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FOREWORD

This article is essentially a comparative study that will attempt to delineate how the Lion’s Mane fungus repairs brain damage from MDMA use, by drawing upon a selection of different research projects from the last decade or so. However, perceiving matters such as this within a myopic, isolated frame is a mistake that we should avoid because it actually overlaps with numerous other cultural issues.

For example, amphetamine use and its lasting side effects may be something you have never experienced and therefore find un-relatable, yet there are many similar pathways and mechanisms that can lead to the same neurotoxic outcomes. In truth, the problem of MDMA-induced nerve damage is a shard from a very fractured cultural tapestry with many interdependent parts, so we must attempt to preface this subject with a global context in order to provide a more holistic reference point.

In the world today, chronic pain, inflammation as well as cognitive and emotional disorders like anxiety, depression and a high susceptibility to stress, have all become systemic problems that are experienced by an enormous quantity of people throughout all cultures. It is a state of ongoing hyper-stimulation, and there are many intersecting reasons why this phenomenon is so widespread, legitimately reaching pandemic proportions.

Culturally speaking, we are living in a time when we intellectualize literally everything, spending most of our time dwelling within the incessant activity of our minds and rarely inhabiting the physical body or its surrounding environment. This creates a perpetual state of dissonance and causes a rising internal tension to begin accumulating, forcing daily life to be so much more complicated than it needs to be.

The simplicity of our existence has become marred by an assortment of modern phenomena; the global narrative of mainstream media, our dependency on the internet and mobile devices, algorithm-dictated behavior and the subsequent social disconnection between people, the side effects from long term medication, as well as amassing emotional trauma and the various forms of addiction we utilize as a means of coping… All of these things are roots from which this hyper-vigilant, stress-induced inflammatory dynamic can grow, and are a common among all people, regardless of drug use or complete sobriety.

Objectively speaking, the massive increase in neurodivergent diagnoses is indeed a very positive thing, yet it does bring with it a proportionate increase in pharmaceutical drug dependency, and as time passes we must also face the reality that ongoing treatment with certain drugs presents seemingly permanent changes to the structure and function of the central nervous system. Of particular importance to this discussion is the collateral damage inflicted by nervous system stimulants like amphetamines, regardless of whether it stems from a medical or recreational origin.

Within their legal jurisdiction, amphetamines are neuro-stimulant drugs that are used in the treatment of conditions like narcolepsy (sleep disorder), attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD), and some countries prescribe these drugs for binge eating disorders and for depression. In the US alone, more than 16 million adults are using prescription amphetamines every year, and since the broad increase in diagnosis of conditions like ADHD, the amount of children aged between 3 and 17 that have been prescribed amphetamines like Adderall has also increased exponentially.

Aside from medical prescriptions, amphetamines are enormously popular as recreational drugs. Of course they are closely associated with partying, nightlife and enhancing the social experience, but these drugs are also used by millions of people as a means of self-medicating – attempting to relieve pre-existing cognitive and emotional hardships. The relief can feel both thorough and immediate, yet this experience is short-lived and for those in search of respite, the tendency to reuse as a coping strategy can be very enticing.

In this article we will focus our attention on one amphetamine in particular – 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, otherwise known as MDMA, which is a Schedule I illegal drug in most countries. This means that there is very limited funding available (almost none whatsoever) in researching the potential benefits or harmful side effects of MDMA use, because it is deemed to possess no medical benefits (which is not entirely true).

Yet despite this, it has been a popular recreational drug since the late 1980’s. According to the European Union Drugs Agency, there were approximately 20 million MDMA users globally throughout the year of 2022 alone (a conservative estimate), and that figure is expected to increase by 8% per year until 2029.  This data can be reviewed HERE.

The side effects (especially from repeated use) pose substantial problems to cognitive function, causing the large scale death of neurons and the desolation of serotonin and dopamine nerve terminals, which unavoidably results in chronic anxiety, depression and impulsive behavior. With limited research available, individuals can suffer from the after-effects of MDMA use for the rest of their lives, sometimes receiving endless misdiagnoses and never fully understanding that many of their symptoms are the result of permanent nerve damage to parts of the brain that are involved in reward processing, emotional regulation and a healthy circadian rhythm. 

However, there are natural methods to begin reversing and repairing much of this seemingly ineradicable nerve damage, and the Lion’s Mane fungus is one such option, possessing an array of potential benefits that directly address this specific problem. The following article is essentially a comparative study examining the findings of different research projects throughout the last decade.

We will examine how MDMA affects the central nervous system and how this negatively impacts the brain long term. Then we will draw upon recent studies to discern exactly how bio-active compounds within the Lion’s Mane fungus can recover lost neurological function and support neurotransmitter homeostasis, leading to a potential reversal of symptoms. Due to the sensitive nature of this subject, it has become increasingly difficult to share this on any social platform without being heavily censored, so I have chosen to self-publish it in an attempt to make this information freely available. I hope that anybody who needs this information will now be able to find it.

How the Lion’s Mane Fungus Repairs Brain Damage from MDMA Use

HERICIUM ERINACEUS – A MODERN BREAKTHROUGH IN NEUROSCIENCE

Throughout the last three decades, the Lion’s Mane fungus (Hericium erinaceus) has become increasingly synonymous with the regeneration of the nervous system. Despite thousands of years of recorded use in Taoist herbalism, its role as a neurotrophic agent wasn’t identified until the 1990’s, so Lion’s Mane’s celebrated neurological advantages are in fact a relatively novel discovery, but one that is conclusively supported by an abundance of scientific research. Both pre-clinical and human studies continue to elucidate its mechanisms of action in protecting the functional integrity of the nervous system.

Broadly speaking, this fungus operates via two main branches as a neurological agent; it is neurotrophic, which means it stimulates the growth, development and maintenance of neurons in the brain, and it is also neuro-protective, which refers to its ability to safeguard the structure and function of neurons from a variety of degenerative factors. These effects primarily result from two groups of unique compounds; firstly there is a family of diterpenoids called erinacines, which exist solely within the mycelium, and secondly a family of benzaldehydes named hericenones, which are found exclusively within the mushroom fruiting body. 

Both erinacines and hericenones stimulate the synthesis of neurotrophins within the body; peptides such as nerve-growth-factor (NGF) and brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor (BDNF), both of which are responsible for the growth, repair and survival of neurons in the brain and central nervous system. 

Naturally, this has led to a number of important medical revelations, not least Lion’s Mane’s role as a potential treatment for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. It is also very promising as a support for learning – improving memory, sustained focus and even augmenting language acquisition. 

However, Lion’s Mane possesses a wide range of medical applications that extend beyond the scope of commonly diagnosed neurological disorders. It can also address many of the toxic side effects from prescription and recreational drug usage – not least amphetamines – which remains a controversial and often heavily stigmatized realm of nerve-disease etymology to this day. However, drug-induced nerve damage is actually no less widespread than the aforementioned diseases whose origins are accepted as naturally occurring and age-related. 

MDMA – AN AMPHETAMINE THAT CAN RESHAPE THE COGNITIVE LANDSCAPE

Drugs such as MDMA are used in a clinical setting in some countries as part of a treatment for post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD), although in general, MDMA is a Schedule I illegal drug with a high potential for misuse. MDMA can provide a strong increase to short term energy levels, it creates states of euphoria and enhances the experiences of empathy and social bonding. For these reasons mentioned, it has been a very popular recreational drug since the late 1980’s, most commonly known as Ecstasy (in the UK) or Molly (in the US).

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime, in 2023 alone, 31 million people worldwide used amphetamine-type substances like MDMA. This statistic applies to recreational use only and does not include those taking amphetamines as prescription drugs. This data on amphetamine use can be reviewed HERE.

So clearly, the popularity of drugs like MDMA persists to this day, and the long term side effects of using it will be felt by tens of millions of people every year. When you multiply that by four to five decades, it becomes clear that although somewhat obscured from mainstream society, either through medicating mental illness or through recreational drug use in counter-culture, this issue has already reached catastrophic proportions. But what are the potential side effects?

