Essential oils have been used for thousands of years to provide relief from common ailments—they can lift your mood, make it easier to focus, and help you relax after a hard day at work.

Using Essential Oils

Derived from plants, essential oils can affect the body in a couple of ways:

• When inhaled, essential oils pass from the lungs into the bloodstream.
• When diluted and absorbed through the skin, they enter the circulatory system.

Used properly, essential oils can be amazing natural remedies.

Topical Use with Carrier Oils

Since they’re highly volatile, essential oils evaporate when exposed to air. But when combined with carrier oils, they easily can be applied to the skin and hair, or used for massage.

Since essential oils are very concentrated, some individuals can have reactions to them if they’re applied directly to the skin. To prevent this, a carrier oil is used to “carry” the benefits directly into the skin.

Carrier oils are produced from vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Pressed from the fatty portions of plants, they do not evaporate the way essential oils do, nor do they have as strong an aroma.

They do, however, offer many therapeutic benefits of their own. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, they can help improve the health and softness of the skin.

Bathing with Essential Oils

Baths offer the perfect occasion to reap the benefits of essential oils. But you should never add essential oils directly into bathwater, advises Lora Cantele, author of The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness ($24.95, Robert Rose, 2014).

Oil and water don’t mix. Putting essential oil directly into a bath leaves the undiluted substance floating on the top of the water. It could then come into direct contact with the skin and potentially cause irritation and pain, Cantele explains.

Instead, while your tub is filling with water, mix a tablespoon of carrier oil like grapeseed with about 5 drops of essential oil in a nonreactive bowl.

After the tub has filled and the water’s off, add the oils to your bath and stir the water with your hand. This method avoids the loss of any essences through evaporation.

You could also use an unscented body wash or liquid castile soap in place of the carrier oil, Cantele says.

Common Essential Oils & Their Benefits

Throughout history, humans have extracted oils from grasses, seeds, flower petals, buds, bark, wood, stems, leaves, and roots. These powerful scents have been benefiting humankind in many ways—soothing minds, lifting spirits, and healing bodies. Here are some common essential oils and their benefits:

• Chamomile Oil

  • inhibits skin activity of:
    • bacteria
    • fungi
    • toxins
  • improves wound healing
  • improves eczema
  • lifts mood and eases:
    • oversensitivity
    • stress
    • insomnia

  ---

• Eucalyptus Oil

  • antiseptic for:wounds
  • helps treat insect bites
  • enhances skin repair
  • reduces on the skin:
    • inflammation
    • itching
  • scent can:
    • increase energy
    • relieve:
      • congestion
      • headache
      • shock
      • stress

  ---

• Geranium Oil

  • helps smooth wrinkles
  • benefits oily and dry skin
  • uplifting and eases anxiety
  • balances mind and body

  ---

• Lavender Oil

  • anti-inflammatory properties
  • helps heal:
  • stretch marks
  • scars
  • lifts mood and eases:
    • nervousness
    • irritability
    • insomnia

  ---

• Lemongrass Oil

  • reduces:
    • skin infections
    • oily hair
    • acne
  • deodorant properties
  • sedating and soothing
  • eases:
    • nervous exhaustion
    • stress

  ---

• Tea Tree Oil

  • antifungal
  • antibacterial
  • helps heal:
    • wounds
    • acne

Back in 1981, Norman Rosenthal, a researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, thought he’d identified a very rare syndrome.

He determined that some people were plagued by severe depression that came on in the fall as daylight hours dwindled, and lifted with the arrival of longer days in spring.

He was half right: Rosenthal was indeed homing in on a type of depression with a specific trigger—he named it “seasonal affective disorder,” or SAD. But a call for people experiencing the symptoms drew 3,000 responses rather than the handful he expected.

Today it’s estimated that more than 10 million Americans suffer from SAD.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

When daylight hours drop, so does your mood if you’re affected by SAD or its milder sibling known as the winter blues.

What Causes SAD?

Researchers believe the decrease in exposure to sunlight slows the release of serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood. The hormone melatonin, which modulates your circadian rhythms, plays a part too. The body secretes melatonin when the sun goes down, making you sleepy.

Who is at Risk of SAD?

People who are more susceptible to SAD include women, those aged 15 to 55, and those who:

• have a family history of wintertime depression
• live in places where days are short in the winter months
• have been diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder

What Are The Symptoms of SAD?

If you have SAD, you’re likely to feel down and hopeless, have trouble concentrating and interacting with others, and crave carbohydrates.

