Category: MUSHROOMS

What happens when you combine two ancient mushrooms with modern vaccines? University of California researchers just found out. My first COVID shot happened to fall on a Friday afternoon. By Saturday morning, I felt like I’d been hit by a truck. Headache pounding. Body aching. That weird foggy brain where even simple tasks feel impossible. It took three days to feel normal again. And I’m lucky. Some people feel worse. Some people feel terrible for a week. Here’s what bothers me most. About 30% of people say they avoid vaccines specifically because of side effects. Not because they don’t believe vaccines work. Just because feeling miserable for days isn’t appealing. Can you blame them? But what if vaccine side effects didn’t have to be so brutal? What if there was a way to get protection without the punishment? Researchers at the University of California just published something remarkable. They tested two medicinal mushrooms alongside COVID vaccines. The results surprised everyone. People who took the mushrooms had almost no side effects. Same vaccine. Same protection. Completely different experience. And six months later? Their antibody levels were actually stronger than people who didn’t take the mushrooms. This isn’t marketing hype. This is peer-reviewed science published in one of the most respected journals in the field. And it changes how we think about immune support. Let me walk you through exactly what they found. The Study: What They Actually Did The research team was led by Dr. Gordon Saxe at UC San Diego. Paul Stamets, the famous mycologist you might know from Joe Rogan’s podcast, was a co-author. They recruited 90 healthy adults who were scheduled to get COVID vaccines or boosters. These were regular people. Not sick. Not immunocompromised. Just folks getting their shots. The researchers split them into two groups randomly. Half got mushroom capsules. Half got fake capsules filled with rice powder. Nobody knew which group they were in. Not the participants. Not the researchers giving out the capsules. That’s called “double-blind” and it’s the gold standard for eliminating bias. The mushroom capsules contained two species. Agarikon and Turkey Tail. Not the mushroom part you see above ground. The mycelium. That’s the root-like network that grows underground. Think of mushrooms like trees. Most people eat the fruit (the part above ground). But the mycelium is like the roots and trunk. That’s where a lot of the medicinal compounds live. The dosing was simple. Eight capsules, three times per day, for four days. That’s it. They started taking capsules the day they got vaccinated. They continued for three more days. Then they stopped. Four days total. Then the researchers tracked what happened for six months. What Happened: The Side Effect Story The first thing they measured was side effects. Everyone tracked their symptoms for five days after vaccination. Fever. Headache. Fatigue. Muscle aches. Injection site pain. All the usual stuff. Here’s where it gets interesting. The participants fell into two natural categories. Some had never had COVID before and had never been vaccinated. Let’s call them “COVID-naive.” Others had either caught COVID previously or had been vaccinated before. Let’s call them “COVID-exposed.” Your immune system treats these situations completely differently. If you’ve never seen COVID before, your immune system is meeting it for the first time. That’s when vaccines tend to hit hardest. Your body is figuring out what this new threat is. If you’ve had COVID or prior vaccines, your immune system already has some memory. It knows what to do. The reaction is usually milder. The researchers discovered something remarkable when they split the data this way. In COVID-naive people: The placebo group felt terrible on days two and three. Side effect scores shot up dramatically. Headaches. Fatigue. Body aches. The full miserable experience. The mushroom group? Their side effect scores barely increased at all. On day three, the difference was huge. Statistically significant. Not a fluke. By day five, the placebo group was still feeling rough. The mushroom group was basically back to normal. Same vaccine. Same immune protection being built. Completely different experience. In COVID-exposed people: The mushrooms made no difference to side effects. Both groups felt similar levels of discomfort. Why? Because their immune systems were already primed. They weren’t having that massive first-time reaction. There was less inflammation to modulate. This tells us something important. The mushrooms weren’t suppressing immunity. They were modulating the response in people whose immune systems were working extra hard. Think of it like a volume knob on a stereo. If the music is already at a comfortable level, turning the knob doesn’t do much. But if the music is blasting and hurting your ears, turning it down helps a lot. The Antibody Story: Protection That Lasts Side effects matter. But protection matters more. If the mushrooms reduced side effects by weakening the immune response, that would be terrible. You’d feel better but be less protected. The opposite happened. The researchers measured antibody levels at multiple time points. Day three. Day fourteen. Day twenty-eight (or day forty-two for people who got two-dose vaccines). And six months. Antibodies are like soldiers that fight viruses. More antibodies generally means better protection. Here’s the typical pattern after vaccination. Antibody levels shoot up in the first few weeks. They peak around four to six weeks. Then they gradually decline over months. That decline is normal. Your body doesn’t keep maximum antibody levels forever. It’s too resource-intensive. Instead, your body makes memory B-cells. Think of these like a recipe book. They store the instructions for making antibodies quickly if the virus shows up again. Active antibodies are like having soldiers on patrol. Memory B-cells are like having a military academy that can train new soldiers fast when needed. Here’s what the researchers found: In the placebo groups (both COVID-naive and COVID-exposed), antibody levels followed the normal pattern. Up, then down over six months. In the COVID-exposed mushroom group, antibody levels also declined normally. But in the COVID-naive mushroom group? Something different happened. Their antibody levels

