Full profile
| Also known as | Hericium erinaceus |
|---|---|
| Best for | Long-term cognitive support interest · Daily routine |
| Evidence grade | Emerging — Emerging — mostly preclinical or preliminary human data |
| Studied dose range | 500–1000 mg of extract in some studies; varies widely by preparation. |
| Time to effect | Generally studied over weeks of daily use. |
| Best form | Fruiting-body extract with stated beta-glucan content; avoid undefined mycelium-on-grain fillers. |
Evidence, honestly graded
Some small human trials and considerable preclinical work. Human evidence remains limited and preliminary.
See the full grading rubric — study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy — in The Evidence Standard.
765 licensed natural health products in Health Canada's LNHPD list Lion's Mane as a medicinal ingredient.
That makes Lion's Mane a recognized, licensable medicinal ingredient in Canada — regulated by Health Canada's Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate, which issues each licensed natural health product a Natural Product Number (NPN). Search the LNHPD to verify.
Side effects
- Generally well tolerated
- Possible skin or respiratory sensitivity in mushroom-sensitive people
Who should avoid it or check first
- Known mushroom allergy
- Pregnant or breastfeeding without clinician guidance
Interactions
- Limited interaction data — discuss with a clinician if on medication
Stacks well with
What to look for on a label
- Prefer fruiting-body extracts with a stated beta-glucan percentage.
- Be cautious with products that only list total polysaccharides.
References
- Lion's Mane human pilot studies. Small and preliminary — the Mori 2009 mild-cognitive-impairment RCT (PMID 18844328) and a healthy-young-adult pilot (Docherty 2023, PMID 38004235); used for education, not claims.
Grades and studied doses are our conservative reading of the human research, shown for education. They are not product claims, and a studied dose is not a recommended dose.
Revision history
Every change to this ingredient's evidence status, dated and explained. The full cross-library log lives at Evidence Updates.
- 2026-07-04New profile
Initial profile published at Grade Emerging: some small human pilot trials plus considerable preclinical work, short of the consistent healthy-adult replication a higher grade needs.
See how Lion's Mane compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.
