Can Lion’s Mane Mushrooms Cure Anxiety & Depression?

Do you struggle with anxiety or depression? Feeling overwhelmed or on edge isn't a great feeling. Both depression and anxiety are at an all-time high in today’s society, and since the pandemic began back in 2020, the number of people experiencing mental health struggles has soared.

The World Health Organisation reports that approximately 350 million people worldwide are affected by depression alone. The chances are, if you’re not suffering from mental health challenges yourself, you'll know someone who is. So, what can you do about it?

Doctors, antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds and therapy are the traditional solutions; however, more people are looking for alternative options. If you believe in the power of natural medication, then opting for more holistic approaches could be best for you!

Lifestyle changes, dietary overhauls, and supplements are three natural ways to positively impact mental health. But there’s another option, too. An all-natural, safe, and simple solution, which is mushrooms.

Yes, really! And not just any old button mushroom like the kind you find in your salad; we're talking about the mighty Lion's Mane mushroom. To find out more about the benefits of Lion's Mane and how it could help with anxiety and depression, continue reading.

The Superpowers of Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

A hairy medicinal mushroom is increasingly being referred to as the best mushroom for the brain. These small edible fungi, found in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, are completely safe, non-toxic, and non-psychedelic (so they don’t give you a high like magic mushrooms).

Their use is fast gaining traction due to their impressive mental health benefits. Although predominantly known as Lion's Mane, they're also known as Hieracium erinaceus or monkey's head mushroom. Let's take a look at some of the main potential benefits that this powerful shroom has to offer.

Strengthen brain cells and stimulate nerve growth factor, helping increase focus.
Reduce inflammation, as they are packed full of antioxidants.
Support your immune system by feeding the healthy bacteria in your gut.
Improve mood and mental health.

What Makes Lion's Mane Special?

There are loads of medicinal mushrooms out there, so why does Lion’s Mane have such potent medicinal effects? Researchers think it has a lot to do with the blood-brain barrier or BBB. The BBB is responsible for deciding what gets into your brain and what doesn’t.

It protects your brain from toxins by preventing them from entering the brain and sending them into the bloodstream instead. It's also responsible for allowing nutrients to cross over into the brain. The result is that many things that we want to enter the brain never actually make it through.

The BBB blocks its pathway, and even though it’s a good thing, it never makes it where it needs to be. This is one of the reasons that some natural alternatives to medicines don’t always work well.

However, what makes these weird-looking fungi so great is that they pass through the BBB, where many supplements can’t. Lion’s Mane mushroom supplements can directly access our central nervous system, right up there in the driver's seat.

Natural Ways to Tackle Anxiety and Depression

When you’re caught in a downward spiral of chaos and despair, mushrooms are likely the last thing you think about, but we want to change that! You see, Lion’s Mane has been shown to have antidepressant effects.

Research has shown that over time, healthy compounds in Lion’s Mane mushrooms could help reduce both the physical and mental symptoms of brain disorders such as anxiety and depression. Lion's Mane appears similar to white pom-poms, with shaggy-like spines.

Fresh Lion's Mane mushrooms are used in culinary practices, meaning they can be taken with food, as a supplement, or as a powder (what can’t you do with this mushroom?). Both Lion's Mane mushroom powder and capsules offer the most convenient ways of consuming this power-shroom.

It does leave you wondering how a small, hairy mushroom could help with such chronic and frustrating mental health problems. Let's take a look at two factors that could affect your mental health.

Inflammation

Every year, more studies highlight the relationship between inflammation (your body's process of fighting against things that harm it) and mental health. Inflammation is a natural part of your body’s immune system. Inflammation is key to your survival.

It's your body’s defence reaction against an attack. When something is harming your body’s cells, whether it be exposure to toxins, infection, or psychological stress, your body produces small protein cells called cytokines to rush to its aid.

While some inflammation is good, too much inflammation is bad. Research shows that in a continuously inflamed state, a growing list of your internal bodily systems are negatively affected, such as your metabolism, immune system, mood, and sleep quality.

All of which are essential components of the emotional state. Put simply, inflammation affects how we feel, from feeling a little grumpy to having a major depressive disorder or long-lasting mental health issues.

While we know that mental illnesses are often related to chemical imbalances in the brain, alternative theories suggest that brain disorders might be the result of chronic brain inflammation, which is long-lasting or constantly recurring.

Chronic inflammation affects your brain and your body and can have a significant impact on your mental and physical health.

The good news is that Lion’s Mane mushrooms are anti-inflammatory. Research shows they help combat inflammation and reduce many of the symptoms associated with depression.

Your Gut

You’ve probably heard this phrase a lot, and rightly so. The relationship between our gut and brain is indisputable. As time goes on, more research is showing that mental health is closely linked to the health of your gut.

But why? It could be due to something called the gut-brain axis. The gut-brain axis, also known as the GBA, is the two-way communication system between your brain and your gut.

When the gut isn’t happy, messages sent to the brain via the gut-brain axis don’t always get there effectively; communication breaks down, and the way you feel suffers as a result.

On the flip side, when your brain state is compromised, communication again breaks down and this time your digestive system takes a hit. You’ve probably experienced this yourself. Have you lost your appetite when going through a breakup?

Have you had stomach aches when you’re nervous? Are you struggling with indigestion, nausea, or IBS when you’re going through stress?

The good news is that research shows that tweaking our gut microbiome, which is the microorganisms living in your intestines that control the digestion of food and other bodily processes, can help to improve brain function, health, and mood.

How Lion's Mane Mushrooms Can Help Mental Health

Lion’s Mane mushroom is a functional food and one that holds potential health benefits beyond its nutritional value. Lots of research is continuously being funded to learn more about just how powerful it is.

The researchers of one such study, observing the effects Lion’s Mane treatment had on mice, go so far as to say that “Lion's Mane might constitute a strong alternative therapy for depression".

How Does Lion's Mane Work to Improve Mental Health?

It’s pretty simple. We now know that inflammation and gut health play a big part in mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Lion’s Mane mushrooms have been shown to alleviate symptoms of brain disorders by reducing inflammation and increasing the diversity and richness of gut flora, improving gut health in general.

But that’s not all. Compounds found in the mycelium and fruiting body of these medicinal mushrooms have been found to promote the growth of healthy neurons, the nerve cells that form part of your brain and nervous system.

Researchers believe that this regrowth, repair, and improved functioning of the hippocampus (the area of your brain in charge of emotional responses) might explain the reduction of symptoms of anxiety and depression when you supplement Lion’s Mane.

This study found that new brain cells were being produced in the hippocampus after only four weeks of starting Lion’s Mane supplements!

Amazing stuff for a mere mushroom. Research shows that Lion’s Mane mushrooms can help reduce inflammation, improve gut health, and reduce the symptoms of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. What a powerful little guy!

Try Lion's Mane Yourself Today

Lion's Mane offers incredible potential benefits. We believe that Lion’s Mane is one of the best natural supplements to improve mental health. From brain fog to chronic disease, these marvellous mushrooms can work wonders.

With the potential to reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood, aid in better focus, and strengthen your immune system, what's not to like about this unique mushroom?

If you'd like to reap the benefits of Lion's Mane yourself, we encourage you to shop our organic Lion's Mane supplement capsules today.

UK-grown and free of any nasty fillers, our capsules are ideal for all individuals. To find out more, feel free to get in touch with us today.