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lion's mane

Lion's Mane (Hericium Erinaceus) is a dietary supplement.

Hericium Erinaceus

Not yet rated· sourced from the FDA label
Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated June 23, 2026·How we rate
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Key facts

Active ingredient
Hericium Erinaceus
Type
Supplement

What is Lion's Mane?

From the FDA label:A medicinal mushroom studied for cognitive and nerve support.

What the evidence says

Limited evidence

What Lion's Mane is

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is an edible mushroom found across North America, Europe, and Asia. It has long been eaten as food and used in traditional Chinese herbalism, sometimes described as a "tonic." It contains compounds known as hericenones and erinacines that have attracted scientific interest, and it is sold over the counter as a dietary supplement in the form of powders, capsules, and extracts.

Commonly used for

Taken for memory and cognitive supportUsed for mood, anxiety, and stressUsed as a general wellness tonicConsumed as a culinary mushroom

What the evidence shows

Rigorous evidence in people is limited, and there is no NIH Office of Dietary Supplements or NCCIH consumer fact sheet for Lion's Mane. The NIH/NLM LiverTox monograph describes the idea that it improves cognition or relieves anxiety and depression as "purported," and states that most of these effects "have been demonstrated in cell culture or in animal models but have not been found in humans." It adds that neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing activities "have not been shown to any great extent in humans." Human studies so far have been small and preliminary, and Lion's Mane is not an established treatment for any disease.

Typical dosage

There is no established or standardized dose, and Lion's Mane is not approved by the FDA to treat any condition. Marketed products vary widely in form and strength, and the limited human studies have used a broad range of amounts, so no single dose can be recommended. Because quality varies and the supplement is not regulated like a medicine, talk to a clinician before starting Lion's Mane, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a health condition.

Safety

Lion's Mane has a long history of use as a food and is generally regarded as well tolerated. The NIH/NLM LiverTox resource classifies it as an unlikely cause of clinically apparent liver injury and notes that no such cases have been reported in connection with it. People with mushroom allergies should be cautious, because at least one acute hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to oral Lion's Mane has been described. Long-term safety, and use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, have not been well studied, so check with a clinician first.

Side effects

Reported side effects are generally mild and uncommon. The NIH/NLM LiverTox monograph notes that mild stomach-related complaints — such as abdominal discomfort, nausea, or diarrhea — have turned up in studies, typically in under one in ten participants. A single acute hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction has also been reported.

Interactions & cautions

No specific drug interactions are documented in the cited NIH/NLM source. Even so, because the evidence base is thin and dietary supplements can interact with medicines, let your clinician or pharmacist know you are taking Lion's Mane before combining it with any prescription drugs.

Sources

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Summarized from public health authorities; general reference, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed healthcare professional before starting any supplement.

Ways to save

Ask for the generic

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Request a 90-day supply

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Use copay cards

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Information is sourced from public FDA regulatory data. Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

What people report to the FDA about Hericium Erinaceus

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 36 reports naming Hericium Erinaceus — the active ingredient in Lion's Mane, and the FDA flagged 50% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

  • headache9 reports
  • nausea9 reports
  • anxiety7 reports
  • dizziness6 reports
  • weight decreased6 reports
  • decreased appetite5 reports
  • fatigue5 reports
  • feeling abnormal5 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean Hericium Erinaceus caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved September 25, 2026.

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