Czech: Lion’s Mane

Chinese: Hou Tou Gu 猴头菇

Japanese: Yamabushitake

About Hericium

Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane, German: Igel-Stachelbart, Japanese: Yamabushitake, Chinese: Hou Tou Gu, English: Lion’s Mane/Bearded Hedgehog) is a saprophyte or a mild parasite, meaning it uses the tree on which it grows for its own benefit. It forms fruiting bodies on the trunks of injured or dead trees. These are absolutely unique and unmistakable. The fruiting body itself has a spherical shape, most commonly 7 to 15 cm in diameter, from which soft projections (spines) extend, forming the “lion’s mane”, which can enlarge the fruiting body up to 40 cm. Hericium can be found in Asia, Europe, and North America. It has not yet been found on the African continent. In the wild, however, its occurrence is rare, and it is on the red list of endangered species. It is, however, possible to cultivate Hericium artificially for commercial purposes, the creation of food supplements, and consumption. Hericium is highly sought after in this regard, as unlike other mushrooms, it lacks a certain bitterness and astringency. It therefore has a sweetish, very delicate taste. Hericium has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. There is evidence that it was used by the ancient Chinese and also by the indigenous peoples of North America. In ancient China, Hericium was used primarily for its ability to harmonise the stomach and spleen – pressure, pain, and burning in the stomach area, digestive problems, heartburn, acid reflux, nausea, belching, bad breath, mushy stools, bloating, stomach ulcers, etc. Ancient Chinese and Japanese doctors were able to utilise its An Shen function (calming the spirit) and were also aware of its beneficial effect on strengthening brain functions, e.g., in dementia.

Indigenous peoples used Hericium powder to stop bleeding.

Hericium entered natural history books only in the 18th century, thanks to J. B. F. Bulliard, who gave it the name Hydnum erinaceus. The mushroom owes its current name to Ch. H. Persoon, who changed it to Hericium erinaceus in 1797.

Today, Hericium is called “natural neuron nutrition”. Hericium is currently the subject of many studies investigating the effect of Hericium (specifically one of its components, the phytosterol erinacine) on its ability to stimulate the production of NGF (Nerve Growth Factor). Low levels of NGF influence the development of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. NGF is a protein that stimulates the growth and differentiation of nerve cells. It is essential for the regeneration of damaged neurons in brain tissue (e.g., in Alzheimer’s disease). According to the latest research, NGF improves survival in people after a heart attack. It also reduces the risk of heart failure.

Scientists from Pavia, Italy, published their study on the neurobiology of romantic love in the April issue of the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. They monitored the concentrations of neurotrophic substances in the bloodstream of individuals who were newly in love and compared them with values measured in “healthy” controls (people without a partner or living in a long-term partnership). They found that those in love have almost double the amount of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) flowing in their veins, and the level of this factor increases with the intensity of being in love. In this context, the prying question arises as to whether the increased presence of this protein in the bloodstream could be a consequence of its acute deficiency in brain tissue, which would explain many of the accompanying signs of intense infatuation. It may be a consolation to those in love that this hypothetical “damage” to the brain is apparently not permanent, as the aforementioned study found that the NGF level returns to a normal level after 12–24 months of a partnership.

Characteristics according to Traditional Chinese Medicine

Si Qi (nature): neutral

Wu Wei (taste): sweet, bland

Gui Jing (tropism): spleen, stomach, heart (according to other sources + liver, kidneys, or all circuits)

Main effects according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• strengthens the stomach and regulates its Qi
• replenishes the spleen and aids digestion
• calms the Shen spirit and strengthens brain activity
• acts on all organ systems

Effects according to Traditional Chinese Medicine in more detail:

