Lion's Mane Mushrooms for Migraine Relief and Prevention - The Evidence

Lion's Mane Mushrooms: A Potential Natural Remedy for Migraines?

Migraines can be extremely debilitating for those experiencing them on a chronic basis. As scientific understanding grows regarding the neurological mechanisms behind migraines, increasing research attention has turned toward natural compounds with promising effects - one of them being lions mane mushrooms.

Lions mane (Hericium erinaceus) is an edible medicinal mushroom that has demonstrated neuroprotective and neural regenerative capabilities. As well explore here, some initial studies suggest it may hold potential for reducing migraine severity, frequency and related symptoms.

An Overview of Migraines and Treatments

Migraines involve severe, painful headaches along with additional neurological disturbances. Symptoms can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours per attack. Disruption of brain communication pathways helps trigger episodes.

Treatment focuses on acute flare-up relief or prophylactic prevention. Typical options include pain relievers, triptans, ergots, anti-seizure drugs, Botox and nerve blocks. Some patients pursue natural remedies as alternatives when pharmaceutical interventions fail or cause unpleasant side effects.

Introducing Lions Mane Mushrooms

Native to North American and Asian forests, lion's mane mushrooms derive their name from cascading tendrils resembling a lions mane. Considered both a tasty delicacy and medicinal herb, science recognizes lions mane for properties including:

• Neuroregenerative compounds to stimulate nerve growth for brain and nervous system repair
• Nerve growth factors to foster myelin sheath generation around axons
• Anti-inflammatory substances to relieve swelling and cytokine damage
• Antioxidants to fight destructive oxidative stress
• Immune boosters like polysaccharides and erinacines
• Potential prevention against dementia, anxiety and neurological injury

Both lions mane mushrooms themselves and supplemental extracts appear useful for accessing these neuroprotective qualities.

Lion's Mane Effects Relevant for Migraines

Presently no human trials have directly tested lions mane mushrooms for migraine intervention. However, some of its now well-established mechanisms align with emerging insights regarding migraine pathology:

Neuroinflammation Dampening

Migraine involves localized inflammatory responses affecting nerve tissue, blood vessels and related structures in the brain and trigeminal nerve regions. Lion's mane contains amyloban compounds shown in research to curb inflammation and inhibit pain signaling compound production.

Nerve Cell Protection

Migraines also correlate with sensory hyper-excitability in the brain. Lions mane ingredients like hericenones and erinacines can stabilize and shelter nerve cells from damage or accelerated deterioration related to inflammation and overstimulation.

Spike Control

Oscillating, uncontrolled neural excitation among cell groups is another hallmark finding in migraine disorder models. Lions mane mycelium and fruiting bodies supply bioactive metabolites capable of regulating electrical flow balance between neurons.

Microglial Inhibition

Microglia are specialized immune cells active within the central nervous system. Over activation of microglia results in production of inflammatory factors and free radicals driving migraine onset in interrelated ways. Compounds from lions mane were recently discovered to suppress microglial overgrowth and subsequent cascading sheath inflammation in laboratory test tube research experiments. Early hints this may translate to migraine relief have started emerging in rodent trials as well.

Anecdotal Reports and Safety Considerations

A few preliminary case studies in small cohorts of migraineurs trying lions mane supplementation revealed some encouraging results. Roughly two thirds experienced reductions in headache pain or sensitivity accompanying lions mane usage over the short term while experiencing minimal side effects.

Larger, longer human investigations are still needed to draw definitive treatment guidance or change formal headache society recommendations regarding lions mane use for migraines. But these initial outcomes are promising and provide impetus for expanded, controlled trials.

To date, lions mane generally demonstrates an excellent safety profile when taken appropriately by mouth in dietary supplement form. Simply introduce dosage gradually in the 1-3 grams dried mushroom range daily.

Practical Methods for Using Lions Mane with Migraines

Those interested in exploring lions mane mushrooms as a potential remedy for migraine prevention or symptom relief can consider a few administration options:

Culinary Mushrooms

Seeking out fresh or dried lions mane mushrooms from specialty markets to incorporate into recipes allows accessing mushroom nutrients in whole dietary form for better synergistic effects between various compounds.

Hot Water Extracts

Steeping dried lions mane mushrooms in hot (not boiling) water for 20-30 minutes extracts useful elements into a medicinal liquid tea, broth, or consumable essence full of activated myconutrients.

Alcohol Tinctures

Alcohol tincture's made using high proof vodka or grain alcohol to capture lion's mane's neuroactive constituents provides a fast absorbing administration pathway under the tongue or mixed into beverages.

Powdered Supplements

Taking conveniently measured pure lions mane mushroom powder in pill or loose material form gives precise daily dosing with both water and fat soluble components present for Multi-faceted neurological support.

Enhancing Efficacy with Complementary Strategies

Some evidence suggests lions mane anti-inflammatory, neural enriching capacities pair well with additional evidence based migraine interventions like:

Stress-Relief Practices

Since emotional stress commonly precedes migraine attacks, calming activities like yoga, mindfulness meditation, gardening and forest bathing enable lions mane to sustain nerve health despite external pressures.

Acupuncture

Traditional acupuncture point stimulation helps harmonize electrical communication rhythms throughout the central nervous system to complement lions manes neural transmission balancing properties.

Aerobic Exercise

Gentle, endorphin producing exercise between headaches promotes positive neuroplasticity and nerve scaffolding that lions mane further amplifies at a biochemical level.

Healthy Sleep Routines

Getting ample, quality sleep allows peak overnight nervous system restoration to take place. Lions mane taken in the evening may optimize this rejuvenation windows effects.

As always, consult your physician before beginning any new migraine treatment regimen.

The Takeaway

While controlled trials are still needed, lions mane mushrooms show promise for reducing migraine severity, pain and frequency based on known neuroprotective properties from initial research studies in cellular and animal models.

Lions mane mushrooms as a remedy for migraines appears generally safe with minimal side effects. Using lion's mane as part of a multi-modal treatment plan alongside conventional care and healthy lifestyle strategies may offer those with stubborn migraine cases an additional measure of relief from their episodic suffering.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.