258 replies to this topic

[Busyboy]

I've been really interested in Lions Mane for some time now, after seeing its ability to increase NGF in the brain, amongst other things. I also have read that it's comparable to Oxiracetam, but without the drawbacks it typically comes with. Now, I did read some negatives about it, like how NGF supplementation can erase old memories to make new ones, and that it makes your whole body itchy.

So, what's the verdict on Lions Mane? Is it effective and safe? Does it need cycling, or does it build tolerance? Any positive or negative experiences you've had with it? Thanks!

Edited by Busyboy, 29 November 2015 - 05:23 PM.

[Sleepdealer]

It depends on what part of the mushrooom you use I think. I started with a regular bottle of 500 mg caps of fruiting body extract, three times a day. Didn't notice a thing, might as well have been used in a study as placebo.  Then I tried the mycelium extract, 1g capsules, two times a day. Then I noticed a significant effect after some days. Nothing extreme, maybe if you take it three times a day or at higher dosages. But definately some noticable improvements in memory retention.

 

I have no ideas where you've heard that about memory erasure, or that LM is anything like Oxiracetam. Anyway, in my experience you can just keep eating it, it works as long as you keep shoveling into the incinerator so to speak. The effects will fade slowly over days as you stop eating it. No negatives to report at all.

[fairy]

>I started with a regular bottle of 500 mg caps of fruiting body extract, three times a day. Didn't notice a thing
 
Same experience. I want to try the mycelium one day.

[Busyboy]

It depends on what part of the mushrooom you use I think. I started with a regular bottle of 500 mg caps of fruiting body extract, three times a day. Didn't notice a thing, might as well have been used in a study as placebo. Then I tried the mycelium extract, 1g capsules, two times a day. Then I noticed a significant effect after some days. Nothing extreme, maybe if you take it three times a day or at higher dosages. But definately some noticable improvements in memory retention.

I have no ideas where you've heard that about memory erasure, or that LM is anything like Oxiracetam. Anyway, in my experience you can just keep eating it, it works as long as you keep shoveling into the incinerator so to speak. The effects will fade slowly over days as you stop eating it. No negatives to report at all.

Yeah, I'm planning to use an extract, not the whole mushroom. Should have been more specific, sorry about that. On the bottle, it says:

Lion’s Mane mushroom full spectrum (Hericium erinaceus) 400 mg
Fully matured and organic to maximize polysaccharide content

Is that any good? It also says to take 3 pills a day.

www.longecity.org/forum/topic/67146-lions-mane-mushroom-experiences

www.iflscience.com/brain/new-neurons-erase-old-memories-mice

The first link is about the Oxiracetam-like experiences, and the second link shows that NGF erases old memories to create new ones.

Edited by Busyboy, 29 November 2015 - 08:08 PM.

[Sleepdealer]

 

Yeah, I'm planning to use an extract, not the whole mushroom.

 

Yeah, what I mean by "what part of the mushroom" was if you buy the extract from the fruiting body, or from the mycelium. If you already have a bottle in your possession, what you need to look at is the supplement facts:

Amount per serving

-----------------------------------

Lions Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) mycelium

 

If it doesn't say mycelium, then it's from the fruiting body. And it might work for some individuals and some not, but if you can, try acquiring the mycelium.

 

I see your links. I tried Oxiracetam but didn't get any effects from up to 2.5 g, so I can't say anything about it, but I guess it might be similar if that's the kind of effect your'e supposed to get normally. Any other effects might be dose dependant maybe? Like the guy taking 4 g a day, it's pretty much. But anyway, if you already have a bottle, try it. Buy the ticket, take the ride

[Busyboy]

Yeah, I checked out the website and it says fruiting body :( I'll try going around to other health stores around me and see if they have any. By the way, I didn't buy it yet, just checked it out at a local health store. Was looking for experiences and opinions on it before I purchased it.

Anyways, how did the Lions Mane help you? Did it help you articulate your words better, comprehend things easier, or make you motivated/focused to do work? Thanks!

Edited by Busyboy, 29 November 2015 - 11:14 PM.

[Hebbeh]

Yeah, I'm planning to use an extract, not the whole mushroom. Should have been more specific, sorry about that. On the bottle, it says:

Lion’s Mane mushroom full spectrum (Hericium erinaceus) 400 mg
Fully matured and organic to maximize polysaccharide content

 

 

That's not an extract....it specifies "full spectrum" which means whole unprocessed mushroom rather than a standardized extract.  Full spectrum is just whole mushroom powder....ground up mushrooms.  If it is an extract it will specify "extract of....standardized to...."

