Lion’s mane mushrooms have anti-inflammatory properties, speed up the wound-healing process, and appear to stabilize hormones. All of which helps acne. Let’s take a look at the extent to which lion’s mane can improve acne symptoms.

Article Jumplinks:

What are the benefits of lion’s mane?

What are the negative effects of lion’s mane?

Is lion’s mane good for acne?

What does lion’s mane do to hormones?

What benefits does lion’s mane have for the skin?

How much lion’s mane should you take for acne?

How can you take lion's mane mushrooms for acne?

What Is Lion’s Mane?

The lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus, Yamabushitake) is an adaptogenic mushroom that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. This fungus is among the healthiest mushrooms you can consume thanks to the benefits it provides for physical and mental health. 

Lion’s Mane Benefits

Research on the health benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms indicates this fungus has the potential to promote the production of nerve growth factor (NGF) proteins and repair brain cells. Lion’s mane also appears to lower blood sugar levels, prevent memory loss, fight chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, and reduce symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Some of the apparent health benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms include:

• reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression
• reduces inflammation and oxidation
• improves cognitive functioning
• has a protective effect on the brain and improves overall brain health
• reduces the risk of heart disease and blood clots
• prevents memory loss and protects against mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease
• lowers blood sugar levels
• combats sleep disorders
• encourages apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells
• reduces symptoms of bowel disease and stomach ulcers
• boosts the immune system and improves overall immune function
• has neuroprotective properties and reduces brain damage in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis

Lion’s Mane Spiritual Benefits

Lion's mane mushrooms appear to have substantial spiritual benefits. These mushrooms enhance focus and memory, aid in the reduction of anxiety and depression, and improve overall mental health. In ancient China, Shaolin monks used Hericium erinaceus in daily practice to improve their concentration, as they believed it increased their "Qi," a mystical, energetic life force.

Lion’s Mane Side Effects

There are no known side effects of lion’s mane mushrooms. Although there are no human studies on the negative effects of Hericium erinaceus, animal studies, anecdotal evidence, and centuries of use suggest that lion’s mane is completely safe to eat.

Is Lion’s Mane Good for Acne?

There is no human research on the beneficial effect of Hericium erinaceus on acne, but evidence based on animal research suggests that lion’s mane can treat the condition.

A study published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms examined wound-healing properties of lion’s mane on rats. The animals were topically treated with a Hericium erinaceus aqueous extract. Results show that this mushroom has the ability to speed up the wound-healing process in animals, and likely produces the same effect in humans.

In addition to speeding up the healing of acne, lion’s mane provides skin benefits and alleviates acne through its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to stabilize hormones.

How Does Lion’s Mane Help With Hormones?

Hormonal acne is common among young people and notoriously hard to get rid of. Adaptogenic mushrooms, and lion’s mane especially, appear to stabilize hormone levels in the body, which could aid in the treatment of hormonal acne.

Hericium erinaceus appears to stimulate neurogenesis and is a known nootropic. This mushroom contains compounds that promote the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factors. BDNF, in turn, regulates the production of hypothalamic hormones (growth hormone, vasopressin, adrenocorticotropic hormones, and more).

Therefore, by stimulating BDNF, these adaptogenic mushrooms may regulate the production of certain hormones. This warrants further human research on the effects of this mushroom on hormones (estrogen and progesterone) associated with acne.

Is Lion’s Mane Good for Your Skin?

Lion’s mane has anti-aging effects on the skin, provides a healthy dose of antioxidants, and appears to treat many skin issues. Acne and other skin conditions are commonly caused by inflammation, and lion’s mane has incredible anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s not hard to see why this mushroom is among the best mushrooms for your skin.

For example, the results of a 2015 study on the anti-inflammatory effects of Hericium erinaceus indicate that lion’s mane exhibited anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition of TLR4-JNK signaling.

The TLR4-JNK pathway promotes inflammation, according to a 2019 study. By inhibiting TLR4-JNK signaling, lion's mane seems to lessen inflammation levels, which could alleviate acne caused by inflammatory processes in the body.

Which Mushroom Is Best for Acne?

There is no undisputed champion when it comes to mushrooms for acne. However, some adaptogenic mushrooms that have proven benefits when it comes to acne treatment and overall skin care are:

• reishi mushrooms
• chaga mushrooms
• lion’s mane mushrooms
• shiitake mushrooms
• the snow mushroom

If you are taking mushrooms for acne, we suggest taking two or three types of mushroom extracts at once. For example, try our Forij granola for your daily dose of lion’s mane in addition to taking chaga or reishi mushrooms.

Interested in Taking Lion’s Mane for Acne?

If you want to take lion’s mane for acne, we suggest incorporating our healthy mushroom granola into your morning routine.