1, Digestive problems

• according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hericium has the ability to harmonise the stomach and digestion while also being able to protect and soothe mucous membranes
• it is therefore used to regulate stomach and intestinal problems, especially in gastrointestinal inflammation, such as chronic gastritis, stomach or duodenal ulcers, heartburn, reflux
• improves digestion
• these are conditions that a Chinese doctor would describe as heat in the stomach
• the stomach is an organ that is sensitive to heat and has a tendency to overheat
• if we often eat fiery, hot, spicy foods, fried foods, or indulge in alcohol, the stomach easily overheats and creates the problems I mentioned
• that heat can also arise from overeating, when food begins to accumulate and overheat like compost
• and of course, the liver can have an influence here, which also heats up during emotional stress and often transfers that heat to the stomach
• Hericium is not that strong in strengthening the Spleen, however, with the above-mentioned effects, it is able to significantly improve digestion
• Hericium also supports the regeneration and moisturising of mucous membranes, mainly in the digestive tract
• if we are solving digestive problems with Hericium, it is better to use it in powder form. A 30% extract would be more suitable if we needed to discipline overgrown pathogens, such as Helicobacter pylori, which causes digestive discomfort.

2, Neurological and psychological problems

• the second area where we can use Hericium is neurological and psychological problems
• Hericium can therefore be used for conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, or neurasthenia
• Hericium is often combined in these cases with the medicinal mushroom Reishi or with the tincture Xiao Yi Qi Er Gui Tang
• Hericium also supports mental functions, memory, and the ability to concentrate
• plus Reishi, it is also given for problems with insomnia
• improves the functioning of the nervous system
• Hericium is also suitable for stress loads
• mainly for the somatisation of stress manifesting in the stomach area
• it is therefore possible to use it for everything that worsens with stress – pressure around the stomach or chest, butterflies in the stomach area, a lump in the throat, a feeling of internal trembling, tension, expansion, premenstrual syndrome, restlessness, irritability, irregular cycle
• it also works for some states of depression and anxiety
• in similar cases, it is usually administered with some herbal mixture that can release liver stagnation – for example Xiao Yao San

3, Immunomodulatory and anti-cancer effects of Hericium

• like other mushrooms, Hericium has significant immunomodulatory and anti-cancer effects; it is used for tumours of the upper and middle part of the digestive tract and the liver
• it is often used when it is necessary to regulate overgrown microorganisms in the digestive tract, e.g., Helicobacter pylori

Less common uses of Hericium:

• like other mushrooms, Hericium can be used to harmonise cholesterol, fats, and sugars in the blood
• has hepatoprotective effects, protects and regenerates the liver
• has anti-coagulant effects
• helps protect joint cartilage
• used for multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Dosage:

as with other mushrooms, I recommend taking it for 5 days and taking a 2-day break

especially if solving problems related to the immune system

a, dried form

• 1g per day – ideally ground into a very fine powder
• this is more of a preventive dose
• it is possible to add it to food

b, powder

• a teaspoon twice a day
• this is more of a preventive dosage

c, extract

• depends on the concentration of the extract
• in my practice, I usually use 30% and 50% extracts
• for most ailments, I use 30% extracts
• I give 50% Reishi only in states of great exhaustion or for allergic complaints
• it is possible to add it to food
• for ailments, it is more suitable to take it on an empty stomach, i.e., the minimum interval from food is half an hour before a meal or an hour after a meal
• preventive dose 1g per day
• mild ailments 2g per day
• more significant ailments 3–5g per day

d, tincture

• dosed according to weight
• usually, as many drops are given as the person weighs
• this daily dose is divided in half, half is taken in the morning and half at noon

Contraindications and known drug interactions:

• none known

Active substances in Hericium

Mushrooms have many effects, which is due to the fact that they contain many biologically active, effective substances. We will mention some of them in the following text.

Sugar compounds, polysaccharides

Polysaccharides and carbohydrates are the most abundant in mushrooms, they are present mainly in the cell membranes of the mushroom. Depending on the composition, branching, and molecular weight, they have various effects; anti-tumour, anti-oxidative stress, immune-stimulating, etc., are described.

