Passionflower has many uses and comes in many different varieties. The herb is mainly used for supporting anxiety and sleep but has a long list of other applications as well.
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
What is Lion's Mane?
Lion's mane is a medicinal wood-rotting fungus with a characteristic growth pattern that resembles the shaggy mane of a lion.
The fungus prefers temperate forests in North America, Europe, and Asia where it thrives on living oak, beech, or conifer trees.
The medicinal benefit of lions mane primarily involve the nervous system. Modern applications use the mushroom for general cognitive health and as a natural nootropic substance.
This mushroom is also eaten as a delicacy — with a flavor similar to lobster when cooked with butter.
In recent years lion's mane has caught the eye of the nootropic community for its ability to up-regulate nerve growth factor.
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How Is Lion's Mane Used?
Lion's mane is mainly used for neurodegenerative disorders like dementia and multiple sclerosis. It's also popular as a nootropic agent for supporting optimal cognitive function long term.
Most of the people using this fungus take it in the form of a powdered capsule or tincture on a daily basis. Like most medicinal mushrooms, the biggest benefit comes from using the herb on a regular basis over long periods of time — rather than short bursts for quick impact of effects.
Traditional Use of Lion’s Mane
Lion’s mane mushrooms have a long history of use in Eastern Asia — including China, Korea, and Japan. Each of these regions used the mushroom for treating neurological disorders, including neurasthenia, and age-related cognitive decline, as well as for general health.
Herb Details: Lion's Mane
Herbal Actions:
- Antibacterial
- Anticancer
- Antidiabetic
- Antioxidant
- Cardioprotective
- Hepatoprotective
- Nervine
- Immunomodulator
Weekly Dose
- (1:2 Liquid Extract)
20-60 mL - View Dosage Chart
Part Used
- Fruiting Body
Family Name
- Hericiaceae
Distribution
- North America, Europe, Russia, Mountainous regions of Asia
Constituents of Interest
- Hericnones
- Erinacines
- Lactones
- Polysaccharides
Common Names
- Lion's Mane
- Monkey's Head
- Hedgehog Fungus
- Pom Pom
- Houtou (China)
- Shishigashira (China)
- Yamabushitake (Japan)
Pregnancy
- Safe during pregnancy.
Duration of Use
- Long term use acceptable and recommended.
Mycological Information
The Hericiaceae family of fungi are saprophytic (consumes dead wood), yet can be found growing on living trees as well. Many experts believe the mushroom has a mutualistic relationship with the tree for some time — helping it resist disease and infection, but will eventually consume the tree after it dies.
Hericium mushrooms normally grow in cooler, mountainous regions across the globe. It contains a number of species used medicinally and nutritionally.
Hericium spp. has characteristic "tooth" structures on its fruiting body, giving it a hair-like appearance.
Pharmacology & Medical Research
+ Neuroprotective
Lion’s mane offers several different mechanisms to produce its overall neuroprotective benefits:
- Antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activity [6]
- Anti-inflammatory activity
- Nerve-growth factor stimulation (hericium and erinacenes)
- Reduction of endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependant cell death (dilinoleolyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DLPE) [7]
- Attenuation of beta-amyloid-related cognitive decline in animals (dementia model) [8]
- Enhance mylenation of neurons [9, 10, 11]
In animal studies, lion’s mane has been shown to reduce the severity of damage after a stroke — effectively protecting the sensitive neurons from ischemic damage [6].
Clinical Trials:
Study: Mori et al., 2009 — Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial. [5]
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 30 Japanese men and women with mil cognitive impairment found that after 16 weeks, the lion’s mane group had significantly increased cognitive scores. These improvements were noted as early as the 8 week checkup, and continued to improve compared to placebo over the rest of the 16-week trial.
The dose of lion’s mane used in this study was 1 gram of dried lion’s mane taken three times per day.
Unfortunately, 4 weeks after the trial concluded, the scores had significantly decreased — indicating that these effects are not permanent and the mushroom needs to be continued to remain effective.
