Lion's Mane Tincture vs. Powder: Which Is the Best Sleep Aid?
Updated September 22, 2023.
Sleep deprivation impacts all aspects of our lives, contributing to decreased pain threshold and pain management, slower healing, impacted cognitive performance, and predisposition to obesity, hypertension, heart ailments, and diabetes. Finding the best medicine to deal with sleep disorders and insomnia is crucial to improving sleep quality and avoiding these long-term negative effects.
Research suggests that Lion's Mane may help regulate your circadian rhythm and decrease inflammation, thereby helping to combat anxiety and sleep disorders (1)(2). However, with so many products available, it can be difficult to choose the best one for you. This article compares the advantages and disadvantages of two of the most popular Lion's Mane extracts: tinctures and powders. Keep reading to learn more
» Learn more: a beginner's guide to Lion's Mane mushrooms
Lion's Mane Tincture
Pros
- Increased potency
- Ease of use
- Faster effects
- Better dosage control
Cons
- Unpleasant taste
- Some may not be suitable for those sensitive to alcohol
As a rule, Lion's Mane tincture is more potent than powdered extract, and it is far easier to control the dosage than in powdered extracts. Tinctures can be alcohol (ethanol)-based or water-based, which means you can still use tinctures even if you are abstinent from alcohol. If you are not used to this potency, you may experience some unpleasant side effects, but they usually dissipate after stopping treatment.
Additionally, tinctures allow for sublingual application, which is widely considered one of the fastest-acting and most-effective ways of using natural remedies, if you can stomach the taste that many find unpleasant.
Lion's Mane Powder
Pros
- Easy to mix in drinks or food
- Can be swallowed in capsules
- Longer-lasting effects
Cons
- Lower potency
- Slower effect
- May cause digestive issues
Lion's Mane powder can be blended into food and drink or put into capsules and swallowed. Additionally, it can form part of your daily routine by adding a scoop to your coffee or morning smoothie. However, though you may lose some of the potency and dosage accuracy by taking a powdered extract instead of a tincture, you also gain the benefit of a longer overall duration of effects.
The Verdict: Tincture or Powder?
Ultimately, the choice of tincture or powder depends upon your personal reasons for taking Lion's Mane, whether it will be taken every day for an extended period. and your personality. For people who find it difficult to manage the flavour of Lion's Mane, the tincture is likely to be much harder to take on a regular basis. However, if the taste doesn't bother you too much, then tinctures offer more potency, better dosage control, and higher therapeutic potential.
Though Lion's Mane powder has a lower potency than the tincture, it can easily be taken in capsule form with water each day or mixed into your morning coffee or tea. For people who already take supplements and/or medication daily, this means simply adding another capsule or two to the daily regimen, making it far more likely for you to remain consistent and achieve positive results over time.
» Ready to get started? Browse our selection of natural sleep aids