Polysaccharides in Hericium consist partly of crude fibre, insoluble in water, which is not digested and is food for our intestinal bacteria, benefiting them. Furthermore, there are polysaccharides that are absorbed from the digestive tract. Among the most biologically significant are glucans. Hericium contains both β-1,3 and β-1,6 branched glucans. Galactoxyloglucans also belong to the glucans. When discussing polysaccharides, we must not forget the HPB-3 polysaccharide, which consists of fucose, d-glucose, and d-galactose, and the HEPF3 composed mainly of galactose and fucose.

Besides complex carbohydrates, individual carbohydrates, i.e., sugars, are also found in Hericium; these are mainly rhamnose, glucose, galactose, arabitol, and also mannitol, which is used in clinical practice as a diuretic, i.e., it promotes the excretion of fluids from the body through urine.

Glycoproteins (compounds of carbohydrates and proteins)

From Hericium, scientists have also extracted glycoproteins that can stimulate the immune system and prevent tumour growth. One of the most important is HEG-5.

Sterols

Sterol compounds are steroid compounds; they have an identical cholesterol core. The most significant representative of sterols in mushrooms is ergosterol, vitamin D2. Other sterols are erinarols A to J, ergostane-type sterols, etc. These have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour effects. To make the list more comprehensive, we will mention other sterols, namely 5-α-ergostan-3-one, 5-α-stigmasten-22-en-3-one and 5-α-stigmastan-3-one, campesterol, campestanol.

Vitamin B12 – lactone

Studies show that Hericium contains an inactive form of vitamin B12 (c-lactone), which can probably be converted into the active form. Hericium could therefore be a source of this vitamin, which would be important mainly for vegetarians.

Volatile (essential) components, giving the mushroom its scent

Hericium also contains components that can be described as essential oils. The main component is palmitic, linoleic, phenylacetaldehyde, and benzaldehyde. The aroma of the mushroom is provided by 2-methyl-3-furanthiol, 2-ethylpyrazine, and 2,6-diethylpyrazine. These essential oils have the ability to inactivate pathogenic bacteria.

Terpene and phenolic compounds

Both mentioned types of compounds are very important. They are carriers of the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumour effects of Hericium. They also support the production of Nerve Growth Factor, which is responsible for the regeneration and protection of nerve tissue.

Erinacines are classified among terpene compounds, while hericenones are classified among phenols (a detailed overview of them is in the attached image).

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/21501201003735556

Alkaloids

We cannot overlook the fact that alkaloids are found in Hericium. The most famous are hericerins (isoindolinone meroterpenoid alkaloid) and erinacines. These are carriers of both biological activity and scent. These include, for example, hericerin A, isohericenone J, erinacin D, etc.

Proteins and amino acids

Although mushrooms are classified more into the plant kingdom, they also contain a whole spectrum of amino acids and proteins. According to the concentration of amino acids, L-alanine and L-leucine are in Hericium. Among the significant proteins in Hericium are enzymes, e.g., enzymes that break down cellulose and lignin, which mushrooms use as a source of nutrients. These are amylases, proteases, glucosidases, and lactases.

Fats, fatty acids

Just as with proteins, we might be surprised that fats/fatty acids are found in a mushroom. These are commonly found in plants more in seeds and kernels. In Hericium, there are both saturated and mainly unsaturated fatty acids, e.g., stearic and palmitic.

Minerals, trace elements, and vitamins

If we want to have a more comprehensive list of Hericium components, we cannot omit minerals and trace elements, i.e., sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, copper… As for vitamins, these are vitamin D and B-group vitamins.

Other compounds

Recently, erinachromanes A and B and erinafenol A (2019) have also been obtained from Hericium. They are most likely involved in influencing plant growth; they can reduce the growth of lettuce. They therefore likely have herbicidal effects. They have not been investigated further yet.

In 2020, isoindolinones were also found, i.e., e.g., hericenols, isohericenol A, which significantly increases the production of Nerve Growth Factor, furthermore, there is corallocin and other hericerins.