If you’re reading this, you either replied to our email about Lion’s Mane and memory, or you’re one of the people considering joining our community replication study. Either way, you deserve to know exactly what the science says. Not marketing spin. Not cherry-picked data. The full picture. This breakdown covers the two most important Lion’s Mane studies for cognitive function: Let’s start with the study that changed everything. Study #1: The Mori Study (2009) Full Citation Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T. “Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.” Phytother Res. 2009 Mar;23(3):367-72. Read the full study here → Why This Study Matters Before 2009, Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus, also called Yamabushitake in Japan) was primarily studied for: But there was no human data showing it could actually improve cognitive function in people with memory concerns. The Mori study changed that. It’s the first (and for a long time, the only) double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial testing Lion’s Mane specifically for cognitive impairment in older adults. This is the study that every reputable Lion’s Mane supplement company cites when they talk about “clinically studied for brain health.” The question is: Does what’s in their bottle match what was in this study? More on that later. Study Design: What They Actually Did Population: What is MCI? It’s the stage between normal age-related memory decline and dementia. People with MCI notice memory problems, others might notice too, but it’s not severe enough to interfere significantly with daily life. About 10-20% of people over 65 have MCI, and it often (but not always) progresses to dementia. Intervention: Source Material: The tablets contained dried powder of Lion’s Mane fruiting bodies (the actual mushroom, not mycelium grown on grain). The mushroom was cultivated in Japan specifically for this study. Key Detail: This was a double-blind study, meaning neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was getting Lion’s Mane vs. placebo until after the data was analyzed. This is the gold standard for eliminating bias. How They Measured Cognitive Function The researchers didn’t just ask people “do you feel smarter?” They used a validated assessment tool called the HDSR (Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised) which is widely used in Japan to assess cognitive function. The HDSR tests: Scores range from 0-30. Lower scores indicate greater cognitive impairment. Participants were tested at: The Results: What Actually Happened Here’s where it gets interesting. At baseline (week 0): During treatment (weeks 8-16): The Lion’s Mane group showed progressive improvement in cognitive scores throughout the 16 weeks: The placebo group? Their scores stayed essentially the same or declined slightly (which is expected with MCI). Statistical significance: The difference between groups was significant at week 12 (p<0.05) and highly significant at week 16 (p<0.01). In plain English: This wasn’t chance. This was a real, measurable improvement. After stopping (week 20): This is the part most supplement companies don’t mention. Four weeks after participants stopped taking Lion’s Mane, their cognitive scores declined back toward baseline. They didn’t drop all the way back immediately, but the trajectory was clear: the benefits required ongoing supplementation. What Does This Actually Mean? Let’s be honest about what this study shows and what it doesn’t. What it DOES show: What it DOESN’T show: Clinical significance: A 4-point improvement on the HDSR (which is roughly what the Lion’s Mane group achieved) might sound small, but in the context of MCI, it’s substantial. For reference: Safety and Tolerability This is important: No adverse events were reported in the Lion’s Mane group. No stomach issues. No headaches. No interactions. No participants dropped out due to side effects. Compare this to pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers, which often cause: Lion’s Mane appears to be remarkably well-tolerated, even at 3g daily for 16 weeks. Study Limitations (Being Honest) No study is perfect. Here are the limitations: The Study-Washing Problem Here’s why this study matters for choosing a Lion’s Mane supplement: What the study used: What most supplements provide: To match the Mori study, you would need to take: This is why people try Lion’s Mane and feel nothing. They’re not taking what the study used. Study #2: The Mechanism (Martínez-Mármol et al., 2023) Full Citation Martínez-Mármol R, Chai Y, Conroy JN, et al. “Hericerin derivatives activates a pan-neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1/2 signaling enhancing spatial memory.” J Neurochem. 2023;165(6):791-808. Read the full study here → Why This Study Matters The Mori study proved that Lion’s Mane works. The Martínez-Mármol study figured out how. This 2023 study from the University of Queensland (Australia) is groundbreaking because it: In other words: This isn’t folk medicine anymore. This is molecular neuroscience. What They Discovered The Active Compounds: The researchers isolated and identified specific molecules from Lion’s Mane: These are aromatic compounds with prenyl side chains — basically, small fat-soluble molecules that can cross the blood-brain barrier. The Mechanism: These compounds promote neurite outgrowth (the growth of new neuron branches) and neuritogenesis (the formation of new neural connections) through activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Here’s what that means in plain English: Your brain has signaling pathways that tell neurons to grow, connect, and strengthen their connections. One of the most important is the ERK1/2 pathway, which leads to: The novel finding: Hericene A activates ERK1/2 through a TrkB-independent pathway. Most neurotrophic compounds (like BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor) work by activating the TrkB receptor. Hericene A doesn’t. It uses a completely different route to arrive at the same destination (ERK1/2 activation). This means Lion’s Mane can potentially work synergistically with other neurotrophic factors, rather than competing for the same receptor. The Animal Study Results They tested Lion’s Mane extracts in mice for 31 days: Doses tested: Results: The most remarkable finding: Purified hericene A at just 5mg/kg was equally potent as 250mg/kg of crude extract. That’s a 50-fold concentration advantage. Why This Matters for Humans Translating mouse doses to human doses isn’t straightforward, but researchers often use a conversion factor of

