Sleep

November 14, 2025

Lion’s Mane and Sleep

What the science says and why you might feel a difference

If you’ve started taking Lion’s Mane and noticed your sleep improving, you’re not imagining it.
While research is still developing, several small human studies suggest Hericium erinaceus, commonly known as Lion’s Mane, may help support mood, calm the nervous system, and indirectly promote better rest.

Early Human Evidence

1. Mood, anxiety and sleep improvements

An eight-week trial found that Lion’s Mane intake was associated with better mood, reduced anxiety, and improved self-rated sleep quality compared with baseline (Vigna et al., 2019).

2. Subjective sleep gains
In a small pilot using a Lion’s Mane extract, participants reported sleeping more soundly and feeling better overall, though the sample size was limited (Okamura et al., 2015).

3. Stress balance
A double-blind study in healthy adults observed modest reductions in perceived stress and tension, suggesting a potential role in supporting relaxation (Docherty et al., 2023).

Taken together, these findings hint that Lion’s Mane may help ease the mental load that interferes with restful sleep, particularly racing thoughts and daytime over-stimulation.

Why It Might Work

Lion’s Mane contains naturally occurring compounds called hericenones (found in the fruiting body) and erinacines (found in the mycelium).
Laboratory and animal studies suggest these compounds may:

Stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) a protein that supports the repair and growth of neurons (Mori et al., 2008).
Regulate stress responses by supporting balanced activity within the nervous system (Li et al., 2021).
Reduce anxiety-like behaviour and improve circadian recovery in sleep-deprived animals (Li et al., 2021).

Although human evidence does not yet show a direct effect on cortisol or sleep hormones, these neurotrophic and calming mechanisms may help the brain and body adapt more calmly to stress, supporting smoother, more restorative rest.

What the Science Can and Can’t Say Yet

Encouraging but early: Current human trials are small and use different extracts, so findings vary.
No confirmed hormonal pathway: Sleep improvements appear linked to mood and stress balance, not cortisol reduction.
Excellent safety profile: No serious side effects have been reported in human studies using fruiting-body Lion’s Mane (Nagano et al., 2010; Vigna et al., 2019).

Given its strong safety record and absence of known adverse effects, there is little downside to adding Lion’s Mane to your daily routine at standard food-supplement doses.
(Consult your GP if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking blood-thinners or diabetes medication.)

The Takeaway

Lion’s Mane is being studied for its potential to support mood, calm focus, and healthy sleep patterns through its influence on the nervous system.
If you’re seeking calmer evenings and more restorative rest, adding Lion’s Mane may be a gentle, low-risk way to support your goals without stimulants, sedatives, or dependency.

References

Vigna L et al. (2019). Hericium erinaceus Improves Mood and Sleep Disorders in Patients Affected by Overweight or Obesity. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Okamura H et al. (2015). Effects of Hericium erinaceus (Amyloban® 3399) on Sleep Quality and Well-Being. Biomedical Research.
Docherty S et al. (2023). The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane on Cognition and Stress in Healthy Adults. Nutrients.
Nagano M et al. (2010). Reduction of Depression and Anxiety by Four Weeks Hericium erinaceus Intake in Women. Biomedical Research.
Mori K et al. (2008). NGF-Inducing Activity of Hericium erinaceus and Increased Hippocampal NGF mRNA in Mice. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin.
Li T J et al. (2021). Hericium erinaceus Mycelium Ameliorates Anxiety Induced by Sleep Deprivation in Mice. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.
Spangenberg E et al. (2025). Unveiling the Role of Erinacines in Neuroprotective Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom. Frontiers in Pharmacology.
Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (2025). Cognitive Vitality Profile: Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus). Updated July 14 2025.

Disclaimer

Food supplement. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Results may vary. Always consult a healthcare professional before making changes to your supplement routine.