+ Nootropic
A nootropic is a substance that improves cognition without causing harm. There are a lot of nootropic substances that range from herbs like lion’s mane or rhodiola, to synthetic or prescription drugs like Modafinil or Noopept.
Lion’s mane is thought to be a nootropic through its ability to promote nerve-growth factor (NGF) in the brain. NGF is the most potent growth factor for the cholinergic neurons. it influences everything from the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of neuronal cells in the brain [8, 12].
Reductions in NGF has been considered a major implication in conditions such as depression, substance abuse, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease [12].
There have been a lot of studies looking at the role of lion’s mane and nerve growth factor — most of which have concluded that lion’s mane applications directly lead to an increase in NGF. This research has been done both in vivo and in vitro [13, 14, 15, 16].
This effect is very important. We can give peptides like NGF to people to treat these neurodegeneration, but these peptides rarely cross the blood brain barrier [9]. Therefore, finding alternative ways to boost NGF or other peptides in the brain are of the utmost importance in the treatment, prevention, and management of neurodegenerative disorders.
+ Immunomodulation
Like many other medicinal mushrooms, lion’s mane contains a high concentration of polysaccharides with immunomodulatory effects.
A lot of this study has been done in vitro with dendritic immune cells. These cells serve as the antigen-presenting cells that act as central mediators for the immune response as a whole. They’re responsible for a lot of the tolerance formed by the immune system to help maintain homeostasis.
Studies involving lions mane extracts have shown the fungus can stimulate the maturation of dendritic cells, induce dendritic cell activation, and modulate key T-helper (Th1) immune responses [17].
+ Anti-Inflammatory
Lion’s mane has been shown to influence a variety of inflammatory mediators, including:
Induces IL-1β expression through Nf-kB, NF-IL6, and activator protein 1 (AP-1) [18]
Induces iNOS gene expression to increase nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages
Inhibits toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-JNK signalling on macrophages [19]
Phytochemistry of Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Lion’s mane fruiting body and myclelia contain an exceptionally diverse range of unique bioactive substances — including polysaccharides, meroterpenoids (hericinones), cyathane diterpenoids (erinacines), steroids, alkaloids, and lactones.
The most significant constituents in terms of the mushrooms medicinal action are the hericenones and erinacines. Both of these substances have been shown to stimulate nerve growth factor in the central nervous system. This is thought to be the primary mechanism for which the fungus an improve the health and function of the nervous system.
Clinical Applications Of Lion's Mane:
Lion's mane has many uses, but the most well-known is as a neuroprotective, and nootropic benefits. It's useful for neurodegenerative disorders including multipple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
Other uses include depression and anxiety, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal infection, and fatigue.
Cautions & Safety
Lion’s mane is a culinary mushroom that’s been used for both food and medicine by countless individuals over several hundreds of years. There are no expected short-term or long-term side effects from using the fungus.
Throughout the clinical research there have been no reports of serious side effects from using the fungus — including very high-potency extracts and long-term durations of use.
Caution advised with any blood clotting conditions or medications due to possible agonistic interactions — including haemophilia or other bleeding disorder, thrombocytopenia, or post-surgery. Lion’s mane may interact with blood thinners or anti-platelet medications.
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References
[1] — Friedman, M. (2015). Chemistry, nutrition, and health-promoting properties of Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane) mushroom fruiting bodies and mycelia and their bioactive compounds. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 63(32), 7108-7123.
[2] — Liu, J., Du, C., Wang, Y., & Yu, Z. (2015). Anti-fatigue activities of polysaccharides extracted from Hericium erinaceus. Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 9(2), 483-487.
[3] — Thongbai, B., Rapior, S., Hyde, K. D., Wittstein, K., & Stadler, M. (2015). Hericium erinaceus, an amazing medicinal mushroom. Mycological progress, 14(10), 91.
[4] — Wong, K. H., Naidu, M., David, R. P., Bakar, R., & Sabaratnam, V. (2012). Neuroregenerative potential of lion's mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers.(higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 14(5).
