Top 3 Lion's Mane Spiritual Benefits You Should Know About

Lion's Mane, scientifically known as Hericium erinaceus, is a mushroom with a rich history in traditional Chinese medicine and a fascinating link to spirituality. 

Follow us as we explore the spiritual benefits of Lion's Mane, as well as investigate the potential spiritual side effects associated with its use. We'll also look at the active compounds that contribute to these effects and how you can use Lion's Mane to your energetic advantage.

Let's jump in:

Lion's Mane, despite its unassuming appearance, has garnered attention for its potential to enhance mental clarity, intuition, and spiritual awareness. Some sources even suggest that Lion's Mane has psychedelic properties, which we'll dive into later. For now, take a look at some of the benefits that Lion's Mane may add to your spiritual toolkit:

These compounds found in Lion's Mane are known for their role in supporting the body's natural production of Nerve Growth Factors (NGF). NGF is an insulin-like protein responsible for regulating the brain's growth, development, and repair.

Lion’s Mane contains eight classes of compounds, well-studied for supporting NGF and cognitive function, including Hericinones, Dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DLPE), amyloban, amycenone, 3-Hydroxyhericenone F, Hericene, Hericerin, and erinacerin. Each of these compounds work together to help maintain your nervous system balance, making Lion's Mane supplements a valuable addition to your daily routine and your spiritual practice.

Polysaccharides are nutritionally valuable compounds found in Lion's Mane, similar to those in cereals, yogurts, and pasta. These compounds support a healthy gut microbiome, encouraging beneficial gut flora. 

Some polysaccharides, known as beta glucagon, are bioactive and can regulate various physical and cognitive functions. Lion's Mane's polysaccharides, including the renowned 1,3 and 1,6 beta-glucans, are vital for immune health. Let's break those down:

Among the most potent compounds, 1,3 and 1,6 Beta-Glucans support overall immune health. These compounds help maintain balanced cholesterol levels, support cardiovascular health, regulate blood sugar, and foster a healthy gut environment.

In order to reap the benefits of beta glucans, be sure to choose your products wisely. Lion’s Mane fruiting bodies contain over 29 times more 1,3 1,6 beta-glucans compared to mycelium, the "root" portion used in cheaply made products.

Antioxidants found in Lion's Mane help protect your cells from oxidative stress. This not only supports cognitive function but also aids in maintaining overall well-being. In the world of spirituality, a healthy body often translates to a more receptive and harmonious state of being

Although Lion's Mane mushroom is not considered a traditional psychedelic, it does contain a number of compounds that have been shown to have psychedelic properties. One of these compounds is ergothioneine, which has been found to modulate the activity of serotonin receptors in the brain.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in mood regulation, and is the target of many traditional psychedelic substances. Researchers believe that ergothioneine may be useful for managing depression in a similar manner to psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms,” which is currently being researched regarding its potential for depression therapy.

Another compound found in Lion's Mane mushroom is hericenones and erinacines, which are known to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain. NGF is a protein that is essential for the growth and survival of neurons, and is believed to play a role in the neuroplasticity that underlies learning and memory.

The stimulation of NGF production by Lion's Mane mushroom could therefore be seen as a form of psychedelic enhancement of cognitive function. NGF production helps the brain to create new neural pathways to enhance all aspects of cognitive function and brain health. This is also very similar to the action of psilocybin.

However, the psychedelic compounds found in Lion’s Mane do not cause psychoactivity in the traditional sense. You won’t be seeing sounds and tasting colors, so to speak. However, Lion’s Mane’s mild psychedelic properties may make it useful for promoting brain health, balancing and boosting mood, and improving overall well-being–and this brain boosting mushroom is known to do just that.

Now that you're aware of the potential spiritual benefits of Lion's Mane and the compounds responsible for them, here are some practical ways to integrate this mushroom into your spiritual practice:

• Lion's Mane Tea: Brew Lion's Mane tea to enjoy its benefits in a calming and mindful ritual. Sip it slowly and contemplate as you let its effects unfold.
• Lion's Mane Supplements: For a convenient option, consider Lion's Mane supplements. They offer a precise dosage of the mushroom's active compounds, making it easier to incorporate into your daily routine.
• Customized Rituals: Create your own Lion's Mane rituals. Whether it's incorporating it into your meditation practice, blending it with other herbs for a personalized elixir, or using it in sacred ceremonies, adapt Lion's Mane to your spiritual journey.

When it comes to Lion’s Mane Spiritual benefits, you need to understand that the benefits you will experience are directly related to the quality of the product you choose.  There are lots of options on the market. But, when you really dig into the details, there are two primary factors that separate high-quality Lion’s Mane supplements from the rest. They are:

• Whole vs Extracted
• Mycelium vs Fruiting Body Supplements

Let us break it down:

Many people may argue that a whole mushroom formula is better or “more natural” because it contains all of the fiber, nutrients, and other beneficial compounds found in the whole mushroom.

However, the beta-glucan content of a mushroom is locked inside chitin–a polymer layer that's hard for the human digestive system to break down. In order to “unlock” these beta-glucans from the chitin layers, you need to “extract” them. This can be done with regular hot water extraction, like when making tea.

A mushroom extract, like the one used in our Lucid Coffee, is already biologically active, and the extraction process is superior to what you can do in your own kitchen at home. When mushrooms are properly extracted, they are introduced to hot water at the perfect temperature to melt away chitin while keeping the beta-glucans intact, and the entire process is done in a pressurized atmosphere so that no beneficial compounds are lost to steam.

Mushroom supplements can be made from either the mycelium or the mushroom’s fruiting body (or sometimes a combination of both). The fruiting body is the stem and cap portion that most people associate with mushrooms. The mycelium is the underground network of cell-signaling “roots” that help the mushroom sustain life.

There’s some argument surrounding which is best, but the science is clear–fruiting bodies contain a beta-glucan content of around 30 to 40 %, while the beta-glucan content of the mycelium is much lower–around 5-7 %.

Plus, mycelium is grown in grain blocks, and the entire block is ground up with the mycelium during manufacturing. That means that mycelial products contain a large portion of grain and are severely degraded compared to fruiting body supplements.

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Lucid Mushroom + Nootropic Coffee is your secret weapon for productivity and creativity, helping you start your day with an edge. Harness the natural synergy of functional mushrooms and nootropics in every cup. Elevate your coffee routine and elevate your mind with Lucid Mushroom + Nootropic Coffee, or check out one of our other flavor varieties: