Why You should start taking (and GROWING) Medicinal Mushrooms (Hint, they're all Magic) PART THREE
Lion's Mane: Tasty Medicine for your Brain and nervous system!
In Part two, we discussed the Benefits of Turkey Tail Mushroom.
If you didn't read it yet, you can check it out here: https://steemit.com/health/@ecoknowme/why-you-should-start-taking-and-growing-medicinal-mushrooms-hint-they-re-all-magic-part-two
Now we will be examining Lion's Mane, a mushroom which is special because it is both a powerful medicine, but also a delicious choice edible gourmet mushroom! The taste is somewhere between chicken and lobster and its very easy to include in various dishes or as a vegan/vegetarian meat substitute.
Nice Video From Paul Stamets about Lion's Mane:
WHY should I start including Lion's Mane in my diet or take it as a supplement?
Other than being tasty, fresh or dried, powder from the mycelium or mushroom itself can be put into capsules and taken regularly to help with brain and nervous system function.
A rich source of polysaccarides, vitamins, minerals and special compounds unique to this mushroom help to nourish and regenerate the brain and nervous system. They actually contain Nerve Growth Factors which help the connections in your brain stay strong (you might even be able to remember this article later!) and helps to regenerate damaged or degraded nerve tissue.
So if you suffer from poor memory, lack of mental focus, worry about dementia, alzheimer's or perhaps are dealing with MS, consider trying or learning more about Lion's Mane. Even if you don't care about the health benefits, they are worth a taste.
I had an experience years ago when I biked for 10 days and after the third day, I lost my gloves. Not being a serious cyclist, I didn't see the harm in NOT wearing gloves for the 6- 10 hours I might be on the bike each day. By the time the trip was over, I felt numbness in my left hand all the way up towards my elbow... potential nerve damage from putting all my upper body weight on one side for hours each day on a poorly aligned bike (you shouldn't be leaning forward all the time if your bike is nicely adjusted to your body size). Anyway, I was much younger then and did gradually notice the feeling in my arm return over 6-8 weeks, but for a while there, I was worried I might have done serious damage. I wish I had known about this mushroom then, since it might have helped to speed up my recovery.
You can grow this mushroom, but unlike Turkey Tail, or maybe Oyster mushroom, which are REALLY EASY for beginner's to grow, Lion's Mane is probably easiest to start from a simple Spawn Bag
If you have the right type of tree species, you can also use wood dowels.
They are a bit costly at the market though, so growing them could be your ticket to tasty gourmet meals that will be the envy of your friends and neighbors.
Just follow the instructions and you should see fruiting bodies form in a week or so.
Wish I had some now! a little olive oil and garlic.... yummy!
To Your Health!
Awesome. I've been taking lion's mane mushroom almost daily for about 20 days and definitely starting to feel the benefits to my focus and it even seems to have enhanced my senses. Definitely following you to see more of these!
I have been taking them for a few weeks. What dose do you take on a daily basis? I haven't found too much online on what is a good dose if even known.
I generally put about a teaspoon of powdered Lion's Mane in my mushroom tea decoction and then I drink up to half of that in a day. One thing to consider is that Lion's Mane is a gourmet mushroom that people will cook and eat in various dishes. In these cases, the person eating the meal would generally consume a lot more than half a teaspoon of the mushroom in a single sitting, although they usually wouldn't be doing it every day. With that in mind, I don't think it's something you need to be super cautious about. For a daily dose, half a teaspoon is plenty in my experience. What dose have you been taking these past few weeks and have you noticed any difference in your focus or mental energy?
I mix it up. Sometimes I take 3-4 capsules a day. I take the ones from fungi.com. I use other ones as well for immune system. I have gone without a cold all winter, so they could be helping with that. I have been studying more at work since taking them, but it's hard to say. I've also been motivated to learn more lately. I think I'd have to take them consistently for a few months, and then see how I feel going off of them. I'd really like to grow my own and eat them as I like to cook. I've been reading on how to do it.
thanks @jeremycrow ! Like an elf in a video game, you get a prize, just for commenting! But instead of one, here are a few: Brahmi/Gotu Kola, Rhodiola are amazing brain tonics in plant kingdom and I'll be writing the next one about Cordyceps, one of my all time favorites. Rhodiola I only just heard about and started taking but after researching it for a few days I see why I (and many people) have never heard of it! Brahmi is also nice since it improves circulation to the brain. I also wrote a brief article about He Shou Wu. I know some are not mushrooms, but if brain focus, clarity, concentration and attention span (not to mention mood!) are things you are considering biohacking with safe, tried and tested ancient herbs from the world, then you may want to check them out too. To your clear mind! Cheers @ecoknowme
Excellent! I am interested indeed! In fact, there is a Vitamin-B Complex that I take called "B-Calm" which has Rhodiola in it. Also, I take another supplement which combines 17 different medicinal mushrooms, including both Lion's Mane and Cordyceps. I'll have to check out Brahmi/Gotu Kola as well as He Shou Wu. Thanks for the leads!
and another nice recipe: http://www.randwich.es/blog/2015/10/19/pan-fried-lions-mane-mushroom Sometimes the simpler, the better