May Speed Recovery from Nervous System Injuries

The brain, spinal cord, and other nerves that run throughout the body make up the nervous system. Together, these parts send and transmit signals that regulate practically all body functions. Brain or spinal cord injuries can have severe consequences. They can take a long time to heal and frequently result in paralysis or the loss of mental abilities. However, studies have indicated that lion's mane mushroom extract may hasten healing from these kinds of wounds by promoting nerve cell development and repair.

In fact, when administered to rats with nervous system injuries, lion's mane mushroom extract has been found to speed up healing by 23–41%. Additionally, lion's mane extract may lessen the degree of stroke-related brain damage. One study found that administering large dosages of lion's mane mushroom extract to rats right after a stroke could reduce inflammation and the amount of stroke-related brain damage by 44%. Although these findings are encouraging, it is unknown if a lion's mane would have the same healing effects on nervous system damage in people.