Lion’s Mane for Brain Fog

Physical and mental health are equally important for optimal quality of life. Unfortunately, as people age, the risk of cognitive dysfunctions increases. Perhaps you’ve had a situation where you experienced a complete inability to focus or something or even lacked mental clarity and memory issues for a moment.

The experts call these situations mental fatigue or “brain fog.” This fog can have different levels of severity, and you should consider herbal remedies to fight it. Apart from slowing it down or making the foggy episodes rarer, natural nootropic mixtures can assist you in preventing cognitive problems from even appearing.

Is the lion’s mane powerful enough to be used for brain fog? That is what we are trying to figure out in this article. You can learn more about this plant and discover its potential benefit related to cognitive health.

What Is Brain Fog?

Brain fog is mental fatigue and can manifest itself in different ways. You might have problems to focus on a particular task. Perhaps you can’t achieve clarity for a few moments or have memory and other cognitive issues. The severity and duration of brain fog vary significantly, and they could directly affect your quality of life.

Here are the common causes of brain fog:

  • Stress – it might have been a rough patch in your life lately. Perhaps you didn’t sleep enough, eat properly, or had any time to rest. That is when brain fog might appear as a consequence of stress.
  • Hormonal changes – pregnancy and menopause are two common situations where hormonal changes happen. That can lead to short-term cognitive problems like brain fog.
  • Diet – the lack of certain nutrients caused by your nutrition might also be the reason why you experience cognitive dysfunction.
  • Medical conditions – a long list of medical conditions might be the cause of brain fog. For example, alterations in blood sugar levels, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome, are among the common reasons. Other health conditions that cause brain fog could include depression, hypothyroidism, and even dehydration.

It is important to consider that brain fog and dementia are not the same. However, in some cases, brain fog might be an early sign of dementia.[1]

Lion’s Mane – A Plant Overview

You will find lion’s mane mentioned in many studies, and researchers often refer to it as a fantastic medicinal mushroom. [2] The scientific name is Hieracium Erinaceus, but you will also find it in folk medicine as the bearded tooth fungus, satyr’s beard, etc.

Lion’s mane is native to Asia, Europe, and North America. You can identify it by its long spines, which often go over one centimeter in length.

This mushroom has a wide range of potential benefits, including:

  • Improving heart health by lowering cholesterol.
  • Assisting in managing diabetes and blood sugar levels.
  • Helping to recover the nervous system.
  • Promoting digestive health and fighting inflammation.

It is worth noting that the lion’s mane is primarily a nootropic. Nootropics are described as compounds that can enhance cognitive performance. These components focus on executive cognitive functions, which might include motivation, creativity, and memory.

Many nootropics can be consumed without a recipe. Lion’s mane is a herbal-based nootropic, which makes it a safe choice. The experts do not have an exact recommendation regarding an optimal dose of this mushroom. You can feel free to enjoy it in moderate quantities, and if you don’t want to eat raw mushrooms, dietary supplements can be a solution. Capsules are a way not to feel the specific taste of the mushrooms while still enjoying its benefits.

How Can Lion’s Mane Help with Brain Fog?

A trial conducted in 2008 in Japan had encouraging results when it comes to using a lion’s mane for brain fog. [3] The researchers focused on both males and females in the age group from 50 to 80. They all exhibited a mild cognitive impairment, and the authors divided them into two groups. The first one received a placebo, and the second group ate the lion’s mane mushroom.

The study took 16 weeks, and the authors measured results several times. The first significant progress in the lion’s mane group was noted after only eight weeks. It is interesting to note that the users stopped taking the lion’s mane after 16 weeks, and their results started decreasing. That suggests lion mane is powerful in helping with minor cognitive dysfunctions, especially in the long run.

Japan was the country where another important study took place in 2019. [4] The researchers administered a supplement containing a lion’s mane to the participants of the study for 12 weeks. They used associate learning, visual retention, and mini-mental state exam tests to determine the results.

According to the results, the lion’s mane led to significant improvements in test performance. The authors concluded that it could assist in boosting cognitive functions in a safe way. It is worth noting that the researchers didn’t notice any side effects in participants who consumed this mushroom.

Even the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms focused on lion’s mane numerous times. [5] Among the potential brain-boosting benefits, they also mention that polysaccharides might be of assistance when dealing with the skin, esophageal, and even stomach cancer.

Why Lion’s Mane Should Be a Part of any Healthy Mushroom Complex?

Lion’s mane is a potent mushroom, but you can make it even more effective by combining it with similar plants. If you are on the market for a dietary supplement, you should consider the Mushroom Complex designed by EssntlWellness.

You will get a generous 266 milligrams of lion’s mane per serving. Apart from this mushroom, this complex also contains mycelium, shiitake, and reishi mushroom extracts. The product included a proprietary blend of other mushrooms like maitake, black fungus, royal agaricus, etc.

The Mushroom Complex can boost both your immunity and brain. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is filled with antioxidants that can help to maintain energy and optimal brain condition and health. The capsules are easy to consume on the go, and they can be beneficial for long-term mental health, too.

References:

  1. https://www.ohsu.edu/womens-health/brain-fog-vs-dementia
  2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11557-015-1105-4
  3. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.2634
  4. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biomedres/40/4/40_125/_article/-char/ja/
  5. http://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/708ae68d64b17c52,467a6b9619790c8f,59f1eb340de50d3a.html

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