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. There is a lot of excitement around this product, as there is the possibility that it could help people suffering from various forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, for example.

In 20191, a Japanese study used Lion's Mane mushroom in a double-blind trial with a placebo. Of the 30 people who participated in the test, all suffered from mild cognitive impairments, which could correspond to early-stage 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 test period.

This is due to the mushroom's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Hericenones + Erinacines, two molecules that stimulate nerve growth factors (NGFs). This both protects the brain from damage and helps with nerve generation (neurogenesis). The process by 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, Lion's Mane mushroom is able to aid in nerve cell growth, maintain nerve cell health, and reduce nerve cell loss. All of this promotes the cognitive, motor, and sensory functions of the brain. This is excellent news for people suffering from dementia, multiple sclerosis, or other similar conditions.

Increases concentration, mental clarity, and memory

The NFGs we discussed earlier also improve the number of connections in the brain and the speed at which communications occur. The NFG process increases myelin production, which allows electrical impulses to travel quickly and efficiently along nerve cells. This can be seen as an upgrade to your broadband, with faster and more numerous 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.

Concentration study2: Children with ADHD who took Lion's Mane supplements for 30 days experienced significant improvements in attention and mental concentration compared to the control group.

Reduces inflammation and boosts 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 there's a problem 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 host of negative impacts. These can include fatigue, rashes, lower back pain, joint stiffness, and fever. It can even lead to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, or psoriasis. Several studies teach 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 blood vessel inflammation 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 induces an anti-inflammatory response in the body and that it could well have a beneficial impact on the immune system by simply helping to reduce chronic inflammation in the body and by helping to moderate the immune system's response.

Protects against cancer

Protection against cancer is another area where this mushroom can be beneficial to us. According to average statistics, almost one in two people are likely to develop cancer at some point in their lives. Lion's Mane dietary 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 Russia5 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 found to be capable of reducing cancerous tumors.

One of the most interesting studies focuses on patients with stage 4 cancer, which is the phase of cancer that can lead to metastasis, where the cancer spreads beyond the organ where it was originally discovered.

In a Korean study6 where rats were given Lion's Mane extract, the rates showed an inhibition of cancer cell metastasis to the lungs of 66% and 69% respectively. It is certainly too early to study the effect of Lion's Mane on cancer, but it appears 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 can reduce the risk of heart disease, primarily by decreasing bad cholesterol levels in the blood.

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

Reduces anxiety and depression

Relief from anxiety and depression is one of the most popular reasons people take Lion's 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 Taiwanese study from 20188 examined the antidepressant nature of Lion's Mane in mice and showed that when mice were placed under stress conditions, their dopamine levels dropped. They were then given an alcoholic extract of Lion's Mane, without any change in stress levels, and their dopamine levels stabilized. This study indicates that Lion's Mane helped to increase dopamine levels in these mice.

Several studies have also shown that Lion's Mane increases nerve growth in the hippocampus region of the brain, which is responsible for regulating mood and partly for stress. A study published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience9 suggests that an increase in nerve cells in this area of the brain could 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 reduces depression and anxiety.

References :

👉 To enjoy these benefits, discover our organic Lion's Mane made in Switzerland.

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