Lion's Mane is a beautiful white or cream colored mushroom that grows long tendrils and resembles the mane of a lion. It has been used for thousands of years in Asia for its wide range of functional benefits. It is known as the "brain mushroom" because of it's many brain boosting effects. It has been shown to improve cognitive function and short term memory in both human and animal studies.
Lion's Mane is praised as an aid in improving brain aging symptoms & dis-eases of the brain (including MS & CFS). Some of the most consistent improvements noted are reduced brain fog, improved focus & clarity of mind. Lion's Mane can help promote the growth of nerve tissue & support motor function. These benefits are linked to increased production of nerve growth factor (NGF), a compound that maintains the health of neurons in our brains.
Lion's Mane supports healthy neuron production in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that regulates emotions. One clinical study showed that Lion's Mane is able to decrease anxiety while decreasing feelings of irritation and frustration when supplementing daily. Lion’s Mane may help with stomach discomfort and overall digestive health by supporting the digestive organs & leaky gut tissue repair. It has been shown to help keep blood sugar levels steady, & support a healthy immune response.
Tinctures are shelf stable & have a general shelf life of 5 years. Alcohol extracts the widest range of constituents, but properly tincturing mushrooms requires a multi-step process. Mushrooms also need to be heated to be at full potency & combined carefully to preserve polysaccharide integrity. My tinctures always utilize organic mushrooms and are extracted in an alcohol based blend for 6 weeks (along with a palm based organic glycerine & raw local honey. They are then slowly simmered in water to release their polysaccharide goodness, then carefully combined to preserve all the medicinal properties. I studied this method under the guidance of seasoned herbalists.