[5] — Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K., Azumi, Y., & Tuchida, T. (2009). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 23(3), 367-372.
[6] — Lee, K. F., Chen, J. H., Teng, C. C., Shen, C. H., Hsieh, M. C., Lu, C. C., ... & Huang, W. S. (2014). Protective effects of Hericium erinaceus mycelium and its isolated erinacine A against ischemia-injury-induced neuronal cell death via the inhibition of iNOS/p38 MAPK and nitrotyrosine. International journal of molecular sciences, 15(9), 15073-15089.
[7] — Nagai, K., Chiba, A., Nishino, T., Kubota, T., & Kawagishi, H. (2006). Dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine from Hericium erinaceum protects against ER stress-dependent Neuro2a cell death via protein kinase C pathway. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 17(8), 525-530.
[8] — Mori, K., Obara, Y., Moriya, T., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2011). Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β (25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice. Biomedical Research, 32(1), 67-72.
[9] — Phan, C. W., David, P., Naidu, M., Wong, K. H., & Sabaratnam, V. (2015). Therapeutic potential of culinary-medicinal mushrooms for the management of neurodegenerative diseases: diversity, metabolite, and mechanism. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 35(3), 355-368.
[10] — Kolotushkina, E. V., Moldavan, M. G., Voronin, K. Y., & Skibo, G. G. (2003). The influence of Hericium erinaceus extract on myelination process in vitro. Fiziol Zh, 49(1), 38-45.
[11] — Moldavan, M., Grygansky, A. P., Kolotushkina, O. V., Kirchhoff, B., Skibo, G. G., & Pedarzani, P. (2007). Neurotropic and trophic action of lion's mane mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers.(Aphyllophoromycetideae) extracts on nerve cells in vitro. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 9(1).
[12] — Chao, M. V., Rajagopal, R., & Lee, F. S. (2006). Neurotrophin signalling in health and disease. Clinical science, 110(2), 167-173.
[13] — Zhang, C. C., Yin, X., Cao, C. Y., Wei, J., Zhang, Q., & Gao, J. M. (2015). Chemical constituents from Hericium erinaceus and their ability to stimulate NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth on PC12 cells. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, 25(22), 5078-5082.
[14] — Samberkar, S., Gandhi, S., Naidu, M., Wong, K. H., Raman, J., & Sabaratnam, V. (2015). Lion's Mane, Hericium erinaceus and Tiger Milk, Lignosus rhinocerotis (Higher Basidiomycetes) medicinal mushrooms stimulate neurite outgrowth in dissociated cells of brain, spinal cord, and retina: an in vitro study. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 17(11).
[15] — Lai, P. L., Naidu, M., Sabaratnam, V., Wong, K. H., David, R. P., Kuppusamy, U. R., ... & Malek, S. N. A. (2013). Neurotrophic properties of the Lion's mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 15(6).
[16] — Mori, K., Obara, Y., Hirota, M., Azumi, Y., Kinugasa, S., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2008). Nerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 31(9), 1727-1732.
[17] — Sheu, S. C., Lyu, Y., Lee, M. S., & Cheng, J. H. (2013). Immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides isolated from Hericium erinaceus on dendritic cells. Process biochemistry, 48(9), 1402-1408.
[18] — Son, C. G., Shin, J. W., Cho, J. H., Cho, C. K., Yun, C. H., & Han, S. (2006). Induction of murine interleukin‐1 beta expression by water‐soluble components from Hericium erinaceum 1. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 27(8), 1058-1064.
[19] — Mori, K., Ouchi, K., & Hirasawa, N. (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. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 17(7).
Kava (Piper methysticum)
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
What is Rosemary?
Plants have ingenious ways of spreading their seeds around the world.
One of the most successful is the rosemary shrub.
The desirable flavor, and useful medicinal qualities of rosemary have enticed humans to carry its seeds along with them from Europe as they spread to all corners of the earth.