Last updated: October 2026. Lion’s mane is the shaggy, white mushroom that has become a favourite in coffee shops, supplement aisles and productivity podcasts. It is often described as “brain food”, and many people in Ireland now add lion’s mane drops to their morning coffee. So what does the science actually show? This guide explains the compounds researchers are interested in, what laboratory and human studies have found, why the evidence is still early, and how to choose and use a quality product. The short answer What is lion’s mane? Lion’s mane grows on hardwood trees, particularly beech and oak, in Europe, Asia and North America. Instead of a cap and gills, it forms a cascade of long, soft spines, which gives it its name. It is also known as bearded tooth mushroom, and in Japan as yamabushitake. It has a mild, seafood-like flavour, and is sometimes cooked as a vegetarian alternative to crab or scallops. Lion’s mane is rare in the wild in these islands and is legally protected in Britain, so never pick it if you find it. The lion’s mane in supplements and shops is grown commercially. The compounds researchers study Compound Where found Research interest Hericenones Mainly in the fruiting body Laboratory studies on nerve growth factor production Erinacines Mainly in the mycelium Laboratory and animal studies on nerve cells Beta-glucans Throughout the mushroom Fibre studied for immune and gut effects Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protein involved in the growth, maintenance and survival of certain nerve cells. Some laboratory studies have found that lion’s mane compounds can stimulate NGF production in cells, and animal studies have explored effects on memory and nerve repair. These findings are the main reason lion’s mane is linked with brain health. But results in cells and mice often do not translate to people, so human trials are what really matter. What have human studies found? Human research on lion’s mane is limited to a small number of trials, most with fewer than 100 participants: These results are encouraging enough to justify more research, but they are not proof. The trials are small, short and used different products and amounts. For a deeper look, see our complete study breakdown. Food supplements in the EU cannot claim to improve memory or brain function, and we make no such claims. Fruiting body or mycelium? Because hericenones are found mainly in the fruiting body and erinacines mainly in the mycelium, both are of interest. The bigger issue is quality: mycelium products grown on grain can contain a large proportion of the grain itself. Look for products that clearly state what part of the mushroom is used, how it was extracted and how much extract is in each serving. How to take lion’s mane Most people take lion’s mane in the morning, often with breakfast or coffee. As with any supplement, follow the label, take it consistently for several weeks, and keep a short note of how you feel. A simple lion’s mane coffee One of the easiest ways to make lion’s mane part of your day is to add it to a drink you already have every morning: If you prefer cacao, our Ceremonial Grade Cacao makes a rich, caffeine-light alternative to coffee that pairs well with mushroom drops. How to tell if it suits you Because effects, if any, are likely to be subtle, it is easy to fool yourself either way. A simple tracking approach helps: Week What to do Week 0 Rate your focus, energy, mood and sleep each day from 1 to 10 without lion’s mane Weeks 1 to 4 Take lion’s mane at the same time every day and keep rating Week 5 Compare your averages and decide whether to continue Keep other things as steady as you can during the trial, such as caffeine, sleep times and exercise. If you notice no difference after a month, it may not be worth the money for you, and that is a perfectly good outcome. Why the hype outpaces the science Lion’s mane is popular on social media, where it is sometimes described as “nature’s nootropic” or claimed to regrow brain cells. Those claims go far beyond what the evidence shows. Lab findings on nerve growth factor are genuinely interesting, but they come from cells and animals. Until larger, longer, independent human trials are done, the honest position is that lion’s mane is a promising food with interesting research behind it, not a proven brain booster. Safety notes Lion’s mane alongside healthy habits If your goal is a sharper, clearer mind, the habits with the strongest evidence are consistent sleep, regular exercise, a varied diet, social connection and continually learning new things. Lion’s mane may be an interesting addition, but it works best, if at all, alongside those basics. Our guide to brain fog has practical steps you can start today, and our functional mushroom guide compares lion’s mane with reishi, cordyceps and chaga. Frequently asked questions What does lion’s mane do? Researchers have studied lion’s mane for its effects on nerve growth factor, memory and mood, mostly in laboratory and small human studies. No health claims can be made. How long does lion’s mane take to work? Human trials ran from four to sixteen weeks. If you try it, give it several weeks of consistent use. Is lion’s mane safe? It is an edible mushroom and generally well tolerated, but avoid it if you have a mushroom allergy, and speak to your GP if you take medication or are pregnant. Can I take lion’s mane with coffee? Yes, many people add lion’s mane drops to their morning coffee. Can I take lion’s mane and CBD together? Many people do. Introduce one at a time and check with your GP or pharmacist if you take medication. Is lion’s mane psychedelic? No. Lion’s mane is a non-psychoactive culinary mushroom. Should I choose fruiting body or mycelium? Both contain compounds of interest. Choose a product that clearly states which part is