Also known as Hericium erinaceus, Yamabushitake
Medicinal mushroom containing hericenones and erinacines that stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in animal models; studied in humans for mild cognitive impairment and mood.
Be careful if: pregnant, breastfeeding
Suspect a side effect? Report it to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme ↗
We link to relevant studies and leave interpretation to you and your healthcare professional.
The large figures are what the studies reported for each thing they measured. Open a card for every result.
Colour keyReported a benefitNo clear benefitUnclearPossible harmAmber is for highlights, such as where the most research is. It never means a result was good.
No figure given: Attention task speed (reported a benefit).
Also measured alongside: Self-rated stress (no clear benefit).
Every resultWhat sources report about side effects, who should be careful, and medicines to ask about first.
| Applies to | What sources say | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| pregnant | No pregnancy safety data for lion's mane in the sources checked (trials were in people aged 50-80 and menopausal women, PMID 18844328); ask a doctor before use in pregnancy. | Mori K et al. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res 2009;23(3):367-72 (PMID 18844328) |
| breastfeeding | No breastfeeding safety data for lion's mane in the sources checked (PMID 18844328); ask a doctor before use while breastfeeding. | Mori K et al. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res 2009;23(3):367-72 (PMID 18844328) |
Mori K et al. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res 2009;23(3):367-72 (PMID 18844328)Saitsu Y et al. Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Biomed Res 2019;40(4):125-31 (PMID 31413233)
Audited published research for Lion's Mane Mushroom by condition. Drill into a pair page for the full breakdown.
What this means: Bars count reported findings, not treatment effectiveness or certainty.
One study may report several findings or appear in more than one pairing. Counts do not show the size of an effect. Comparable numerical estimates are not established for this summary.
| Compound and condition | Findings (count) | Studies (count) | Reported results (finding counts) | How sure? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Function | 5 | 3 | Benefit: 3; no benefit: 2; harm: 0; unclear: 0; not recorded / unrecognised: 0 | Not formally graded |
Where people report using it and what trials suggest
Common claims the trials do not support
Medicinal mushroom (Hericium erinaceus). Nerve-growth-factor effects are preclinical; the few human cognitive trials are small and inconsistent.
Evidence grades reflect study quality and consistency, not marketing claims.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Benefits, side effects, and uses of Hericium erinaceus as a supplement: a systematic reviewMenon A, et al. · Frontiers in nutrition · 2025PMID 40959699 ↗02Effect of nutritional supports on malnutrition, cognition, function and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease: a systematic reviewKocatürk RR, et al. · The International journal of neuroscience · 2023PMID 35686376 ↗03The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot StudyDocherty S, et al. · Nutrients · 2023PMID 38004235 ↗04Acute Effects of Naturally Occurring Guayusa Tea and Nordic Lion's Mane Extracts on Cognitive PerformanceLa Monica MB, et al. · Nutrients · 2023PMID 38140277 ↗05Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceusSaitsu Y, et al. · Biomedical research (Tokyo, Japan) · 2019PMID 31413233 ↗06Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trialMori K, et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR · 2009PMID 18844328 ↗Reported results grouped by condition. Values and units are preserved as recorded; missing information is not estimated.
How to read this table
Reported direction, numerical results and study design are separate. Certainty has not been formally graded in this table.
| What was measured | Reported findings | Result and units | Reported sample and duration | Study / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroop task performance speed | Participants performed quicker on the Stroop task vs placebo in 41 people at 60 minutes. (p = 0.005)Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 41 Follow-up: 60 min post dose | Randomised trial · 2023 Study detailsThe Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Subjective stress | A trend towards reduced subjective stress was observed vs placebo in 41 people over 28 days. (p = 0.051)No clear benefit | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 41 Follow-up: 28-day supplementation | Randomised trial · 2023 Study detailsThe Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) | Cognitive functions improved significantly vs placebo over 12 weeks, but no specific numbers were reported.Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): Not reported Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2019 Study detailsImprovement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| cognitive function scale (HDS-R based), weeks 8-16 of treatment | Yamabushitake significantly increased cognitive function scores compared with placebo at weeks 8, 12 and 16 in adults with MCI (n=30).Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 30 Follow-up: 16 weeks | Randomised trial · 2009 Study detailsImproving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| cognitive function scale, 4 weeks after stopping treatment | Cognitive scores fell significantly after Yamabushitake was stopped, compared with scores seen during the 16-week treatment period (n=30).No clear benefit | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 30 Follow-up: 4 weeks | Randomised trial · 2009 Study detailsImproving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
Associated conditions and community-reported outcomes, wrapped together on one page. Aggregates appear only once enough reports arrive.
How this compound is sold in the UK, and where our readers typically find it.
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