[Busyboy]

Yeah, I'm planning to use an extract, not the whole mushroom. Should have been more specific, sorry about that. On the bottle, it says:
Lion’s Mane mushroom full spectrum (Hericium erinaceus) 400 mg
Fully matured and organic to maximize polysaccharide content

That's not an extract....it specifies "full spectrum" which means whole unprocessed mushroom rather than a standardized extract. Full spectrum is just whole mushroom powder....ground up mushrooms. If it is an extract it will specify "extract of....standardized to...."

Oh, whoops lol. I'm a noob at these kinds of things, sorry about that. Do you feel that this is better than an extract, or are extracts more potent and effective? (Which I think is)

[gamesguru]

i heard it's important to obtain a 50/50 water/ethanol mycelium/fruiting body extract

 

"to do one's own business and not to be a busybody is justice"^[1]

Edited by gamesguru, 30 November 2015 - 02:20 AM.

[Hebbeh]

 

 

Yeah, I'm planning to use an extract, not the whole mushroom. Should have been more specific, sorry about that. On the bottle, it says:
Lion’s Mane mushroom full spectrum (Hericium erinaceus) 400 mg
Fully matured and organic to maximize polysaccharide content

 

That's not an extract....it specifies "full spectrum" which means whole unprocessed mushroom rather than a standardized extract. Full spectrum is just whole mushroom powder....ground up mushrooms. If it is an extract it will specify "extract of....standardized to...."

Oh, whoops lol. I'm a noob at these kinds of things, sorry about that. Do you feel that this is better than an extract, or are extracts more potent and effective? (Which I think is)

 

 

Extracts are always preferable providing the extract is standardized to the actives that provide the desired effect.  With mushrooms, polysaccharide content can be misleading and not necessarily the true active component that studies have linked to the positive effects.  With a search, there are a number of good threads discussing desirable mushroom extract quality.  Buyer beware.

[Busyboy]

Yeah, I'm planning to use an extract, not the whole mushroom. Should have been more specific, sorry about that. On the bottle, it says:
Lion’s Mane mushroom full spectrum (Hericium erinaceus) 400 mg
Fully matured and organic to maximize polysaccharide content

That's not an extract....it specifies "full spectrum" which means whole unprocessed mushroom rather than a standardized extract. Full spectrum is just whole mushroom powder....ground up mushrooms. If it is an extract it will specify "extract of....standardized to...."

Oh, whoops lol. I'm a noob at these kinds of things, sorry about that. Do you feel that this is better than an extract, or are extracts more potent and effective? (Which I think is)

Extracts are always preferable providing the extract is standardized to the actives that provide the desired effect. With mushrooms, polysaccharide content can be misleading and not necessarily the true active component that studies have linked to the positive effects. With a search, there are a number of good threads discussing desirable mushroom extract quality. Buyer beware.

Thanks for the information, good to know

[Real Mushrooms]

 

Lion’s Mane mushroom full spectrum (Hericium erinaceus) 400 mg
Fully matured and organic to maximize polysaccharide content

Is that any good? It also says to take 3 pills a day.

 

What's the brand? Mushroom labelling is very unreliable. 

 

 

Yeah, what I mean by "what part of the mushroom" was if you buy the extract from the fruiting body, or from the mycelium. If you already have a bottle in your possession, what you need to look at is the supplement facts:

Amount per serving

-----------------------------------

Lions Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) mycelium

 

Note that there are no products that are pure lions mane mycelium. See my post here for more info: http://www.longecity...ndpost&p=750519

[fntms]

Is there any valid looking explanation for lion mane's properties ie memory enhancement, nerve growth factor etc...?
It feels pretty close to an acetylcholine enzyme inhibitor to me (vivid REM dreams, the memory effect...), which is not great (can increase anxiety, depression, pvcs...)

[Aurel]

So which product for Lions Mane do you guys recommend?

[Irishdude]

So which product for Lions Mane do you guys recommend?

 

I have my ideas for who are the best and real mushrooms are one of them but do we even know if this really is benefical long term? I dont see many taking it long term or at least I do not see them reporting it. :(
 

[Aurel]

But real mushrooms dont come in extract form, and I dont want to put a pound of lions mane on my sandwich every day.

 

The problem is that Google dont provide anything useful for "Lions mane extract mycelium".

[Irishdude]

Oriveda are quality extract and well regarded by most who know their stuff about lions mane.

Edited by Irishdude, 05 December 2015 - 12:41 AM.

[Real Mushrooms]

But real mushrooms dont come in extract form, and I dont want to put a pound of lions mane on my sandwich every day.