Well, to gain a better understanding of the problems that can arise from MDMA use, we must first look at what happens to the brain when someone ingests it. MDMA is a strong excitant to the central nervous system, stimulating the activity of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. In addition to this, MDMA blocks the re-uptake of these chemicals, ensuring that high concentrations remain active in the bloodstream for many hours. 

As extremely high levels of serotonin flood the brain, feelings of joy, euphoria and emotional warmth increase dramatically. The elevated levels of dopamine cause sensations of reward and fulfillment. The spike in norepinephrine increases heart rate, blood pressure and raises body temperature. These are the immediate effects, but what are the potential long term consequences?

THE GLUTAMATE-GABA-GLUTAMINE COMPLEX

The three primary neurotransmitters that MDMA stimulates (serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine) all help to modulate the activity of a metabolic pathway in the brain called the glutamate-GABA-glutamine complex. This is a signaling pathway that is absolutely vital for healthy brain function, and its relation to MDMA use was covered extensively by Zimmermann et al in volume 26 of the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology in 2023. This particular chapter from the journal can be read in full right HERE.

In simple terms, glutamate is the most abundant amino acid in the whole body, and it is also a powerful neurotransmitter. In fact, glutamate is responsible for over 90% of all excitatory functions within the brain. So clearly, glutamate is very stimulating to the nervous system – it is essentially a kind of ‘master key’ that can unlock a multitude of different nerve cell receptors. In this way, glutamate plays a managerial role in coordinating the activity of many different neurotransmitters. 

Conversely, glutamate is also needed to create the ‘calming’ neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric-acid (GABA). GABA is involved in the regulation of anxiety, the proper functioning of muscle fibers, and it facilitates deep relaxation and helps to shape our circadian rhythm. So the amino acid glutamate is responsible for producing both the stimulatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters – it creates both ends of the neurological spectrum, and is therefore critical in maintaining stable operations within the brain.

After carrying out its initial function (whether stimulating or inhibiting nerve functions), glial cells within the brain then recycle glutamate into a different amino acid called glutamine. Glutamine is stored in muscle tissue and in the lungs, and supports immune function and digestion, but it can also be easily converted back into glutamate again when the brain demands it. 

So the balance between glutamate, GABA and glutamine is critically important – the body must be able to convert glutamate into GABA whenever necessary, and both glutamate and GABA must both be recycled into glutamine after completing their respective functions. The basic infrastructure of the glutamate-GABA-glutamine complex is actually fairly simple, but its ramifications are intricate and far-reaching.

Through this cycle of neurological regulation, the body makes sure that glutamate, GABA and glutamine do not accumulate excessively, nor do any of them operate from deficiency. This point must be heavily underscored – homeostasis of the glutamate-GABA-glutamine complex is absolutely paramount in the health of the brain and central nervous system.

If levels of glutamate become elevated, it causes neurons to become chronically excited, which ultimately results in nerve damage and at worst, neuronal death. The communication matrix of neurological signaling becomes interrupted and entire nerve pathways are destroyed. This process is associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, as well as Parkinson’s disease. Elevated glutamate can also increase the risk of stroke. Mood disorders, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and even autism and schizophrenia all have an inherent relationship to high glutamate levels. 

On the other hand, glutamate deficiency is inextricably linked to chronic fatigue and mental/emotional exhaustion, an inability to concentrate and also to sleep disorders. So again, regulating the balance between glutamate, GABA and glutamine is crucial on so many metabolic levels – all of them fundamental to our wellbeing… but what does any of this have to do with MDMA?

MDMA – HACKING & REWRITING OUR EMOTIONAL SOFTWARE

Serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine all play a role in modulating the activity of the glutamate-GABA-glutamine complex, principally because they are all activated by plugging into exactly the same cell receptors. For example, when MDMA causes an enormous increase in serotonin, it correspondingly enhances the release of glutamate which upsets the delicate balance between glutamate and GABA. This fundamentally disturbs the equilibrium between stimulation and suppression – placing heavy emphasis on the excitatory end of the spectrum and reducing the amount of GABA available to the brain. Becoming suddenly locked into hyper-stimulation like this, the signaling transmission within the brain gets completely rewired towards habitual excitation.

