Focus and Rebuild: Lion's Mane

Lions Mane (Hericium erinaceus) also called bearded tooth mushroom, satyr’s beard is both a saprophytic (decomposing) and parasitic fungi found on decaying and living trees throughout the US and Canada. It has been used in Chinese Tonic medicine for centuries. Buddhist monks often would add Lion’s Mane to teas to enhance focus and concentration during their meditation practices. One of the most unique and beautiful of the fungi kingdom is easily identified by the long white spines (fruiting bodies) resembling its namesake(s).  It is used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. 

1. May increase memory, learning, focus, and concentration: Daily use of Lions Mane may help brain function by increasing BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a compound that improves overall brain health, mood, and memory. 
   
2. Improves sense of well-being: Lion's Mane may help increase a sense of well-being by helping to regenerate brain cells of the hippocampus, a region of the brain responsible for processing memories and emotional responses. 
   
3. Encourage nerve health: Studies have shown that daily use of Lions Mane, which induces the nerve growth factor (NGF) may help repair nerve damage. 
4. May reduce cognitive degeneration and decline: Lion's mane has been shown to reduce the damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques in the brain, which causes a decline in overall brain function. 
5. May help control blood sugar: Daily use of Lions Mane may be beneficial for managing blood sugar by blocking the activity of the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which breaks down cards in the small intestine.