Treating and Managing SAD

Check with your physician to determine the best course of action, and make this winter a happy one.

• Light Therapy

  To combat depression brought on by the dark days of winter, the first step is light therapy—treatment with fluorescent or incandescent lamps that replicate sunlight or a brightening sunrise.

  2,500 to 10,000 lux for 30 to 60 minutes a day is usually effective. Talk with your physician about the best approach.

• Alternative Therapy

  Some people also benefit from acupuncture, yoga, meditation, guided imagery, or massage.

• Supplements

  A number of supplements are used to beat back the winter blues and SAD. Try these to keep SAD at bay.

  Remember, supplements can sometimes interact with medications, and severe depression should be treated by a doctor.

  • Vitamin D

    Vitamin D supplementation is helpful for some SAD sufferers: Taking 2,000 IU daily can keep neurotransmitters in balance.

  • St. John’s Wort

    Long used to treat a range of conditions including nervous system disorders, St. John’s wort has been shown to help people with mild to moderate (but not severe) depression.

    Studies show it may work as well as prescription medications, without some of the side effects.

    Research also indicates that St. John’s wort is even more effective in treating SAD when paired with light therapy.

  • SAMe

    A compound found in the body, S-adenosylmethionine, or SAMe, may be as effective as antidepressants without some of their side effects—and it may work more quickly.

    SAMe aids in the production and breakdown of brain chemicals like serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine. Scientists think it works by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain.

  • Melatonin

    When summer changes to fall and fall transitions into winter, the levels of melatonin in your body may change as well.

    More studies are needed, but supplementation with melatonin may provide relief to some people with depression that comes on in the cold months.

  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    Supplementing with omega 3s could reduce mild to moderate depression.

    Omega 3s are key to brain function, and people with depression may have low levels of the omega 3s eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

    Some studies indicate that people who take prescription medication for depression may find increased relief if they also supplement with omega 3s.

As we go through life our bodies change, which means our needs do, too.

Supplements for Different Ages

Have you been wondering which supplements you should be taking for your stage of life? We have some answers here.

• For Youth

  • Kids and Preteens

    • Talk to a pediatrician about how supplements can complement your child’s healthy diet.
    • Studies show that kids tend to consume too few essential fats (such as ALA, EPA, and DHA), which affect brain and eye development.
    • Probiotic supplements support a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, important for immune health.
    • Experts recommend that everyone ages 1 to 18 take in between 600 and 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily.

    Extra Credit

    Consider chewable supplements if your child doesn’t get enough fiber.

  • For Teens and Young Adults

    • Start with a multivitamin to fill in nutritional gaps.
    • Teenage girls may benefit from a formula containing iron.
    • Unless they eat two or more servings of oily fish each week, teens and young adults are likely to benefit from supplemental omega 3s—these essential fats even contribute to healthy skin.
    • Adequate calcium and magnesium are crucial for strong bones (the magnesium may also ease leg cramps and promote relaxation).

    Extra Credit

    Add antioxidants and super greens to a diet low in fruits and veggies.

• For Adults

  • Men

    • A men’s multivitamin/mineral provides a healthy foundation. In addition to key nutrients, it may contain lyocpene, selenium, and saw palmetto for prostate wellness.
    • Vitamin D helps reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and some forms of cancer; many men don’t get enough.
    • Turmeric or its powerful component curcumin, therapeutic enzymes, and omega-3 fatty acids combat inflammation, another chronic health risk.

    Extra Credit

    Turn to medicinal mushrooms such as reishi and adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha for stress management and immune help.

  • Women

    • Be sure to take a multi formulated for women your age; this is often indicated on the product label.
    • Since even the best multivitamin/mineral can’t contain all the nutrients needed for optimal health, consider adding a bone-supportive formula (including calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin K) and omega-rich oils or capsules.
    • Daily probiotics help maintain bacterial balance and keep yeast in check.

    Extra Credit

    Work with an herbalist for hormone help (chaste tree, black cohosh), stress support (green tea, holy basil, rhodiola), or other health goals.

• Expecting Moms

  • Consult your healthcare practitioner for advice about supplementation during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
  • Prenatal supplements containing adequate folic acid (the manufactured form of folate) and iron are often recommended.
  • If you suffer from anemia, fatigue, and depression, you may be low in folate, also called vitamin B9. Consider purchasing a product containing methylated folate, a form of folate converted into the most active form of folate that the body can use. 
  • Ask about healthy fats: Studies indicate that children born to mothers who consumed essential fatty acids during pregnancy have fewer allergies.