In vivo research and human clinical studies have shown that repeated use of MDMA increases concentrations of glutamate in the corpus striatum – a region of the brain that is responsible for coordinating motor control, decision making and reward processing. As excessive levels of glutamate reach the point of toxicity in the striatum, it can have an effect on emotional stability and in particular, impulsive behavior. 

Increased glutamate concentrations within the striatum are closely associated with elevated levels of dopamine, but only in response to hyper-stimulating activity, but what does this mean exactly? Well, as the emotional infrastructure begins to change in response to ongoing MDMA use, the striatum becomes unable to process the normal reward mechanisms of dopamine, unless it is in relation to extreme, abrupt behavior. 

As the MDMA user becomes less able to feel a sense of reward and fulfillment from ‘normal’, healthy conduct, they feel compelled to engage in excessive, impulsive activity because the brain cannot find the sensation of reward any other way.  In the simplest of terms, MDMA has caused the brain to experience overwhelming joy and fulfillment without having to do anything to really ‘earn’ those sensations. Once the drug wears off it becomes exceedingly difficult to access these emotional states, so the brain feels the urge to look unnaturally further afield in pursuit of these chemical rewards.

This explains the tendency towards destructive, emotional outbursts in people that have used moderate to high doses of MDMA multiple times, because the brain has become conditioned to only feel a sense of accomplishment this way. The acute over-stimulation of serotonin and dopamine neurons results in oxidative stress which can cause critical damage to mitochondria – the cellular organelles that are principally responsible for energy metabolism.

As the metabolism of nerve cells deteriorates, it causes a substantial loss of serotonin and dopamine nerve terminals, which reduces the brain’s ability to circulate these neurotransmitters effectively. In short, once the drug has been metabolized and the initial effects subside, it becomes increasingly difficult to access natural sensations of happiness and fulfillment. This inhibits our innate capacity for experiencing pleasure, making a chronic depressive state the default setting.

The drug over-delivers for five hours or so, then suddenly leaves the brain chemically bereft. This also explains the rewiring of the striatum, causing the reward of dopamine to only be released in relation to impulsivity. The sensations of contentment become ever-more elusive through more natural, healthy behavior, which causes individuals to search for positive feedback through more radical measures.

Another important consideration here is that glutamate plays an essential role in muscle contraction, and we must remember that the striatum is involved in motor control and physical coordination. The striatum helps to regulate voluntary contractions of the skeletal muscles. So, when high glutamate levels persist, it can interfere greatly with muscle contraction due to excessive stimulation of muscle fibers, causing involuntary spasms of muscle tissue which can lead to chronic pain and stiffness.

So in no uncertain terms, we are talking about a type of brain damage – the extent of which will depend upon the individual and their history of using MDMA. When our cognitive and emotional faculties become reconfigured in response to MDMA use, it can deplete our emotional wellbeing and create long term depressive states. Our ability to communicate can become negatively impacted due to overwhelming social anxiety.

We can lose our agency in emotional regulation, which causes unpredictable and irregular behavior. Chronic excitation of neurons paired with a deficiency of GABA can result in sleep disturbances that inhibit the brain from the natural processes of healing and recovery. There is also the very real possibility that we can be living in chronic pain due to chemical imbalances within tissues, creating painful spasms even when muscles are not in use.

The combination of these symptoms can lead to destructive coping mechanisms, such as alcoholism and the use of both prescription and recreational drugs, in an attempt to manage the experiences of anxiety, depression and unyielding sensations of physical discomfort. This is the reality that millions of people are already experiencing, and without a comprehensive understanding of these interdependent factors, misdiagnosis and improper treatment can abound, further compounding the problem. Without realizing that amphetamine use is a primary cause, methods of resolving the issue can feel non-existent. Overstimulation, exhaustion and destructive ways of managing the symptoms are commonly the foundation that people are operating from.