 

The problem is that Google dont provide anything useful for "Lions mane extract mycelium".

 

I believe they were referring to us =)

 

Read my other post on Lions Mane: http://www.longecity...ndpost&p=750519

 

Pure lions mane mycelium doesn't exist.

 

You can see some studies here (http://www.ncbi.nlm....rm=hericium ngf) but I'm pretty sure they're all in-vivo and in-vitro. It's a mix on the hericinones in the fruiting body and erinacines in the mycelium. The Japanese clinical study (https://www.dropbox.com/s/ns93j9td05im5r1/2008-Hericium-Clinical%20Trial%20-%203g%3Ad%20FB-P.pdf?dl=0) showed some promise in old people but that probably won't apply to most of us. 

 

Seems like a lot of people here think you need the mycelium but that's not true.

 

I should have time to dig more into the research over the holidays. 

Edited by Real Mushrooms, 05 December 2015 - 01:02 AM.

[Busyboy]

purica.com/products/lions-mane

This is the one I'm interested in buying. Also like the fact that it's certified organic and its not too expensive either. Has anyone taken it long-term, or at least for a period over 6 months? I'd like to see if its worth buying.

[Real Mushrooms]

purica.com/products/lions-mane

 

It's mycelium on grain. 

[Busyboy]

 

purica.com/products/lions-mane

 

It's mycelium on grain. 

 

 

Are you sure? Because it makes no mention of mycelium on the website ingredients list.

[Real Mushrooms]

Are you sure? Because it makes no mention of mycelium on the website ingredients list.

 

Yup. They source from Aloha Medicinals. That's one of the issues with mycelium on grain products. They are often mislabelled and lead you to believe that it is mushroom. Sometimes even the companies themselves don't know they are selling mycelium on grain because they're lead to believe it is mushroom from the supplier. 

[Busyboy]

Good to know, thanks! BTW, how did you figure out they sourced from them, if I may ask?

Edited by Busyboy, 07 December 2015 - 07:51 PM.

[Real Mushrooms]

Good to know, thanks! BTW, how did you figure out they sourced from them, if I may ask?

I know this one first hand through one of their resellers. Most of the time I can tell who someone's supplier is just based off their product literature. It's usually very similar to the suppliers. i.e. with Purica: keyword "micronized"

 

If you have doubts, call them up and ask where the product is made. If it's USA then it's mycelium on grain. 

[Busyboy]

Good to know, thanks! BTW, how did you figure out they sourced from them, if I may ask?

I know this one first hand through one of their resellers. Most of the time I can tell who someone's supplier is just based off their product literature. It's usually very similar to the suppliers. i.e. with Purica: keyword "micronized"

If you have doubts, call them up and ask where the product is made. If it's USA then it's mycelium on grain.

It's alright, I believe you considering you're a seller yourself. Do you trust that supplier?

Edited by Busyboy, 07 December 2015 - 08:35 PM.

[Real Mushrooms]

Do you trust that supplier?

 

 

The testing data out there on mycelium on grain products confirms that the substrate (rice, oats, sorghum, etc) does not get consumed by the mycelium and hence ends up in the final product. This increases the starch content and lowers the amount of fungal compounds in the final product. These are not a true mushroom products and I do not recommend any of them. 

 

Confirming the presence of significant starch can be done easily at home with some iodine: 

 

We did one here: https://www.instagra...=real_mushrooms

Edited by Real Mushrooms, 07 December 2015 - 08:36 PM.

[Busyboy]

Do you trust that supplier?

The testing data out there on mycelium on grain products confirms that the substrate (rice, oats, sorghum, etc) does not get consumed by the mycelium and hence ends up in the final product. This increases the starch content and lowers the amount of fungal compounds in the final product. These are not a true mushroom products and I do not recommend any of them.

Confirming the presence of significant starch can be done easily at home with some iodine: https://www.youtube....h?v=CWVQWcbtsmA

We did one here: https://www.instagra...=real_mushrooms

Good to know, thanks. Does micronized Lions Mane provide more benefits?

[Real Mushrooms]

Good to know, thanks. Does micronized Lions Mane provide more benefits?

 

It's just marketing jargon. 

[Busyboy]

Just picked up some Lions Mane, Purica brand (sourced from Aloha Medicinals). I'll let you guys know my experience once the bottle is used up.

[Busyboy]

I've been taking 2g of Lions Mane daily for these past few days, and I can't say I noticed anything. Maybe it makes me drowsy, which is actually detrimental, but I haven't noticed any positive effects. Maybe it's an adaptogen? Whatever it is, I'll finish the bottle and find either another source, or just ditch it completely. Bummer.