Day: December 31, 2025

2025 was a landmark year for natural supplement research. Not because we discovered miracle cures. But because we got honest answers to questions the wellness industry has been dancing around for years. Does CBD really work for chronic pain? Can Lion’s Mane actually make you smarter? Are medicinal mushrooms just expensive placebos? I spent the last two weeks reading every major study published in 2025 on CBD and medicinal mushrooms. And I’m going to be brutally honest with you about what I found. Some findings validated what we’ve been saying for years. Others completely challenged assumptions I’ve held since starting Dr. Hemp Me. Three studies in particular killed myths that have been costing customers money and preventing them from getting real benefits. And seven more revealed surprising applications—like the “energy mushroom” that dramatically improved sleep, or the CBG dimer that’s 8 times more potent than its parent molecule. This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s a science lesson. Because you deserve to know what actually works before spending money on supplements. Let’s dive in. The Three Myths That Died in 2025 Myth #1: CBD Works for Chronic Pain (Spoiler: Isolate Doesn’t) The Study: Chou et al., 2025 – Systematic review published in Annals of Internal Medicine I’ll be blunt: If you’re taking CBD isolate for chronic pain, you’re probably wasting your money. A massive systematic review analyzed 25 trials involving 2,300+ patients with chronic pain. The researchers looked at CBD-only products versus THC-containing cannabis products. The findings were stark: CBD-only products showed no significant benefit for chronic pain. None. Whether it was back pain, arthritis pain, or neuropathic pain—CBD isolate failed to beat placebo in most measures. But THC-rich cannabis products? Those showed small but significant pain relief, especially for neuropathic pain (nerve-related pain). Now here’s where it gets interesting. A separate Phase 3 trial published in Nature Medicine (Karst et al., 2025) tested a full-spectrum extract called VER-01 in 820 patients with chronic low back pain. The result? Significant pain reduction compared to placebo. The difference was modest (-0.6 points on a 0-10 pain scale), but statistically significant and meaningful to patients. What This Actually Means: The entourage effect is real. CBD needs THC and other cannabinoids to work effectively for pain. This is why we’ve always focused on full-spectrum extracts at Dr. Hemp Me. Not because it sounds better in marketing, but because isolated CBD doesn’t do what whole-plant extracts do. In Ireland and the EU, we’re limited to trace THC (0.2% or less). That’s not the therapeutic amounts used in these studies. But even trace amounts of THC plus CBD plus CBG plus CBC plus terpenes creates a more effective product than CBD alone. Bottom line: If you’re buying CBD isolate for pain, save your money. If pain relief is your goal, full-spectrum is non-negotiable. Myth #2: Lion’s Mane is a “Smart Drug” You Take Once The Study: Surendran et al., 2025 – Published in Frontiers in Nutrition This one hurt my feelings a bit, but I’m glad they tested it. UK researchers gave healthy young adults (ages 18-35) a single 3g dose of Lion’s Mane extract. Then they tested cognitive performance 90 minutes later. Result: Absolutely nothing. No improvement in memory. No boost in processing speed. No mood enhancement. The only thing that improved was performance on one specific motor task (pegboard test), which honestly could have been practice effect. My first reaction: “Wait, but Lion’s Mane works! I take it daily and feel sharper!” Then I read the rest of the research, and it made perfect sense. The Study: Menon et al., 2025 – Systematic review in Frontiers in Nutrition This comprehensive review looked at all the Lion’s Mane research from recent years. Here’s what actually works: The pattern is clear: Lion’s Mane is not a stimulant. It’s a nourishing tonic. Think of it like fish oil for your brain. You don’t take one fish oil capsule and suddenly have better cardiovascular health. You take it daily for months, and gradually, your inflammatory markers improve. Lion’s Mane works by promoting nerve growth factor (NGF) and BDNF production. These proteins help your brain build new connections and protect existing neurons. That takes time. What This Actually Means: If you tried Lion’s Mane once or twice and felt nothing, that’s completely normal. You didn’t fail. The supplement didn’t fail. You just expected acute effects from something that works chronically. Give it 8-12 weeks of consistent daily use. That’s when the research shows benefits appear. At Dr. Hemp Me, we recommend 500mg-1g daily of a quality extract. Not because more is better (see Myth #3), but because that’s what the studies showing benefits actually used. Myth #3: More = Faster Results This might be the most important finding for your wallet and your health. I’ve watched customers make this mistake for years: “If one capsule is good, three must be better and faster, right?” The 2025 research showed the exact opposite. Lion’s Mane: Reishi Meta-Analysis (Mirzaei Fashtali et al., 2025): CBD: The universal pattern: Start low. Go slow. Give it time. What This Actually Means: Taking more doesn’t get you there faster. Sometimes it costs more money for the same (or worse) results. Sometimes it stresses your body unnecessarily. This is why at Dr. Hemp Me we emphasize “minimum effective dose” in all our guidance. Not because we want to sell you less (we’d make more money if you bought more), but because that’s what the science supports. If 20mg of CBD helps your anxiety, taking 100mg won’t help five times more. It might help the same amount, or cause side effects, or stress your liver. Quality at moderate doses beats quantity at any dose. The 7 Other Major Discoveries from 2025 1. The Energy Mushroom That Helps You Sleep The Study: Zhao et al., 2025 – Frontiers in Neurology This was 2025’s most surprising finding. Cordyceps is famous as the “athlete’s mushroom” for endurance and energy. But a Chinese trial tested fermented Cordyceps sinensis in 90 patients