LION’S MANE HEALS DRUG-INDUCED BRAIN DAMAGE

The possible solutions to this scenario are manifold, with nutrition, lifestyle and behavioral therapies all playing a significant role. However, severe limitations to healing and recovery will endure, because at the root of these consequences is lasting damage to the central nervous system. If our operating system remains compromised, our attempts at recovery will likewise be hindered. However, if the loss of serotonin and dopamine nerve terminals could be reconstructed, and homeostasis to the glutamate-GABA-glutamine complex could be restored, it would be possible to create greater stability within the cerebral striatum. This would enable a gradual reversal to many of these neurotoxic symptoms and side effects, but how might this be achieved?

Well to begin with, an in vitro study was undertaken in 2015 at the Research Institute of Biotechnology in Taiwan, which focused on the erinacines in Lion’s Mane mycelium and their ability to protect the normal functioning of nerve cells that are immersed in a high glutamate environment. You can read the full study HERE.

Excessive glutamate levels produce a dramatic increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are highly reactive molecules that cause oxidative damage to surrounding cells. As the cells become compromised, a signaling pathway known as the ROS-caspase pathway becomes activated, which prompts the release of caspase enzymes into the cell, and these enzymes cause the cell to self destruct. This phenomenon is called apoptosis, which is the name attributed to the process of the body deliberately destroying its own damaged cells. 

While observing this glutamate-induced apoptosis of nerve cells, the researchers introduced an ethanol extract of Lion’s Mane mycelium into the cell environment. The extract was rich in erinacines (diterpenoids that are both neurotrophic and neuro-protective), and what ensued was a sudden and substantial increase in both glutathione and superoxide dismutase – master antioxidant enzymes that quickly and effectively suppressed the activity of the ROS-caspase pathway. These antioxidants were observed to neutralize the oxidative stress and directly inhibit the process of apoptosis. In short, erinacines comprehensively reversed the cycle of nerve destruction that is caused by the excessive presence of glutamate. 

One year after that study was published, another in vivo study was conducted at the School of Life Sciences at Jilin University in China, which explored hot water extracts of Lion’s Mane mycelium and their ability to prevent nerve damage when exposed to high glutamate levels. The complete study can be found HERE. In a dose dependent manner, Lion’s Mane extracts rich in complex polysaccharides were able to suppress the accumulation of reactive oxygen species within nerve cells, which protected the mitochondria and allowed normal cellular metabolism to continue. As the process of apoptosis was suppressed, the affected nerve cells were able to maintain healthy functioning, despite prevailing high levels of glutamate in the surrounding environment.

A few years ago in 2022, another study by Pei-Chien Hsu et al at the National Institute of Physiology in Taiwan, investigated the role of Erinacine A (the most abundant diterpenoid in Lion’s Mane mycelium) and its role in treating ischemic brain injury. This study can be reviewed right HERE.

This research was a combination of in vitro and in vivo testing, and the results highlighted two remedial outcomes. Firstly, in response to the chronic inflammation caused by excessive glutamate levels in the brain, Erinacine A was shown to significantly improve the survival of neurons because it inhibited the activity of two pro-inflammatory signaling pathways (NFkB and AKT). This anti-inflammatory action protected the structure and function of nerve cells that would have otherwise suffered irreversible damage. 

Secondly, Erinacine A revealed an ability to ameliorate glutamate toxicity specifically. There is a protein in the brain called Glutamate Transporter 1 (GLT-1), whose primary job is to bind to glutamate and prevent it from building up excessively. In fact, GLT-1 is responsible for over 90% of glutamate re-uptake throughout the entire nervous system, and when we see elevated glutamate levels, we also see that GLT-1 has been down-regulated, unable to metabolize glutamate efficiently. Erinacine A was directly able to attenuate the inhibition of GLT-1, keeping this protein active and as a result, regulating the excito-toxicity of glutamate within the brain. Activating the GLT-1 protein in this way diametrically opposes the toxic accumulation of glutamate caused by MDMA use/abuse.

