Dosage of Lion's Mane: How Much Should You Take?
Updated September 20, 2023.
Lion's Mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) are a type of alternative, traditional eastern medicine hailed for presenting a number of different therapeutic benefits. It is claimed to treat many conditions, from depression to cancer. However, with so much in between, it can be difficult to know the precise dosage you should be taking.
Unfortunately, there isn't really a definitive answer to this, but there are some basic guidelines that should be able to help you figure it out.
Does The Form of Lion’s Mane Matter?
Although tinctures absorbed sublingually tend to have a higher bioavailability than ingesting capsules or whole mushrooms, the benefits of these mushrooms tend to build up over time. Just remember that many experts recommend taking your Lion's Mane with food, similar to other supplements.
As for the recommended general daily dosage of Lion's Mane tinctures, raw or dried mushrooms, and extracts, there isn't enough research on this topic to have a definitive answer. Everyone is different, and so their bodies will react differently to particular substances. However, most products will come with a recommended dosage.
Some commonalities between recommended daily doses of Lion's Mane are:
- 250-1000mg as a powdered extract
- 1000-3000mg in tablet form
- +-5000mg when using the raw fruiting bodies in food.
These numbers vary depending on the concentration of the active constituents in the product. The good news is that, even with this wide variation, almost no side effects have ever been reported in individuals without preexisting mushroom allergies.
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Should the Dose of Lion’s Mane Change for Different Conditions?
As mentioned above, the benefits that come from Lion's Mane mushrooms tend to compound over time instead of being immediate. This means that it will take some time, and a lot of trial and error, to find out what works best for you. However, if you'd like somewhere to start, here are some positive results from trials that used specific dosages to treat specific conditions.
Lion's Mane Dosage for Depression and Anxiety
This study administered Lion's Mane mushroom powder baked into cookies with a concentration of 0.5g over a period of 4 weeks and against a placebo control group. The subjects were instructed to eat 4 cookies a day (2g daily total) and record their results every day. After 4 weeks, the study concluded that there was evidence to support the belief that Lion's Mane might reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression at that dosage.
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Lion's Mane Dosage for Improving Cognitive Functioning
This study administered four 250 mg Lion's Mane supplements containing 96% of dry powder three times a day for 16 weeks (3g daily total) against a placebo control group. It found improvements to the patients' cognitive functioning with no adverse effects.
Can You Take Too Much Lion’s Mane?
Although no studies have looked specifically at the side effects of Lion's Mane in humans, they appear to be quite safe, even at high doses. It is definitely possible to overdose on Lion's Mane, but even daily doses of up to 3000mg have been utilised and found no adverse reactions in healthy individuals. Basically, it would be incredibly difficult to overdose on Lion's Mane unless that was your intended goal. They simply don't appear harmful enough unless you have a preexisting mushroom allergy.
Additionally, given the nature of how these mushrooms work, you don't run the risk of building up a chemical dependency addiction or tolerance withdrawal.
Where Should You Start With Lion's Mane?
With all the information listed above, it should be pretty clear that the recommended doses of Lion's Mane mushrooms vary greatly, with all having some degree of positive results and virtually no adverse reactions. With how difficult it is to overdose on Lion's Mane, you should have some luck with starting at a general dose of less than or equal to those mentioned in the studies (depending on the form that you're taking) and using some trial and error to figure out what works best for you.
If you have any concerns, consult with your doctor for a more expert opinion personalised for you.