The majority of rosemary around the world is used for its desirable culinary quality, however, there are plenty of good medicinal uses of the plant as well.
It's used primarily as a nervine, circulatory stimulant, and digestive.
It stimulates blood flow to the body and the brain and has the benefits of promoting mental clarity, and moving other herbs deeper into the peripheral blood system.
The volatile oils contained in its leaves stimulate digestion and soothe upset stomachs.
Here's everything I know about rosemary.
Featured Rosemary Products
How Is Rosemary Used?
Rosemary is popular in cooking. It's used medicinally to increase blood flow to the brain, reduce nerve pain, and improve digestion. The essential oil is used topically to promote blood flow and stimulate the hair follicles involved with premature balding.
Herb Details: Rosemary
Herbal Actions:
- Antidepressant
- Antimicrobial
- Antispasmodic
- Emmenagogue
- Nervine Stimulant
- Nootropic
- Rubefacient
- Carminative
Weekly Dose
- (1:2 Liquid Extract)
15-30 mL - View Dosage Chart
Part Used
- Leaf & twigs
Family Name
- Lamiaceae
Distribution
- Originally from Mediterranean, but has since spread all over the world.
Constituents of Interest
- Volatile oil (borneol, camphene, camphor, linalool)
- Apigenin
- Rosmarinic acid
- Carnosol & Carnosolic acid
- Rosmaricine
Common Names
- Rosemary
- Roosmaryn (Afrikaans)
- Rozmarinë (Albania)
- Ikleel al-Jabal (Arabic)
- Rozmarin (Bulgaria)
- Romarin (France/Germany)
- Mannenro (Japan)
- Alecrim (Portugal)
- Mi Die Xiang (China)
CYP450
- CYP1A2
- CYP3A4
- CYP2C9
- Also P-gp
Quality
- Warm, Acrid
Pregnancy
- Caution advised during pregnancy.
Taste
- Sweet, Acrid, Slightly Bitter
Duration of Use
- Long term use is acceptable.
Botanical Info:
Rosemary is a member of the mint family, which is one of the largest plant families. It contains roughly 236 different genera, and 6900-7200 different species.
The Rosmarinus genus contains 4 different species, the one most commonly used as medicine is Rosmarinus officinalis, though the other species also have some use in the regions in which it grows.
It's hardy to colder climates, but grows primarily in the Mediterranean. It's also highly drought-resistant, and can survive without water for very long periods of time.
Clinical Applications of Rosemary
Rosemary is most useful as a circulatory stimulant, nervine stimulant, carminative and digestive.
It's used to treat cognitive conditions involving poor blood flow like Alzheimer's disease, syncope, and headaches. it's also used as a nootropic and for increasing blood flow to the follicles of the hair to support hair growth. The essential oil is especially useful here for addressing symptoms of premature balding. It's also an excellent nervine used for conditions like neuralgia, sciatica, and depression when associated with debility or concussion.
Its digestive properties make it useful for addressing flatulence, indigestion, dyspepsia, and recovery from intestinal tract infection.
Cautions:
Avoid using therapeutic doses of rosemary while pregnant. This doesn’t include small doses of rosemary used in cooking.
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California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
California Poppy Summary
California poppy is a relative of the opium poppy that gives us morphine. This particular member contains a different set of alkaloids with similar, but milder effects.
California Poppy is the official state flower for California but grows throughout the Southern parts of the United States.
Its primary uses — both in modern herbal medicine and traditional herbal medicine — is for treating anxiety, chronic pain, and insomnia. It's one of the most potent herbal sedatives available.
How Is California Poppy Used?
California poppy is used for its sedative and analgesic effects. It contains a set of alkaloids similar to morphine, though not as strong. It can be used both internally for anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, as well as topically for skin irritations and ulcers.
