The honest answer to “how much lion’s mane should I take” is that it depends on what is in the jar — and most labels do not tell you. Here are the doses used in the human trials, how to convert them to an extract, and a starting point for each format. What the human […]
Lion’s mane is the mushroom people reach for when they want to think more clearly. It is sold as a nootropic, a memory aid, a “brain food” — and most of those pages cite the same handful of studies without telling you how small they were or what was actually in the capsules. This guide […]
Many centuries ago, Amanita muscaria, also known as the fly agaric mushroom, was actively used in traditional medicine. Even today, this mushroom is employed to address certain health issues. When taken in small quantities as a psychoactive substance and practiced in the form of microdosing, Amanita muscaria can lead to improved well-being, stimulate the body’s […]
Many people are familiar with the red fly agaric mushroom as a poisonous mushroom, but few know that it can also be used as a treatment for sexual dysfunction. Rare animal studies show that red fly agaric can improve blood flow to the genitals and increase sexual activity. Increase in general vitality and efficiency, of […]
Microdosing is a method of using psychoactive substances in very small doses that do not cause hallucinations but can have a positive effect on mental state. Amanita DARK (Amanita Pantherina) or Panther fly agaric is a species of mushroom that contains psilocybin, and is one of the most common and studied species for microdosing. In […]
Amanita RED (Amanita Muscaria) microdosing is the practice of consuming small doses of mushrooms that do not cause hallucinations. Mushroom microdoses typically range from 0.05 to 0.5 grams. Mushrooms are known for their psychoactive properties. They contain the hallucinogenic substance muscarine, which can cause hallucinations, altered perception of reality, and other psychoactive effects. When mushroom […]
We don't invent effects. Below are 20 papers from PubMed (National Library of Medicine, USA) covering every mushroom in our range. Each link opens the original study record.
Cognition, NGF, mood
Mori K. et al. · Phytotherapy Research · 2009
In 30 participants aged 50–80, 16 weeks of Lion's Mane powder significantly raised cognitive scale scores versus placebo; the effect declined 4 weeks after they stopped taking it.
PubMed PMID: 18844328Saitsu Y. et al. · Biomedical Research · 2019
Twelve weeks of extract intake was accompanied by improved Benton test and MMSE scores in healthy adults.
PubMed PMID: 31413233Nagano M. et al. · Biomedical Research · 2010
Among women eating Lion's Mane cookies, scores for anxiety, irritation and concentration difficulty went down.
PubMed PMID: 20834180Mori K. et al. · Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin · 2008
Mechanistic work: hericenones raised NGF mRNA expression and protein secretion in cell culture in a dose-dependent way.
PubMed PMID: 18758067
Endurance, oxygen metabolism, immunity
Chen S. et al. · Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · 2010
In healthy older participants, 12 weeks of Cs-4 raised the metabolic and ventilatory thresholds compared with placebo.
PubMed PMID: 20804368Hirsch K.R. et al. · Journal of Dietary Supplements · 2017
Three weeks of a C. militaris-based mushroom blend improved VO₂max and time to exhaustion under high-intensity load.
PubMed PMID: 27408987Das G. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2020
Systematic review of cordycepin and cordyceps polysaccharides: modulation of macrophages, NK cells and the cytokine response.
PubMed PMID: 33628175
Sleep, stress, fatigue, safety
Tang W. et al. · Journal of Medicinal Food · 2005
132 patients: 8 weeks of the extract significantly reduced the sense of fatigue and improved wellbeing relative to placebo.
PubMed PMID: 15857210Zhao H. et al. · Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med. · 2012
In patients on endocrine therapy, 4 weeks of intake improved fatigue, anxiety and quality-of-life scores (FACT-F).
PubMed PMID: 22203880Wachtel-Galor S. et al. · British Journal of Nutrition · 2004
A safety study: 10 days of intake did not alter liver function, kidney function or DNA damage markers, while plasma antioxidant status rose.
PubMed PMID: 14756912Jin X. et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2016
Review of 5 RCTs: reishi is not recommended as a first-line therapy on its own, but showed an effect on immune response as an adjunct.
PubMed PMID: 27045603
Immune response, PSK and PSP polysaccharides
Torkelson C.J. et al. · ISRN Oncology · 2012
Dose-escalation study after radiotherapy: intake was well tolerated and a dose-dependent recovery of immune cell populations was observed.
PubMed PMID: 22701186Eliza W.L. et al. · Recent Pat. Inflamm. Allergy Drug Discov. · 2012
Meta-analysis of 13 RCTs (over 9,000 patients): turkey tail preparations added to standard therapy were associated with lower 5-year mortality.
PubMed PMID: 22185453Study Group of Immunochemotherapy with PSK · The Lancet · 1994
The classic multicentre RCT: adding polysaccharide K to chemotherapy improved 5-year disease-free survival.
PubMed PMID: 7910230
Antioxidants, oxidative stress, polysaccharides
Najafzadeh M. et al. · BioFactors · 2007
In lymphocytes from IBD patients, chaga extract reduced oxidative DNA damage by roughly 54% in an ex vivo experiment.
PubMed PMID: 18997282Glamočlija J. et al. · Journal of Ethnopharmacology · 2015
Comparison of samples from different regions: phenolic acid profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity all depend on where the raw material came from.
PubMed PMID: 25576897Szychowski K.A. et al. · Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine · 2021
Review of composition (betulin, inotodiol, beta-glucans) and the current state of the evidence, including the limits of existing data.
PubMed PMID: 34195023Muscimol, GABA receptors, toxicology
The least studied of the group: there are no human clinical trials, only pharmacological and toxicological work. We present it as is, with no promised effect.
Michelot D., Melendez-Howell L.M. · Mycological Research · 2003
The foundational review: ibotenic acid and muscimol as the main active compounds, how they convert during drying, and dose-dependent toxicity.
PubMed PMID: 12747324Johnston G.A.R. · Neurochemical Research · 2014
Pharmacological analysis: muscimol is a potent GABA-A receptor agonist, widely used as a reference compound in neuropharmacology.
PubMed PMID: 24473816Stebelska K. · Therapeutic Drug Monitoring · 2013
Review of analytical detection methods plus pharmacokinetic and risk-profile data for these fungal alkaloids.
PubMed PMID: 23851905This information is provided for reference, to give scientific context. It does not describe the effects of any Herbalson product. Herbalson products are dietary supplements. They are not medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult a healthcare professional before use.
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