  Extra Credit

  A knowledgeable practitioner can recommend herbs that safely promote healthy digestion, mood, and lactation.

• For Seniors

  • Choose a multi that matches your needs (postmenopausal women, for example, need less iron than they did prior to menopause).
  • Fiber, probiotics, and digestive enzymes support regularity and optimal nutrient absorption, especially important as the digestive system slows.
  • Omega 3s, citicoline (a B vitamin), and herbs such as gotu kola and bacopa help keep the brain sharp.

  Extra Credit

  Boost eye health with lutein, zeaxanthin, and bilberry.

Veganism is trending these days, and while most people don’t choose a vegan lifestyle for its cool factor, that popularity has made it easier to opt for a solely plant-based diet.

Whether you’ve decided to switch to a vegan diet to help prevent the exploitation of animals, to improve your health, to promote a green planet, or all of the above, you’ll find many resources and products to smooth the way.

Tips for Starting a Vegan Diet

Here are some strategies to start you down a vegan path.

• Build on What You Know

  You likely already have some vegan meals in your repertoire, along with vegetarian meals that can be “veganized.” Think bean-based chili, pasta and veggies, lentil stew, and stir fry. Start with those so you don’t need to come up with something new for every meal.

• Try Jackfruit

  With a texture similar to meat, this fruit can replace pork, beef, and chicken in recipes and has 3 grams of protein per serving.

• Ease Into It

  • Start with One Meal

    Committing to one plant-based meal per day is a great start. You might try breakfast—hot or cold cereal with fruit, nuts, and nondairy milk will fuel your morning. For a weekend brunch, make an egg-substitute veggie omelet, “bacon” made from tempeh or soy, and plant-based yogurt on the side.

  • Think in Proportion

    Ease into vegan living by gradually upping the amount of plant-based foods on your plate and decreasing the amount of meat, eggs, and dairy.

• Do Your Homework

  Read about veganism, join online forums, talk with longtime vegans and newbies (new-vees?), and watch documentaries on living the plant-based life.

• Read Labels

  Find local shops and restaurants that offer vegan products and entrées. When you shop for groceries, examine the ingredients. Not all vegan products are labeled “vegan,” and some items you think will pass the test don’t—some pasta has egg in it, for instance, and some cornbread mixes contain animal fat.

• Make a Supplement Plan

  Vegans need to be sure to get enough of the following nutrients

  • vitamin B12
  • vitamin D
  • omega 3s
  • iodine
  • iron
  • calcium
  • zinc

  You can address each of these separately through diet, supplementation, exposure to sun, etc., but while you’re still feeling your way into a new way of eating, consider researching multivitamin-mineral supplements designed for vegans.

• Be Steadfast

  Finally, don’t be daunted! You can go as fast or slow as you want in arriving at “full veganhood.”

As the body ages, cells, tissues, and organs deteriorate. But it’s how we age that’s important.

Supplements for Aging Bodies and Minds

A variety of nutritional supplements can help us maintain vitality, boost the immune system, and fight cell damage.

• Vitamin E for Memory Loss

  A common concern in aging is loss of mental clarity. Free radicals damage neurotransmitters that move thought impulses from the brain throughout the body.

  A powerful antioxidant, vitamin E has been shown to attack free radicals and protect cells that make up nerve fibers in the brain. This vitamin may help maintain brain function and slow memory loss.

  Vitamin E also inhibits oxidation of bad cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease.

  Not all vitamin E is the same. Natural vitamin E is more potent than less-expensive, synthetic E. Look on the label for “d” to identify natural vitamin E (“dl” denotes synthetic).

  Gamma tocopherol may be a more effective form of E than the common alpha tocopherol.

• Acetyl-L-carnitine (Memory Loss)

  Another weapon against age-related memory loss is acetyl-L-carnitine, which in studies appears to prevent free-radical damage in vital neural tissues.

  Elderly patients taking a dose of 1,000 to 2,000 mg a day of this supplement for 90 days showed improvement in mild mental impairments such as slow memory.

  Acetyl-L-carnitine may also help restore short-term memory in Alzheimer’s disease, improve memory and cognition in stroke patients, improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and relieve some depression symptoms.

• Ginkgo biloba (Antioxidants)

  Ginkgo biloba, an herb with potent antioxidant flavones, improves blood flow to the brain, reduces blood platelet formation, and counteracts free radical activity. It may also help slow memory loss and prevent oxidative damage.