Herb Details
Weekly Dose
- (1:2 Liquid Extract)
20-40 mL - View Dosage Chart
Part Used
- Aerial parts
Family Name
- Papaveraceae
Distribution
- Southern parts of The United States of America
Herbal Actions:
- Analgesic
- Antispasmodic
- Anxiolytic
- Nervine
Constituents of Interest
- Eschscholtzine
- Californidine
- Sanguinarine
- Chelerythrine
Common Names
- California Poppy
- Kaliforniese papawer (Afrikaans)
- Pavot de Californie (France)
CYP450
- CYP3A4
- CYP2C9
- CYP2C19
- CYP2D6
- CYP1A2
Pregnancy
- No adverse effects expected.
Taste
- Bitter
Duration of Use
- May be used long term.
Botanical Information
California poppy is a member of the Papaveraceae family. This family contains roughly 42 genera and about 775 different species. The Eschscholzia genus itself contains about 12 different species.
The species, Eschscholzia californica, is very diverse, as it has been extensively bred commercially and by hobbyists as an ornamental garden flower.
Clinical Applications Of California Poppy
California poppy extract enhances GABA binding and is an opioid receptor agonist. It's been shown to displace fluorazepam from the benzodiazepam receptor. This is likely the main mechanism of action for California Poppy's sedative, and analgesic effects.
Caution
- May possess additive interaction with benzodiazepines.
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Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
What is Lavender?
Lavender is one of the most famous herbs known to man. It's cultivated on a massive scale throughout Europe and North America and is a popular flavoring and aromatic agent for household products.
Medicinally lavender is best known for its ability to promote sleep. It's often sold as aromatherapy, in salves and creams, and incense for this purpose. Lavender is also great for internal use, where it interacts with the GABA system to produce relaxation and sleep.
Lavender essential oil can be used as a topical agent for insect bites, rashes, and infection.
What is Lavender Used For?
Lavender is mainly used in topical applications for rashes, skin irritations, mild infections, sunburn, and insect bites. Internally it's mainly used for anxiety-related conditions, GIT inflammation and discomfort, and insomnia.
Herb Details: Lavender
Herbal Actions:
- Analgesic (mild)
- Antibacterial
- Anti-cancer
- Anticonvulsant
- Antidepressant
- Antifungal
- Antioxidant
- Anxiolytic
- Antiparasitic
- Carminative
- Nervine Relaxant
- Neuroprotective
- Antispasmodic
Weekly Dose
- (1:2 Liquid Extract)
15–30 mL - View Dosage Chart
Part Used
- Leaves and flowers
Family Name
- Lamiaceae
Distribution
- Mediterranean and Southern Europe
Northern and Eastern Africa
Constituents of Interest
- Monoterpene Alcohols
- Athocyanins
Common Names
- Lavender
- Laventelit (Finland)
- English Lavender
Pregnancy
No adverse reactions expected.
Duration of Use
- This herb is generally regarded as safe for long term use.
Botanical Information
Lavender is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). In the genus Lavandula, there are approximately 47 species — most of which are perennials, or small shrubs.
There are a number of lavenders used medicinally
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)
Lavandula stoechas (French Lavender)
Lavendula dentata (Spanish Lavender)
This list is disputed by many taxonomists, suggesting that French lavender may be Lavandula stoechas or Lavandula dentata, and that Spanish lavender could be either Lavandula dentata, or Lavandula lanata, or Lavandula dentata.
Clinical Applications Of Lavender:
Lavender is useful topically for female conditions including dysmenorrhoea and PMS due to its antispasmodic and analgesic effects. It's also useful topically for its anti-fungal and antibacterial effects. Internally lavender can be used for gastrointestinal complaints, including bloating, flatulence, and colic.
Lavender is a reliable nervine for its GABAergic activity. Additionally it has been shown to reverse the stimulating effects induced by caffeine, and inhibits acetylcholine release.
Cautions:
Lavender has been proven to be a very safe herb with a low incidence of adverse effects.
Avoid use with pharmaceutical sedatives due to the possibility of agonistic synergy.
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As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, we’re getting a lot of questions on what the potential role of herbal medicine is during the outbreak. Learn how the virus works and how to limit your chances of transmission.