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Monograph
FDA APPROVEDN-002
Cognition

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

Mushroom-derived hericenones + erinacines stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis and BDNF expression in mammalian brain tissue.

EmergingCognition
Typical dose1-3 g (fruiting body) or 250-750 mg (8:1 dual-extract)
Frequencydaily, oral, with food
Half-life8h
Citations indexed38
DeliveryOral
Half-life~8h
EvidenceEmerging
Citations38
Synergy checkCompare
Mechanism

Edible medicinal mushroom (Yamabushitake) used in Traditional Chinese + Japanese medicine. Two compound classes drive the nootropic claims: hericenones (in fruiting body, water-soluble) cross the blood-brain barrier marginally; erinacines (in mycelium, fat-soluble) cross more readily. NGF + BDNF upregulation has been demonstrated in vitro and in rodent models. Human RCTs at 1-3 g/day fruiting-body powder show modest improvements in mild cognitive impairment; healthy-cohort cognitive benefits are less consistent.

Specifics
Focus / attentionBrain fogMood
Field reports

Distilled themes from named communities — Reddit threads, forums, creator commentary. Not direct quotes; not clinical evidence. Useful for calibrating expectations against what real self-experimenters report.

r/Nootropics + r/HericiumErinaceus

Cohort splits clean: ~half report distinct cognitive sharpening within 2-4 weeks; the other half feel emotional flattening or no effect. Dual-extract formulations report higher hit-rate than fruiting-body-only.

Caveats

Quality varies wildly between vendors — extract ratio, fruiting-body vs mycelium-on-grain, beta-glucan content all matter. Choose third-party-tested extracts (Real Mushrooms, Nootropics Depot, Host Defense disclose lab data). Allergy risk in those sensitive to other fungi. Anecdotal reports of mood blunting + emotional flatness with chronic high-dose use.

Evidence levelEmerging
Regulatory statusDSHEA-classified dietary supplement in US. EU novel-food authorized 2022. Sold OTC.
DNA / pharmacogenomicsMostly marketing — No actionable pharmacogenomic data. Beware vendors selling 'genetic match' panels.
Pairs & ConflictsCheck full stack →
Synergizes with

Mechanistically distinct — hits a different pathway.

NMN
References

External links to PubMed searches, ClinicalTrials.gov, and FDA materials. We do not host papers — we point at canonical sources.

  • PubMedEN
    RCTAcademic-fundedVerified 3d ago
    Mori K et al. — Improving effects of Lion's Mane on mild cognitive impairment (Phytother Res 2009 RCT)
  • PubMedEN
    REVIEWAcademic-fundedVerified 3d ago
    Lai PL et al. — Neurotrophic properties of Hericium erinaceus (Int J Med Mushrooms 2013)
  • ReferenceEN
    ANECDOTALIndustry-fundedVerified 3d ago
    Stamets P — Stamets Stack (lion's mane + niacin + psilocybin) protocol
FDA APPROVEDN-002

DSHEA-classified dietary supplement in US. EU novel-food authorized 2022. Sold OTC.

Lion's Mane1-3 g (fruiting body) or 250-750 mg (8:1 dual-extract) · daily, oral, with food
Discussion guide, not prescription

stack is an exploration engine. Output is a discussion guide for a conversation with a licensed provider — never a prescription, dose recommendation, or sourcing instruction. Peptides discussed include compounds with limited human evidence and varying legal status by jurisdiction. Verify everything with a qualified clinician before any decision.

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