• Selenium (Cell Health)

  Cell activity slows and cells begin to break down as we age. The antioxidant trace mineral selenium keeps cells active, supple, and permeable so they can process vital nutrients.

  Selenium also destroys free radicals, helps the body produce thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism, promotes good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol, and strengthens immune function.

  Some evidence suggests it may help prevent diabetes and heart disease.

• Coenzyme Q10 (Cell Health)

  As we age, our bodies produce less coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, aka ubiquinone), which is essential for producing energy in the cells and fighting damage from free radicals.

  CoQ10 supplementation regulates the oxidation of fats and sugars into energy, helps the body transport energy from enzyme to enzyme, boosts the immune system, and prevents cholesterol oxidation that leads to plaque buildup and cardiovascular disease.

• Vitamin C (Antioxidant)

  Tried-and-true vitamin C plays an important role in supplementing for healthy aging. Antioxidant C renders free radicals ineffective to healthy cells, giving the immune system time to battle more threatening infectious agents.

  Vitamin C also reduces inflammation in the arteries, improves good cholesterol, reduces joint stiffness and osteoarthritis, contributes to healthy skin and vision, and regulates white blood cells, which may help to prevent certain cancers.

• Green Tea (Cell Health)

  Green tea, high in polyphenols called catechins, helps in the fight against DNA damage and promotes the eradication of cancer cells. This unfermented tea protects against oxidation and free-radical damage and improves the integrity of cells. Green tea extract is associated with lower occurrences of bladder, breast, colon, liver, ovarian, prostate, and stomach cancers.

  As the antioxidant effect of one cup of green tea lasts only about two hours, experts suggest sipping green tea throughout the day. Or, find a high-quality supplement at your local natural products store.

• GliSODin (Antioxidant)

  GliSODin is a potent, proprietary form of the antioxidant SOD, which supports the body’s ability to eliminate superoxide radicals, a culprit of premature aging and cellular damage. This antioxidant supplement appears to enhance antioxidant status on the cellular level and to protect against cell death caused by free-radical damage.

  French scientists recently studied GliSODin’s affect on cardiovascular health, finding that supplementation helped control carotid artery thickness, or atherosclerosis. “We could demonstrate the preventive efficacy of GliSODin at a preclinical stage in subjects with risk factors of cardiovascular disease,” they wrote.

Scientific Challenges

A study conducted at University College London and published in the November 2008 issue of Genes and Development appears to cast some doubt on the relationship between popular antioxidant supplements and lifespan.

The study, which tested the ability of genetically altered worms to fight the dangerous free radical superoxide, found that changing the worms’ natural defense levels had no effect on their lifespans. More research will be required in higher life forms, especially mammals, to confirm these results.

And the question of lifespan versus quality of life arises. A variety of enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and herbs may improve general health, mental clarity, mobility, flexibility, vision, and the list goes on.

These supplements along with lifestyle factors—eating healthfully, exercising, socializing, having close family ties and spiritual practices, not smoking, and not drinking to excess—help many to enjoy an active life longer.

This year, more people than ever will hear their doctor say: “You have Type 2 diabetes.”

Prevalence of Diabetes

More than 30.3 million individuals currently live with a diabetes diagnosis—with about 95 percent of them having Type 2, says Lucille Hughes, director of diabetes education at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, NY.

Diabetes on The Rise

“Type 2 diabetes actually used to be extremely rare,” shares Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of the book Diabetes Is Optional (To Your Health Books, 2018).

The numbers started to skyrocket as a result of modern eating habits—culminating in the alarming fact that one-third of people will now develop Type 2 diabetes and its precursor, metabolic syndrome (which is the combination of high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and hypertension), in their lifetime, he adds.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Managing Diabetes Naturally

Diet and Lifestyle

Dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments can go far in managing and even reversing Type 2 diabetes.

“Proper meal planning along with physical activity has been proven to improve health and glucose control,” notes Hughes.

Even better? The combination of meals planned with diabetes in mind and incorporation of exercise leads to weight loss, which itself almost always allows for a decrease in reliance on diabetes medications.

That, of course, comes as “a welcome benefit, both financially and emotionally, for any person living with diabetes,” says Hughes.

Diabetes-Friendly Eating

Ready for some of the nitty-gritty details of a diabetes-friendly meal plan? Hughes offers three key tips to follow:

• Monitor Carbohydrates

  Carbohydrates boost blood glucose levels (which is not a good thing), so keep this number low.

• No Late-Night Snacking

  Limiting eating after dinner helps many people manage both their diabetes and their medication regime.

