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Now with an additional 200mg Lions Mane, standardised for Beta-Glucan count (the principle bioactive component for NGF benefits), as well as an additional 50mg CDP-Choline and 100mcg Huperzine A per serve.
90 Capsules per bottle, 3 capsules per serve (30 servings). Every serve includes:
Want to learn more? Check out our full discussion on Lions Mane+ at the blog here.
As a dietary supplement, take 1 to 3 capsules daily before your mentally demanding tasks.
For optimal function take with a source of fats. Lions Mane + is fast-acting, and effects should be noticeable within 60 minutes of ingestion.
Store in a cool, dry place after opening.
The key nootropic function for using Lions Mane Mushroom is to promote better long-term neuronal health by stimulating increased production of the neurotrophin "Nerve Growth Factor" (NGF). NGF is a protein which is primarily responsible for the growth, maintenance and survival of certain neurons. Most notably peripheral sensory and sympathetic nerve cells (for touch and muscle or organ function) as well as cholinergic neurons in the Central Nervous System (CNS aka.your brain). It is important to note that this function is to promote a the gradua maintenance and adaptation of the hardware of your brain. For valuable benefit, long-term consistent use Lions Mane Mushroom supplementation works to promote better cognitive, muscular function and sensory function. By this mechanism it is also considered to play a neuroprotective role in preventing cognitive decline with age.
"The NGF plays a pivotal role in the survival and function of cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain complex (BFC), such functions include attention, arousal, motivation, memory and consciousness."
- Nerve growth factor: from the early discoveries to the potential clinical use, Journal of Translational Medicine.
Recent investigations has also linked Lions Mane Mushroom with modulatory effects on another neurotrophin similar to NGF, known as Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF). This will also contribute to neuroplasticity benefits, however the body of evidence is still far less than the NGF promoting research.
Lions Mane Mushroom has also demonstrated additional nootropic benefit through it's neuroprotective anti-inflammatory effects, as well as some modulating activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine (monoamines).
And finally, in research over the last decade into different approaches to mood disorders, anti-anxiety and anti-depression, Lions Mane Mushroom has demonstrated value in alleviating symptoms. Most likely through a mixed approach of improving neuroplasticity via it's NGF and BDNF stimulating activities, the monoamine balancing activities, as well as the anti-inflammatory properties.
Huperzia Serrata is a popular herb with a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as well as Japanese culture for a wide range of applications, particularly for memory support, anti-inflammatory and pain releif applications. Huperzia Serrata is also known by the names "Toothed Clubmoss", "Wolf's Claw" and "Ground Pine" due to it's distinctive plant structure.
In modern clinical use Huperzia Serrata has been extensively researched for the purposes of treating Schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and preventing cognitive decline due to aging.
Through this research, the main bioactive compound Huperzine A has been widely proven to be a potent, selective and well-tolerated inhibitor of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). By the inhibition of AChE, Huperzine A very effectively prevents the breakdown of the key neurotransmitter "acetylcholine" which is critical to cholinergic neuronal function. Through this function huperzine has proven valuable to these medical conditions.
"...large amount of clinical studies have shown that huperzine A administration can significantly improve the memory, cognitive skills, and daily life abilities of AD patients with no severe side effects. Besides being indicated for AD, huperzine A is also used in treating memory impairment in vascular dementia (VaD) patients, schizophrenia patients and sleep disorder in insomniacs" - New insights into huperzine A for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, Nature (2012)
Also known as "Citicoline" or by it's full chemical name "cytidine-5′-diphosphocoline", CDP-Choline is a more modern nootropic ingredient. First awarded it's "Generally Recognised As Safe" (GRAS) status in the USA in 2013 and is acknowledged to be a valuable source of both choline and uridine nutrients.
"Oral supplementation of citicoline is metabolized into choline and uridine within the intestine and is rapidly absorbed, with waste excretion of less than 1% as demonstrated by pharmokinetic studies" - The Effect of Citicoline Supplementation on Motor Speed and Attention in Adolescent Males (Sage, 2015).
Why supplement with Choline?
Choline is an essential building block for the synthesis of both phosphatidylcholine and the acetylcholine in the brain. Phosphatidylcholine is a major phospholipid used for neuronal membrane repair (neuron walls), valuable for long term brain health. Acetylcholine is the essential neurotransmitter and neuromodulator involved in cholinergic function, increasing cellular concentrations with has demonstrated benefits including working memory, attention, and long term brain health via promoting neuroplasticity and neuroprotection.
Why supplement with Uridine?
As noted above, Citicoline in complete form does not directly cross the blood brain barrier, and is actually broken down to principle components "choline" and "uridine" in the liver. However the a critical building block to manufacture of Phosphatidylcholine is the complete CDP-Choline. Hence in the brain, CDP-Choline is re-synthesised. This is where dietary uridine is critical, to provide that base component alongside free choline, allowing for the synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine (benefits discussed in the paragraph above). See the figure below for synthesis pathways.
If you're keen for some further reading on Lions Mane, CDP-Choline and Huperzine A, below are a number of research articles we recommend as an introduction.
