What time of day should you take Lion's Mane?
There's no scientific evidence available to make decisions based on regarding which time of day to take Lion's Mane for optimal results. Some users report stimulating effects, while others report calming effects, meaning it is best to self-experiment with an open mindset as regards when during the day to take it. If you feel calmer, taking it before sleep is probably better than in the morning, and if you feel stimulated, it is likely best to take it in the morning to prevent sleep problems.
There's no evidence that Lion's Mane impairs sleep. In fact, some users report improved sleep quality and there is some evidence that it can improve sleep. [6]
What substances may stack well with Lion's Mane?
There's no high-quality research on the effects of combining Lion's Mane with other substances, such as nootropic drugs or supplements. The safety and efficacy of the below-listed combinations are supported only by anecdotal reports.
People tend to report better effects from Lion's Mane when they also use:
Before combining any drugs or supplements, talk with your trusted medical professional about the risks involved.
Which are the active ingredients in Lion's Mane?
Ingredients that are likely involved in the cognitive effects of Lion's Mane include:
How does Lion's Mane work in the brain?
- Hericenones and erinacines increase nerve growth factor, which is also known as NGF (in cultured astrocytes) [16][17]
- Increased neurite outgrowth (in brain, spinal cord, and retinal cells) [21]
- Decreased inflammation (in several animal studies) [22][23][24]
- Increased spontaneous and evoked excitatory synaptic current (in mossy fiber-CA3 synapses) [3]
Is Lion's Mane neuroprotective?
Some findings from animal studies suggest that Lion's Mane is neuroprotective.
[26][27]
It is likely that the neuroprotective effects of Lion's Mane depend on what the factor that is damaging neurons in the brain is. For example, lack of oxygen or dangerously high glutamate levels in the brain can lead to increased neuronal death. Different active ingredients in Lion's Mane are likely to protect neurons from different forms of neurochemical toxicity. While Lion's Mane may be protective in many instances, it is likely not going to protect you from anything you might expose your brain to.
There’s a need for more high-quality scientific information about the safety and effectiveness of Lion's Mane. Specifically, there’s a great degree of individual variance in how people respond to nootropics in general and Lion's Mane in particular. This means that if you use Lion's Mane, you may not experience the same effects as those that were seen in scientific studies on it.
It is currently largely unknown what factors play a role in whether a nootropic will be effective for a person.
While we wait for science to explain who is likely to respond to which nootropics, patient self-experimentation with nootropics that have been found safe and effective in placebo-controlled studies in healthy humans is a proven strategy to feel and perform better with the help of nootropics.