• Eat Frequently

  Don’t skip meals or go more than four hours without eating. Regular eating of small amounts helps maintain good glucose control.

Supplement Support

• Vitamin D for Glucose Tolerance

  Vitamin D should be on your radar.

  There’s a solid body of research showing vitamin D improves glucose tolerance. This is because the body makes more insulin and responds better to circulating insulin when there’s enough vitamin D.

  After two months of daily supplementation with 4,500 IU of vitamin D by people with Type 2 diabetes, researchers documented a significant drop in fasting blood glucose.

• Chromium to Regulate Blood Sugar

  The mineral chromium helps your body regulate blood sugar levels. It is part of glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which plays a role in helping insulin bring blood sugar into each body cell.

  People without diabetes generally show higher blood levels of chromium than those with this disease.

  Those who supplement with chromium (for example, by taking a multivitamin/mineral that includes chromium) are less likely to have diabetes.

  Even more heartening? Those who already have diabetes but who start taking 600 micrograms of chromium picolinate daily improve their blood sugar control.

• Hintonia latiflora

  Dr. Teitelbaum’s favorite herbal treatment for diabetes is an herb called Hintonia latiflora. This herb, which is sometimes found under the name Sucontral D, comes backed by a growing body of research.

  Blood Sugar Regulation

  The herb delays the release of sugar into the bloodstream and keeps glucose levels low instead of allowing them to spike—a main cause of excessive insulin release, he explains.

  Another benefit of Hintonia latiflora relates to reducing insulin resistance and inflammation.

  But the greatest benefit, Dr. Teitelbaum contends, is the herb’s ability to “help maintain steady blood glucose levels throughout the day and night, thus contributing to long-term improvements in glucose control.”

  Glycosylated Hemoglobin

  In addition, studies show that Hintonia latiflora decreases glycosylated hemoglobin, which is just a complicated way of describing red blood cells combined with glucose.

  When glycosylated hemoglobin goes up, it’s a sign that diabetes is poorly controlled. A lower glycosylated hemoglobin number means better diabetes control and better overall health.

  Supplementing with Hintonia latiflora could bring glycosylated hemoglobin down by nearly 1 percent, which Dr. Teitelbaum says, is “often enough to make the diabetes go away.”

Conclusion

“Our modern diet, high in sugar and low in fiber, is the fast lane to a diabetes epidemic,” says Dr. Teitelbaum.

What can you do to prevent Type 2 diabetes or work to make it go away if you have it?

• Lose Weight

  Research shows that with adequate weight loss, 86 percent of diabetes cases can be eliminated.

• Exercise

  Walk daily in the sunshine or find another exercise you love—preferably outdoors.

• Reduce Carbs

  Decrease sugar and white flour but increase fiber. A ketogenic diet may be helpful. Consult with your healthcare practitioner.

• Supplement

  Take a good multivitamin high in magnesium and vitamin D.

• Eat Nuts

  Eat a half-cup of nuts daily to lower blood glucose.

Our lungs came into sharp focus with COVID-19. Is there anything we can do to reinforce the health of our lungs?

Fortunately, many foods support lung health.

Foods That Support Your Lungs' Health

Here are 10 options to get you started.

• Beets

  Beets are rich in nitrates, magnesium, potassium, antioxidants, and vitamin C. Each of those components boost the health of human lung tissue. The nitrates relax blood vessels within the lungs and distribute oxygen more efficiently.

• Red Peppers

  Red peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C, a nutrient especially important to the lung function of smokers.

• Apples

  Apples are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. Eating five or more apples a week can help improve lung function and reduce the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Tomatoes

  Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid antioxidant proven to improve lung health. Substances in tomatoes can also reduce airway inflammation to help people with lung challenges such as asthma and COPD.

• Green Tea

  Green tea has a high concentration of EGCG— epigallocatechin gallate. Because EGCG boosts the body’s antioxidants, it also boosts anti- inflammatory properties to help heal scarred lung tissue.

• Edamame

  Edamame beans are rich in isoflavones. Isoflavones help guard against lung disease, including COPD. Isoflavones can also reduce shortness of breath in those with impaired lung capacity.

• Oysters

  Oysters are rich in zinc, selenium, copper, and B vitamins. Those nutrients improve lung function. Smokers often deplete their B vitamin stores. Oysters help return the balance.

• Blueberries

  Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins, pigments that help protect lungs from tissue damage. In one study, people who consumed two servings of blueberries a week slowed the progression of lung disease significantly.