SPECIFIC MECHANISMS OF ACTION

When discussing how Lion’s Mane can benefit any neurological disorder, people will typically mention nerve-growth-factor (NGF) synthesis as the only point of reference, which is not always sufficient in understanding whether Lion’s Mane can treat a specific condition or not. NGF synthesis is of course a primary component of this medicine, but there exists such an extensive body of research on the neurotrophic and neuro-protective properties of this fungus, that we now have a much more detailed understanding of the specific mechanisms of action.

As we can see from the studies mentioned above, extracts of Lion’s Mane that are rich in unique, bioactive compounds can respond to amphetamine-induced nerve damage from a multitude of different angles. As part of an overall recovery protocol, Lion’s Mane could potentially revolutionize the healing process by reversing the toxic metabolic responses that MDMA causes, steadily attenuating many of the resulting symptoms.

This is quite a lot of information to take in, so let’s quickly summarize what we have covered so far and try to tie it all together:

Post-MDMA brain damage often results in chronic stress and anxiety, emotional impulsivity and destructive behavior, depression and deep rooted feelings of despondency, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, chronic pain and muscle stiffness and difficulty with memory retention. At the root of all of these issues lies an extreme imbalance within the glutamate-GABA-glutamine complex, which causes chronic hyper-stimulation and leads to nerve damage and the premature death of neurons. The Lion’s Mane fungus offers an arsenal of therapeutic actions that directly oppose many of these pathologies, helping to restore homeostasis to the glutamate-GABA-glutamine complex and inhibiting the destruction of healthy neurons. Current research has proven that Lion’s Mane possesses the following actions:

The Lion’s Mane fungus possesses numerous attributes that improve and protect neurological function, from stimulating myelin synthesis to inhibiting apoptosis. Promoting neurogenesis can enable new nerve pathways to be constructed more quickly and efficiently. This is why Lion’s Mane is now widely regarded as a legitimate treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, but these properties are equally relevant in the treatment of amphetamine-induced nerve damage as well.

SUPPLEMENTING WITH LION’S MANE

As amphetamine use continues to increase exponentially in both prescription and recreational use, there is no denying that these stimulants have become important cultural landmarks, leaving a trail of neurological devastation in their wake. Potential solutions to this aftermath do exist, and the Lion’s Mane fungus is one such viable option – it is both effective and widely available. With the increase in popularity of functional mushrooms, there has been a corresponding explosion in the number of mushroom products available. At first this may seem like a very positive development…

However, when we assess the necessary criteria for creating an effective product – such as cultivation and extraction methods that guarantee quality and potency – it is painfully clear that the majority of these supplement companies have prioritized colorful and emotionally persuasive branding, with little-to-no emphasis placed on creating a therapeutically meaningful product. All too often, the marketing provides the illusion of quality, which simply serves to obscure the fact that the supplement itself has been produced very quickly at a very low cost, resulting in a product with limited medicinal utility.

So how can we tell if a Lion’s Mane product will actually deliver the neurological benefits we are expecting it to? Well first of all, we must gain a rudimentary understanding of how Lion’s Mane interacts with the nervous system. This fungus possesses hundreds of different nutrients with medicinal properties, but as mentioned earlier, there are two main groups of compounds (erinacines and hericenones) that provide all of the neurotrophic and neuro-protective properties…

So let’s take a brief look at both of these compounds – firstly, erinacines are diterpenoids that are found exclusively within the mycelium of this fungus. Erinacines are the primary components in stimulating NGF and BDNF synthesis. Currently fifteen different erinacines have been identified and all of them are able to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Secondly we have hericenones, which are chemically different to erinacines but they do present very similar medicinal attributes. Hericenones are benzaldehydes and are located solely within the fruiting body, which is the reproductive part of the fungus – the actual ‘mushroom’. A total of eleven different hericenones have been identified and like erinacines, all of them can cross the blood-brain barrier. They also stimulate nerve-growth-factor (NGF) and brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor (BDNF) synthesis, but to a lesser degree than erinacines, although they possess other important properties that strengthen to overall regenerative effects to the nervous system.

