form, they have a round, white mushroom shape with tiny hanging soft spines that lend to the fuzzy mane appearance.
They resemble hanging beards and are sometimes called the Bearded Tooth Fungus.
They are native to Asia, where they were typically consumed for medicinal purposes, but they can be eaten raw, cooked, or consumed as a supplement.
Health Benefits of Lions Mane Mushrooms
Lions mane mushrooms provide a variety of health benefits when taken in their various forms.
For people who eat them, the taste is often described as seafood-like and delicious.
Similarly, they contain healthy ingredients which help our bodies to combat illnesses of the heart, brain and stomach.
Below are some health benefits.
Improved brain function
Lion’s Mane is beneficial for the elderly population who are afflicted with illnesses that can cause loss of memory, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The extracts of this mushroom create supplements which slow the effects of these diseases by stimulating brain cells.
These supplements enhance memory in older adults who are at risk for memory loss.
However, the scientific studies are all based on animals and humans have yet to be adequately studied.
Help reduce the effects of nerve damage
Our nerves carry signals throughout our body to control all bodily functions.
Any damage which occurs to nerves in the spine, or elsewhere, affects the entire body.
Illnesses, and/or injuries to our nervous system can cause paralysis. Lion’s mane is said to assist in healing. It specifically helps repair the nerve cells.
When someone suffers a stroke or is at risk of suffering from effects of Parkinson’s disease, Lion’s mane supplements are recommended to limit the effects of brain damage.
Again, human research is needed to prove this further, as animal testing will show improvements of brain injury.
Relieves inflammation
Lion’s mane mushrooms contain an anti-inflammatory toolbox that works to lessen chronic inflammation associated with autoimmune, cancer, and heart disease.
They can also help improve health complications with:
- diabetes
- liver disease
- cancer
- and obesity
It takes about two weeks of daily doses for the supplements to begin settling in.
Helps with anxiety and depression
Lion’s mane extract can be beneficial for people with depression and anxiety.
In a small study, the volunteers taking the mushroom had fewer instances of irritation and stress.
There were also fewer, overt depression behaviors.
Relieves stomach ulcers
Ulcers can arise in the digestive system that can be bacterial infections or erosions in the lining of the stomach from steroids.
Herbal supplements such as lion’s mane help to eliminate the overgrowth of bacteria and prevent any further erosion of the stomach lining.
What Are The Side Effects Of Lions Mane Mushrooms?
Apart from allergic reactions to individuals who have mushroom allergies, there are no records of adverse effects from eating Lion’s Mane or from the supplements of extract.
Being cautious, those with respiratory ailments should avoid eating or using Lion’s Mane supplements.
Use excessive amounts beyond prescription may only induce mild gastrointestinal upset.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lions Mane Mushroom
Is Lions mane mushroom rare?
They can be somewhat scarce, sometimes even seasonal.
Lions mane mushrooms grow on the trunks of trees which are easily missed as the majority of people are looking for mushrooms down below the trees.
But for the experienced mushroom forager, they are fairly easy to locate if you know where to look, especially where they naturally grow.
Do Lions mane mushrooms last long?
Just like fruits or vegetables, once picked, these mushrooms begin to die. Lion’s mane mushrooms that are freshly cut will be good for about 5 days once picked.
However, it’s best to eat them on the day of being harvested, but you can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days.
Store them in a tightly closed container, covered with a damp cloth or paper napkin to keep them fresh.
Is Lions mane mushroom a psychedelic?
Lion’s mane mushrooms won’t get you high.
Although these mushrooms are legally taken as a supplement to improve memory, they are not hallucinatory psychoactive drugs.
Do Lions mane mushrooms give you dreams?
Experiencing dramatic or lucid dreams after taking Lion’s mane mushroom is due to the mushroom enhancing sleep quality, which entices the dreaming brain to become more active.
To dream after taking Lion’s mane is typical and healthy as it is helpful in re-establishing your sleep cycle.
Where can I buy Lions mane mushroom?
You can buy Lions mane mushrooms from markets like organic shops or whole food stores which will stock them.
Restaurants and gourmet shops also will be buying them online and through import wholesalers.
Dry Lions mane mushrooms in powder form or capsules are available on Amazon, in pharmacies, and alternative medicine shops.
Can I grow Lions mane mushrooms?
Yes! Lion’s mane mushrooms will only grow when the conditions are right.
Mushrooms like to grow in the dark and Lion’s mane mushrooms naturally grow on the bark of hardwood trees.
Once you get a culture of fungus, you can spawn healthy mushrooms.
Final Thoughts
Mushrooms that resemble a lion’s mane have a very appealing aesthetic, but they also are not too pricey.
They do take some searching to find at stores, but their prices are about in line with other mushrooms.
There are many health benefits to lion’s mane mushrooms.
But we definitely still need some serious studies that prove what they actually do for the human body, but thus far they work fantastically.