• Coffee

  Coffee helps protect your lungs. Caffeine and antioxidants help protect against respiratory diseases including asthma and COPD by expanding blood vessels and improving the transfer of oxygen.

• Turmeric

  Turmeric is rich in antioxidants and anti- inflammatory agents. Its active ingredient curcumin is especially helpful for improving lung function.

What is Lion's Mane?

Both a delicious edible and incredible medicine, lion’s mane mushroom (Heiricium erinaceus), when mature, is a fleshy, semi-spherical whitish fruiting body.

It is composed of a mass of unbranched icicle-looking spines hanging from a cushiony base that attaches to recently fallen logs or injured tissue of living hardwoods.

Native to Europe, it is widely distributed throughout woodlands of North America.

When fresh, the spines are white and highly edible, though the base is too tough to be eaten.

As this mushroom ages, the color turns to yellowish to brown, at which time its delectability declines.

Lion's Mane for Brain Health

Medicinal mushrooms, such as reishi, shiitake, and lion’s mane, are among the most important supplements we can use for overall health. They share properties and chemistry that are similar, but each has its unique signature.

The unique signature of lion’s mane is its incredible potential for healing nerve tissue. Clinical and preclinical investigations show it to be uniquely beneficial in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s disease, due to its ability to both protect and regenerate nerve tissue.

Lion’s Mane Chemistry

• Beta Glucan-Type Polysaccharides

  Like most medicinal mushrooms, lion’s mane consists of an array of beta glucan-type polysaccharides, often touted as the active constituents of medicinal mushrooms.

• Diterpenoids: Erinacines and Hericenones

  Of special interest that gives lion’s mane its unique standing is a collection of diterpenoids know as erinacines and phenolic compounds known as hericenones. Both have the ability to promote the synthesis of nerve growth factor, a neuropeptide involved in the regulation of growth, maintenance, proliferation, and survival of neurons.

• Other Components

  Additionally, lion’s mane contains:

  • organic acids
  • nucleotides
  • amino acids
  • carbohydrates
  • flavonoids
  • unsaturated fatty acids
  • terpenoids
  • phenolic acids
  • phenylpropanoids
  • steroids

Lion's Mane for Neurodegenerative Diseases

In animals that received erinacine A in daily meals, improvements in neurodegenerative diseases such as ischemic stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease were seen. Also observed were decreases in amyloid plaque, a characteristic feature of AD.

The same compound increased the survival of newly formed neurons in the hippocampus, suggesting general benefit, not just benefit for those with diseased brains.

Subsequently, an erinacine A-enriched lion’s mane mycelium preparation was given to patients with mild AD. Improvements were recorded using a variety of dementia assessment ratings.

Other markers associated with cognitive decline showed marked improvement, including increases in neurotropic factor in the brain and reductions in amyloid plaque and apolipoprotein E4 levels, the latter being the primary known genetic risk factor for AD.

Part of this activity is associated with a direct effect on regenerating nerve tissue but also in reducing inflammatory cytokines, which are compounds that can wreak havoc on nerve tissue (think “cytokine storm,” as seen in severe cases of COVID-19).

Other Neurological Disorders

In addition to lion’s mane potential for reducing the incidence and severity of AD and dementia, it similarly shows benefit in other neurological disorders, including:

• protecting against age-related hearing loss
• decreasing brain lesions in Parkinson’s disease
• supporting healthy myelination of nerve tissue

Myelin is a fatty substance that serves as insulation around nerve tissues, thereby improving nerve transmission and factors in conditions such as:

• multiple sclerosis
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• peripheral nerve damage

Other Benefits of Lion's Mane

• Diabetes Control

  While the cognitive benefits of lion’s mane have been determined in human clinical and animal trials, a number of other benefits have been investigated in preclinical studies.

  When administered as a part of the diet, lion’s mane inhibited the wasting that occurs in advanced diabetes, improved fasting blood sugar levels, reduced glucose tolerance, improved liver function and lipid metabolism, and reduced oxidative stress, which is prevalent in diabetes.

  Polysaccharides were found to be at least partially responsible for these activities.

• Immunity

  A number of studies report a host of mechanisms by which lion’s mane supports health in general and healthy immunity specifically.

  In one study, compounds hericerin A and hericerin inhibited the growth of leukemia cells, while another showed that lion’s mane polysaccharides activate macrophage immune response, which suggests its potential as a preventive in respiratory infections.

• Gut Health

  Other studies show that lion’s mane improves the health of the intestinal microbiome with potential benefit in colitis, healing of the mucosal lining in the intestines, and even the potential to break down wheat.