Origin & tradition
Hou Tou Gu (猴头菇) has long been eaten in China as a food and digestive tonic; modern interest centers on the brain.
Eastern tradition · Functional Mushroom
Lion's Mane 猴头菇
An edible mushroom studied for nerve-growth-factor support and cognitive healthspan.
16ClinicalTrials.gov matched
5PubMed RCT records
4Meta-analysis records
1+PubMed records
Hericenones & erinacinesKey active compound
Data definition. Matched records include all indexed medical endpoints for this intervention — not only longevity. Longevity-relevant records are screened separately and cited in the evidence summary below. Counts are matched-record volumes, not de-duplicated trials and not efficacy claims.
Why longevity buyers care
Key active: Hericenones & erinacines (botanical extract).
Hericenones and erinacines can stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) in models; small human trials suggest cognitive benefit in older adults and mild cognitive impairment.
Effect summary
Studied health outcomes
Editorial summary — This table is curated by hand from published research consensus, not automatically calculated from our trial database. Grades reflect our interpretation of the literature. Treat as a starting point, not a definitive verdict. See the Evidence panel below for the underlying trial and paper counts sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed.
| Health outcome | Effect | Magnitude | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive function (mild cognitive impairment) | Increases | Moderate | B |
| Nerve growth factor (NGF) markers | Increases | Moderate | B |
| Depression / anxiety scores | Decreases | Moderate | B |
| Gut function / microbiome | Increases | Minor | C |
| Sleep quality | Increases | Minor | C |
Grade: A = robust RCTs · B = several RCTs / meta-analysis · C = limited or mixed RCTs · D = observational or early data
Dosage guidance
How Lion's Mane is typically used
- Typical dose
- 500–3,000 mg/day
- Form
- fruiting body extract (hot-water or dual extract) or mycelium
- Timing
- any time; morning preferred for cognitive effects
Look for fruiting body extracts — many products use mycelium-on-grain with high starch content and low active compounds. Hericenones (fruiting body) and erinacines (mycelium) both stimulate NGF. Studies typically run 8–16 weeks.
Informational only — not a prescription or personalised medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement or medication.
Evidence summary
What the research actually says
71Evidence confidence
Early / limited human trials5 randomized controlled trials · 4 meta-analyses / systematic reviews
Small human cognition RCTs; NGF mechanism
Hericenones and erinacines can stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) in models; small human trials suggest cognitive benefit in older adults and mild cognitive impairment.
16registered clinical trials reference this intervention
1selected from 1+ PubMed papers (longevity / aging angle)
Key active: Hericenones & erinacines (botanical extract) — a multi-compound botanical extract, so activity is not reducible to a single molecule.
According to PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov: trial counts from ClinicalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed literature from PubMed. Counts auto-refresh weekly; last checked 2026-07-19. They include trials across many endpoints, not only longevity.
Informational only — not medical advice, a treatment claim, or a substitute for a qualified clinician. Evidence strength varies; we show mixed and null results on purpose.
Evidence collections
Lion's Mane appears in
Compare the evidence
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