Les pouvoirs incroyables du champignon à crinière de lion

The Incredible Powers of Lion's Mane Mushroom

September 5, 2024

Generates new nerve growth in the brain

One of the main arguments for using lion's mane mushroom is that it can generate new nerve growth in the brain. So there is a lot of excitement around this product because there is the possibility that it could help people who suffer from various forms of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease for example.

In 2019 , a Japanese study used lion’s mane mushroom in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Of the 30 people who participated in the trial, all had mild cognitive impairment, which could be consistent with early Alzheimer’s. Participants who took a regular dose of lion’s mane extract showed improved cognitive abilities after just one week , and this improvement continued throughout the trial.

This is because this mushroom has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Hericenones + Erinacines , two molecules that stimulate nerve growth factors (NGFs). This both protects the brain from damage, but also helps in the generation of nerves (neurogenesis) . The process from which new neurons or nerves are formed in the brain. It covers development, growth and integration into the neural network . Thanks to these two compounds, the lion's mane mushroom is able to help in the growth of nerve cells, maintain the health of nerve cells and reduce the loss of nerve cells . All this promotes the cognitive, motor and sensory functions of the brain. This is great news for people suffering from dementia, multiple sclerosis or other similar conditions.

Increases focus, mental clarity and memory

The NFGs we talked about earlier also improve the number of connections in the brain and the speed at which communications occur . The process of NFG increases the production of myelin, which is what allows electrical impulses to travel quickly and efficiently along nerve cells. You can think of this as upgrading your broadband, with faster and more connections . Lion's Mane has been shown to increase nerve growth in an area of the brain called the hippocampus , which is responsible for learning and memory consolidation.

Focus Study 2 : Children with ADHD who took lion's mane supplements for 30 days experienced significant improvements in attention and mental focus compared to the control group.

Reduces inflammation and strengthens the immune system

The immune system is another area where some studies show that Lion's Mane can also be helpful. The immune system and inflammation in the body are very closely linked. When something goes wrong in our body, our immune system generates an inflammatory response, neutralizes the effect, and returns to normal. This short-term information in the body is actually a good thing, but when it becomes chronic or permanent, it can lead to a whole range of negative impacts. These can include fatigue, rashes, lower back pain, joint stiffness, fever. It can even lead to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, or psoriasis. Several studies tell us how Lion's Mane can act on anti-inflammatory responses.

A 2015 study in Japan3 showed that lion's mane reduced signaling in one of the main pathways responsible for creating an inflammatory response in the body. This is essentially a decrease in the inflammatory response in the body.

Another study published in China in 20204 showed that Lion's mane mushroom was as beneficial in treating migraines caused by inflammation of blood vessels in the brain as traditional pharmaceutical drugs , but also had fewer side effects.

Between these two studies, it seems that evidence is starting to accumulate that this mushroom does induce an anti-inflammatory response in the body and that it may well have a beneficial impact on the immune system by simply helping to reduce chronic inflammation in the body and helping to moderate the immune system response.

Protects against cancer

Cancer protection is another area where this mushroom can benefit us. According to statistical averages, nearly one in two people are likely to develop cancer at some point in their lives. Lion's mane supplements have been found to slow and potentially reverse the spread of several types of cancer, including leukemia, lung cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer.

An interesting study conducted in 2018 in Russia 5 shows that water and alcohol extracts of lion's mane have an inhibitory effect on stomach and colon cancer cells . In these laboratory tests on mice, the mushroom extract was even shown to be able to reduce cancer tumors .

One of the most interesting studies involves patients with stage 4 cancer, which is the stage of cancer that can metastasize, where the cancer spreads beyond the organ where it was originally found.

In a Korean study6 where rats were given lion's mane extract, the levels showed an inhibition of cancer cell metastasis to the lungs by 66% and 69% respectively . So it is certainly too early to study the effect of lion's mane on cancer, but it seems that it may have an anti-tumor effect .

Improves heart health

In addition to all these amazing benefits, it also appears that lion's mane may reduce the risk of heart disease, mainly by lowering the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood .

A study group in Korea7 gave lion's mane extract to test subjects once a day for two weeks. At the end of the study these subjects showed greatly reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as triglycerides, which are fats found in the bloodstream, compared to test subjects who did not receive lion's mane extract. They also showed reduced heart risk factors .

Alleviates anxiety and depression

Relieving anxiety and depression is one of the most popular reasons people take Lions' Mane. In the West, more than one in five people suffer from anxiety and depression, and scientists believe that lion's mane may be able to support these situations by increasing dopamine levels in the brain.

A 2018 Taiwanese study8 looked at the antidepressant nature of lion’s mane in mice and found that when the mice were placed under stressful conditions, their dopamine levels dropped. They were then given an alcohol extract of lion’s mane, but their stress levels did not change, and their dopamine levels stabilized. This study indicates that lion’s mane helped increase dopamine levels in these mice.

Several studies have also shown that lion's mane increases nerve growth in the hippocampus area of the brain, which is responsible for regulating mood and, in part, stress. A study published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 9 suggests that an increase in nerve cells in this area of the brain may be linked to less severe episodes of depression and anxiety, as well as a decrease in the number of people suffering from mood disorders.

So we see that lion's mane increases nerve growth in the hippocampus and this phenomenon reduces depression and anxiety.

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