Not only is it a delicious breakfast option, our granola contains a hyperconcentrated lion’s mane extract made from the highest quality, organic mushrooms. Plus, the granola is gluten-free, vegan, and made with premium ingredients.

Lion’s Mane Dosage Per Day for Acne

If you want to reap the benefits lion’s mane can have for acne, it’s best to use both topical lion’s mane products and lion’s mane supplements. When it comes to lion’s mane mushroom supplements, starting with a dosage of 750 mg and working your way up to 1500 mg or more per day is the way to go. It is completely safe to use topical lion’s mane products in addition to supplements.

How Much Lion’s Mane Is in Forij Granola?

Forij granola uses a high-quality lion's mane extract made from whole medicinal mushrooms. Our dual extraction method extracts both water-soluble beta-glucans as well as alcohol-soluble triterpenes. Our decoction process breaks down the fruit body and the indigestible chitin cell walls of the mushroom to get much more of these compounds out than ordinary processes do.

One serving of our granola provides 250 mg of hyperconcentrated lion's mane mushroom extract, which is eight times more concentrated than regular lion’s mane supplements. Therefore, you get as much lion's mane potency as you would if you were taking a 2000 mg lion’s mane mushroom supplement, all in one bowl of granola.

FAQ on Lion’s Mane for Acne

Who should not take lion’s mane?

Lion’s mane is incredibly healthy and safe to consume for most people. However, Hericium erinaceus may interact with medications such as antidiabetics and anticoagulants. In rare cases, this mushroom can cause an allergic reaction if you’re allergic to other fungi, mold, or yeast.

That’s why lion’s mane may be contraindicated for people with allergies to fungi, mold, or yeast, and those with severe asthma. Additionally, people who suffer from a bleeding disorder or are on medication that increases the risk of blood clots should consult with a healthcare professional before taking lion’s mane supplements.

Can I take lion’s mane everyday?

It’s not only completely safe but highly beneficial to take lion’s mane every day. Long-term lion’s mane benefits—such as the ability of Hericium erinaceus to prevent diabetes and alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis—become more pronounced the longer you use this mushroom.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to take lion’s mane mushrooms. Choose from lion’s mane supplements, foods fortified with lion’s mane extracts, or simply cook and eat the mushroom.

Does lion’s mane make you gain weight?

No, lion’s mane mushrooms don’t cause weight gain. On the contrary, research suggests that lion’s mane may even help you lose weight. These adaptogenic fungi are low in calories and high in protein and water content, so they’ll keep you satiated, and they also appear to lower triglyceride levels in tested animals. 

What treats acne overnight?

The only thing that treats acne overnight is a spot treatment or a pimple patch. Clearing your skin won’t happen overnight, as it takes time to calm the inflammatory processes in your body that are the root cause of acne.

What food clears acne fast?

No food can clear acne overnight, but many healthy foods aid in skin repair and healthy skin maintenance. For example, foods high in vitamin C, such as tomatoes, strawberries, oranges, and bell peppers are always a great choice. Some other skin-friendly food choices include mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

What is the ideal lion’s mane dosage for depression?

There is no exact dosage of lion’s mane mushrooms that will alleviate symptoms of depression in everyone. However, you should strive to take upwards of 1000 mg per day if you are taking lion’s mane to ease depression. If you’re new to taking adaptogenic mushrooms, you may want to start with a lower dosage, as lion’s mane can upset the stomach if you’re not used to taking it.

Is lion’s mane psychedelic?

No, lion’s mane is not psychedelic and won’t make you hallucinate. It’s safe to take the Hericium erinaceus mushroom during your workday, as lion’s mane won’t make you high or impair your cognitive abilities.

What should I look for in a lion’s mane supplement?

When shopping for a lion’s mane supplement, look for one that’s made from both the fruiting body and the chitin wall of this mushroom. Many supplements only contain compounds derived from lion’s mane fruiting bodies, which means you don’t get to reap the many benefits of compounds found in the indigestible chitin walls of lion’s mane. Forij uses a hyperconcentrated lion’s mane extract that contains compounds extracted from the entire mushroom.

Can I take lion’s mane with other functional mushrooms?

Yes, you can take lion’s mane with any other type of mushroom or natural supplement, including turkey tail, the reishi mushroom, and the snow mushroom (Tremella mushroom). The whole is always greater than the sum of its parts when it comes to adaptogens. Therefore, the benefits of a medicinal mushroom can only be improved upon if you take it with lion’s mane, and vice versa.

Resources:

1. Mahmood, A. A. (2011) Potential Activity of Aqueous Extract of Culinary-Medicinal Lion's Mane Mushrooms, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) in Accelerating Wound Healing in Rats
2. Koichiro, M. (2015) The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Lion's Mane Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) in a Coculture System of 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and RAW264 Macrophages
3. Li, W. (2019) TLR4 promotes liver inflammation by activating the JNK pathway

Forij Disclaimer

This article was written strictly for informational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment information.