Lion's Mane for Anxiety, Low Mood and Stress: What Trials Found
What the few human trials of lion's mane found for anxiety, low mood and stress, why they cannot show it treats depression, and where to get help first.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
If you are thinking about harming yourself, or feel in crisis, contact 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US) now. For immediate danger, call 911. Low mood or anxiety that lasts, or gets in the way of daily life, deserves a clinician's assessment. A mushroom supplement should never replace treatment or a prescribed medicine; ask the prescriber or pharmacist before changing anything. More: mental health crisis and natural remedies.
Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers.; fruiting body or mycelium, depending on the product) has been tested for mood in a handful of small human studies. Some reported lower scores on mood questionnaires, but the studies are few, small and short, and they do not show that lion's mane treats depression or an anxiety disorder. Evidence label: insufficient evidence for any mental health condition, with a promising but limited signal in two small trials. A review that looked at depression noted that antidepressant effects of lion's mane "have not been validated" against conventional antidepressants.[1]
What human trials found
| Group and product | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 30 women, cookies containing lion's mane or placebo, 4 weeks[2] | Depression-scale scores were lower after lion's mane than before; between-group differences were seen in only two items of a complaints questionnaire. The authors say there is "the possibility" of reducing depression and anxiety.[2] | Promising but limited |
| 77 adults with overweight or obesity and a mood or sleep problem, on a low-calorie diet, 8 weeks[3] | Depression, anxiety and sleep-disorder scores fell; a blood marker, pro-BDNF, rose while BDNF did not change.[3] | Promising but limited (mood scores, not a diagnosis; diet changed at the same time) |
| 41 healthy adults aged 18 to 45, 28 days[4] | A trend toward lower subjective stress (p = 0.051); the authors say null and limited negative findings were also seen.[4] | Mixed |
| 18 healthy adults, one dose of extract[5] | No significant effect on overall mood.[5] | No clear effect |
| Healthy adults, single 1 g dose[6] | Higher ratings on "happiness compared to peers" items.[6] | Preliminary; self-rated, one dose |
None of these studies enrolled people with a diagnosed depressive or anxiety disorder as a group and compared lion's mane with standard treatment, as far as the abstracts we read show. Proper evidence not found for that question: we searched PubMed for Hericium erinaceus with depression, anxiety and mood.
Laboratory and animal findings are separate
Rats given freeze-dried lion's mane from laboratory cultures showed less "depression-like" and "anxiety-like" behavior in swimming and maze tests.[7] A systematic review of edible fungi as possible antidepressants described mostly preclinical work and noted the "lack of clinical validation".[8] Animal behavior tests are not human depression, and these findings are kept apart from the trials above. See human vs animal research.
Why the results are hard to use
- Mood and stress scores are self-reported and can improve with placebo, with a new routine, or with diet change.
- A blood BDNF or pro-BDNF change is a biomarker, not a clinical outcome.[3]
- Products, amounts and durations differ, so one result does not carry to another form (tea, coffee, gummy, capsule).
Related
Stress, anxiety, burnout and depression: how they differ | Mushrooms for stress and emotional wellbeing | Lion's mane guide
Frequently asked questions
Can lion's mane treat depression?
Proper evidence not found. Small trials measured mood scores, and reviews say clinical validation is lacking.[1][8]
Can lion's mane replace my antidepressant or anxiety medicine?
No evidence supports that. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own; ask the prescriber or pharmacist.[1]
Did any trial find a mood benefit?
Two small trials reported lower depression or anxiety scores,[2][3] while others in healthy adults were mixed or null.[4][5]
Does lion's mane help with stress?
A trend toward lower stress after 28 days was reported in one small trial, not a clear effect.[4]
What if my mood is getting worse?
Contact a clinician, and use 988 in the US if you are in crisis.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety and who should ask first
Reported side effects in trials were mostly mild stomach complaints, and rarely allergic reactions or skin rash.[9][10] See side effects and allergy. Documented interactions between lion's mane and antidepressants or other mental health medicines: Proper evidence not found in the sources we read, which is not proof of safety. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber first if you take any medicine (supplements and antidepressants), and check with a clinician if pregnant, breastfeeding, or before surgery.