How Lion’s Mane Can Help With Concussion
Concussion is sometimes called the silent epidemic by medical professionals. That’s because it’s a widespread condition that so many people don’t know how to identify or treat. It’s possible you’re living with a concussion and don’t even realise it.
It’s important to be aware that there’s more to concussion than the basic idea of dizziness after a bump to the head. If this is new information to you - sit tight!
To understand how you can combat this often debilitating brain condition, first, we need to dive head first into what concussion is and how it affects your brain’s function.
What Is a Concussion?
We’ve all seen the dramatised version of a concussion on the latest episode of our favourite TV drama. Someone gets a bonk (and not the fun kind) to their head, and they either go unconscious or start bleeding from some ominous orifice.
In reality, a concussion can be a lot less obvious.
A concussion is classified as a traumatic brain injury that occurs because of a blow to your head, neck or shoulders. Basically anything violent enough to cause your brain to move within your skull, breaking nerves and sometimes causing swelling.
The initial blow could be one big event or several smaller impacts over a period of time, but either way, the symptoms of concussion can last for days or weeks.
Common Symptoms of Concussion
Sounds scary, but how do you know if you’re dealing with a concussion and not just a bit of a headache after a tumble?
A concussion can hit you (pardon the pun) in several different ways, so you’ve got to be vigilant in recognising the key symptoms.
You might notice becoming irritable or having abnormal mood swings - this is something others might notice easier than you do. You could also have periods of memory loss, confusion, brain fog, headaches and dizziness.
Your balance might be affected, and you could even notice changes to your vision. Equally, you could struggle with sleeping too much, too little or a frequent feeling of fatigue.
Of course, to properly diagnose concussion, your healthcare professional would do a thorough examination and run plenty of tests to rule out anything more severe. But these symptoms can be scary, so how can you repair the damage done?
Repairing Damage Done by Concussion
With all of the symptoms we’ve mentioned, it’s easy to see just how delicate your brain is and how easily its normal function can be interrupted.
Because concussion is a result of damage to the nerves, neural networks and connections in your brain, you need a way to heal, repair and support these poor guys. Fortunately for our brains, scientists have discovered something called neuroplasticity.
This is our ability to create new connections and forge fresh pathways, which is how we usually recover from brain injuries.
So, if you could help your brain recover in this way even faster, that would be amazing. Here’s where our favourite neuroprotective supplement comes into play.
Lion’s Mane is a widely used and vastly researched functional mushroom, and this friendly shroom is known for its protective Beta-Glucans that can support your brain cells while it's recovering.
Not only can quality Lion’s Mane extract stimulate the growth of protective myelin sheaths around your neurons, but it also defeats any inflammation with its natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.
Some of the most common symptoms of concussion are an inability to concentrate and a low mood. Thanks to Lion’s Mane, you can be on the - hopefully less bumpy - road to recovery in no time. This safe and effective functional fungus is able to improve your concentration while also improving mood disorders like anxiety, stress and depression.
These superpowers are partly due to their incredible anti-inflammatory action, and the fact that the chemicals in Lion’s Mane are able to pass through the blood-brain barrier, letting you get the good stuff right where you need it.
The Dangers of Inflammation…
With concussion, there’s a lot to worry about, but inflammation really is the biggest risk factor during your ongoing brain recovery. Inflammation in the body can lead to problems regulating your mood as well as poor thinking abilities and brain fog.
Lion’s Mane contains important compounds that fight off this concussion effect. The activity of Hericium Erinaceus (the long name for Lion’s Mane) in your brain encourages you to produce more of something called Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).
This is vital for both restoring and protecting the nerves in your brain and central nervous system that could be damaged by inflammation and trauma in the human body.
This nerve regrowth is essential if you want a speedier and more complete brain injury recovery, but it’s also useful to anyone dealing with poor cognition and other concerns like poor gastrointestinal health.
In fact, Lion’s Mane mushrooms have been scientifically shown to have the ability to aid in nerve regeneration and reverse nervous system injuries, and for anyone dealing with the effects of concussion, that can be an invaluable help.
Using Functional Mushrooms to Support Your Brain Health
If you’re struggling with the symptoms of concussion and want to make sure your brain is getting all the support it can, then Lion’s Mane is one of the best places to start.
What makes this mushroom so great for brain health? Mostly, because it can do so much at once. Once the compounds inside Lion’s Mane enter your brain, it gets to work in a few different ways.
Our starring shroom is known for promoting the formation of new neurons, which has an antidepressant effect. This alone can support the management of low mood disorders and has become a potential alternative treatment for depression and anxiety.
With its anti-inflammatory skills, which are also known to lessen the effects of mood problems, Lion's Mane is a better mood-lifter than your best friend turning up at your door with your favourite snacks!
Now, as if you couldn’t be more impressed by these fantastic fungi abilities, Lion’s Mane has another trick up its mycological sleeve. It can improve your overall cognitive function - or focus and thinking ability.
In a study of men and women diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, the test subjects were given extracts of Lion’s Mane three times a day for 16 weeks.
Their cognitive function improved during the duration of the study with no adverse effects, proving that Lion’s Mane could help those experiencing impaired focus, brain fog, or other mild cognitive impairments.
So, whether your cognitive problems come from concussion or another brain disorder or injury, Lion’s Mane is here to get your brain back on track.
Want to Know More About Lion’s Mane and the Brain?
There’s so much that Lion’s Mane has to offer people recovering from concussion and its often worrying symptoms. The active compounds in this mushroom can give you the benefit of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects all in one natural extract.
But Lion’s Mane can support your brain’s well-being long after you’ve recovered (even faster with this handy functional shroom). If you’d like to find out what else Lion’s Mane can do for your brain and your body, read our previous blogs or visit our 100% fruiting body Lion’s Mane Extract page to get the most out of Lion’s Mane.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom FAQ’s
How Can I Use Lion’s Mane for Concussion?
Lion's Mane mushrooms can be enjoyed raw, dried or cooked in tasty dishes. You can also mix Lion's Mane powder into your coffee or tea as a warm drink. Alternatively, you can take Lion's Mane capsules for extra convenience.
Will Taking Lion’s Mane Give Me Side Effects?
Including Lion’s Mane in your daily routine can provide wonderful benefits for your health. Usually, there are minimal side effects of taking Lion's Mane, and you can find out more here.
What Should I Look for When Buying Lion’s Mane?
After you’ve decided on the way that you’d like to consume Lion’s Mane, you should pay attention to the additives. A lot of products can be overpowered with fillers or bulking agents. At TwentyTwo, we’re conscious of this and have made sure that our Lion’s Mane supplements are 100% Filler Free - Just As Nature Intended.
