The Lion’s Mane mushroom is in the Maine forest now that it’s autumn, and it can be found growing low to the ground on hardwood trees. It’s a medicinal and edible mushroom, best eaten when young. Some people say the taste and texture is a bit like lobster or shrimp, and it is popular as a meat replacement in Asian dishes. About 20% of its weight is in the form protein, and it has become sought after by the vegetarian crowd. I think it’s quite delicious!
Many Asian grocery stores carry it
fresh and dried, but I’ve never seen it in a non-Asian grocery store. It’s fairly easy to cultivate, so perhaps it
will start appearing in more stores. You
can buy kits online to grow this yourself.
You can also get it in capsule form in health stores, but I’d rather
just harvest my own in the woods. It is
considered a choice edible by many, although it has to be thoroughly cooked to
take out any bitterness. This particular
clump I found measured about 8 x 8 inches.
It was a nice find.
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| Lion's Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus). |
Many studies have been done on
this mushroom because of its nerve-stimulating properties. It has shown the ability to regenerate
peripheral nerves following crush injuries, and it has also been shown to
stimulate myelination in vitro. This is
hopeful news for those who suffer from multiple sclerosis, although further
study must be done. In addition to this,
a double-blind placebo-controlled study has shown this mushroom to improve
cognitive ability in those with mild cognitive impairment. Studies done on mice have shown that this
mushroom can reduce the size of plaques that cause Alzheimer Disease. Furthermore, clinical studies have shown that
Lion’s Mane can reduce anxiety and depression in postmenopausal women while
improving the ability to concentrate.
All of this, and it’s pretty,
too. I love seeing it growing
everywhere! I harvest some but leave
most of it where I find it. I’m lucky to
live here in Maine
and be able to forage for a lot of my food, but I think even if you live in a
city area, mushrooms abound. Now is the
time for this particular mushroom, so if you are a city person and there’s a
park near you, go on a Lion’s Mane hunt!
It’s very rewarding to find your own food.
(Yes, I have to put a disclaimer
in. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to
diagnose, treat, or cure any ailment. If you need medical advice, seek a
physician. Always use several sources to
identify wild mushrooms. If you cannot
identify a mushroom, don’t use it. When
in doubt, throw it out.)
