Ingredient Evidence Review
Lion's Mane fruiting body dual extract
Hericium erinaceus
Last updated 2026-05-19 · 4 primary citations
Mechanism
Lion's Mane is the only food known to nudge your brain into making more of its own repair signal — a protein called nerve growth factor that keeps neurons maintained and connected. Its active compounds switch that signal on; the dedicated Erinacine-A row next to it covers the second, complementary one. As estrogen falls and the fog sets in, that maintenance signal is exactly what wobbles.
Why we use it
Lion's Mane is paired with the dedicated Erinacine-A concentrate so the AM stick covers both fungal neurotrophic axes (NGF and BDNF) — what no commodity Lion's Mane achieves.
How we dose it
Hericea uses 1,500 mg per serving (per AM stick pack). The clinical trial range that anchors this dose is 1,000–3,000 mg/day.
1,500 mg of HPLC-verified fruiting-body dual extract. Hericenones C+D quantified per lot — never the cheaper mycelium-on-grain commodity.
Quality & sourcing
≥30% beta-glucan; ≥0.5% hericenones (C+D); alpha-glucan ≤5%; HPLC-CAD verified per lot.
Fruiting body dual extract (NOT mycelium-on-grain). Nammex RealLionsMane® or Eversio equivalent.
Cautions
- informational1–5% minority-negative response (transient anxiety, low mood, or itching). Covered by the 60-day refund window.
Primary literature
Mori K et al. (2009)
Phytother ResRCT · 30 people · 16 weeks · Adults aged 50–80 with MCI
Hericium erinaceus 3 g/day (250 mg × 4 × 3) improved cognitive function on the revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale at 8, 12, and 16 weeks vs placebo.
PMID 18844328
Docherty S et al. (2023)
NutrientsRCT pilot · 41 people
Acute Lion's Mane supplementation improved speed of performance on a cognitive task in young adults; chronic 28-day use reduced subjective stress.
DOI 10.3390/nu15224842
Cordaro M et al. (2025)
Front PharmacolSystematic review (preclinical)
Systematic review — erinacines and Hericium compounds elevate NGF and BDNF in preclinical neurodegeneration models; consistent neurotrophic signal.
PMID 40626304
Roda E et al. (2023)
Int J Mol SciTranslational review
Hericium erinaceus in neurodegenerative diseases — from bench to bedside review of mechanism and clinical evidence.
PMID 37233262