These two groups of compounds collaborate synergistically for a more complete result – combined, they not only promote the growth and maintenance of neurons and their protective myelin sheath, but they also help to regulate levels of nitric oxide, regulate inflammatory pathways and enhance digestion and assimilation of the medicine through prebiotic and gastro-protective properties. The marriage between erinacines and hericenones is the optimal form of this medicine if nerve regeneration is the desired outcome. Therefore, an effective medicine must be crafted from the entire fungus – the source material should ideally comprise both the fruiting body and mycelium.

In the wild, Lion’s Mane grows on hardwood trees such as Beech, Oak, Maple and Birch, and the best method of cultivating the fruiting body should reflect this, with the mushroom being grown organically on a hardwood substrate. Ultimately this will create the most diverse and complete nutrient profile with the broadest assortment of therapeutic compounds, including the full spectrum of hericenones.

In order to harness the complete range of erinacines however, we must cultivate the mycelium of this species through the process of liquid fermentation. This is the only method of cultivation that produces a 100% pure and potent source of the fungal mycelium that is rich in the full spectrum of erinacines. The majority of brands do not utilize the mycelium at all and work solely with the fruiting body, which contains no erinacines and as such is not an effective product at all.

The select number of brands that do use the mycelium, mostly use mycelial biomass, which is grown on a solid substrate and the finished product is simply mycelium infused with grain, wood or some other substrate that we really don’t want to be ingesting. This renders the mycelium nutritionally poor, medicinally impotent and incredibly low in bioavailable erinacines. It is very cheap to produce though, so here we have our answer as to why many brands take this route. Liquid fermentation is literally the one and only method for creating a therapeutically rich mycelium extract with a strong and complex presence of erinacines, completely free from substrate and other useless additives.

So when choosing a Lion’s Mane product, remember this:

These three criteria are absolutely non-negotiable when selecting a Lion’s Mane extract with high therapeutic utility. If a product does not specify the percentages of both erinacines and hericenones, then there is a strong likelihood that it doesn’t contain either of them and the quality of the product must immediately be called into question. This is a crucially important filter to assess the quality of all Lion’s Mane products, because nearly all of the current brands talk a lot about the neurological benefits of this fungus in their marketing, yet do not create their products accordingly, and thus do not provide clear percentages of erinacines or hericenones.

Buy Nyishar Lion’s Mane Sovereign Extract Here

The Nyishar Lion’s Mane Sovereign extract is created from the organically cultivated wood-grown fruiting body and the liquid fermented mycelium, and as a result possesses medically significant quantities of both erinacines and hericenones, as well as immune-modulating beta-glucans and triterpenes. After harvesting the liquid fermented mycelium at peak maturity, it then undergoes an alcohol extraction in order to capture all of the erinacines and render them bioavailable to human consumption.

The organic, wood-grown fruiting body is also harvested at exactly the right moment and then subjected to a hot water extraction, which pulls out the full spectrum of hericenones as well as other important compounds such as polyphenols and beta-glucans. The extraction process is repeated multiple times to ensure the maximum amount of bio-active compounds have been captured. These two separate extracts are combined and then spray-freeze-dried to produce a rich and potent extract powder that is completely free from any fillers or additives – just pure medicine.

We have created this product to the highest specifications currently possible, because the medicinal efficacy of this extract is our one and only priority. However, any product that adheres to the three criteria listed above is likely to be an effective and reliable extract, so you don’t necessarily have to buy from us, but if a product does not pass one or more of the criteria listed above, then we cannot expect it to deliver the neurotrophic results we have been discussing here. The presence of erinacines and hericenones is absolutely essential in receiving any of these regenerative benefits for the nervous system.

SOURCE REFERENCES

• European Union Drugs Agency: MDMA – Global Context
• United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime: Key Findings
• International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology: MDMA is Related to Glutamate & GABA Concentrations in the Striatum
• Hericium Erinaceus Mycelia and its Neuroprotective Bioactivity Against Glutamate-Insulted Apoptosis
• The Neuroprotective Properties of Hericium Erinaceus in Glutamate-Damaged Differentiated PC12 Cells
• Erinacine A Attenuates Glutamate Transporter 1 Down-Regulation & Protects Against Ischemic Brain Injury