Where to Buy Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplements

What is Lion's Mane Mushroom?

Lion's mane mushroom, known scientifically as Hericium erinaceus, is an edible fungus native to North America, Europe, and Asia. It gets its common name from the cascading white tendrils that resemble a lions mane. Sometimes called pom pom mushroom or bearded tooth mushroom, it belongs to the tooth fungus group.

While lions mane mushroom has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, it has grown increasingly popular in recent years after research revealed a range of potential health and wellness benefits.

Bioactive Compounds in Lions Mane Mushrooms

Lions mane contains bioactive substances like hericenones, erinacines, polysaccharides, and other compounds that exert neurological, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunostimulant effects in the body.

Both animal and human studies link lions mane supplementation with benefits for brain function, memory, cognition, anxiety and depression, nerve growth and regeneration, digestive issues, heart health, and inhibition of tumor growth.

The mushrooms rich supply of antioxidants also helps fight cellular damage from free radicals that can accelerate aging.

Forms of Lion's Mane Supplements

Given demonstrated benefits, many seek out lions mane mushroom in supplement form to leverage its perks. There are several forms available:

• Powdered capsules - The mushrooms extract powdered and encapsulated
• Liquid extracts - A tincture with the bioactive compounds distilled into alcohol or glycerine
• Bulk powder - Pure lions mane powder used in tea, coffee, smoothies, broths or baked goods

Dosage recommendations vary based on factors like form, concentration, and what condition gets treatment. Most daily doses for capsules or extracts range 150mg to 3000mg taken 1 to 3 times daily. Consulting an integrative medicine practitioner helps optimize use.

Where to Buy Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplements

When sourcing quality lions mane supplements, purity and potency matter. Numerous online and brick-and-mortar retailers carry the mushroom extracts, powders and capsules described below.

Online Supplement Retailers

Reputable online merchants selling lions mane mushroom supplements include:

• Real Mushrooms - Sells certified organic lions mane capsules, extracts and powder
• Noomadic Herbals - Offers lions mane liquid extracts, powders and dual extracts
• Pure Nootropics - Specializes in cognitive health supplements like lions mane capsules
• Purely Medicinal - supplies bulk dried lion's mane mushroom powder for culinary uses

Buying directly from supplement producer websites also ensures authentic, high-grade products. Many companies provide detailed information on sourcing, manufacturing methods, testing, ingredients and dosing guidance to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

Pharmacies and Health Stores

Trusted national pharmacy and health food chains carrying various lions mane mushroom products include:

• CVS - Stocks Host Defense Lions Mane Capsules in stores and online
• Vitamin Shoppe - Sells Host Defense Lions Mane extracts, Stamets 7 Daily capsules with lions mane, Om Mushroom Superfood capsules and more in stores
• Whole Foods - Host Defense, Real Mushrooms, Om and other brands of capsules, liquid tinctures available regionally

Product selection, prices and availability varies by location. But often pharmacies and chains with extensive supplement sections feature multiple lions mane offerings to browse before buying.

Natural Food Stores

Specialty grocers focused on whole, organic foods frequently stock or can special order quality lions mane items like:

• Bulk dried mushroom powder - For adding to foods and beverages
• Capsules and extracts - Look for alcohol-free glycerite options
• Mushroom coffee blends - Mixes combining instant coffee with lions mane and other fungal extracts like cordyceps, reishi and chaga

Cooperative community grocers, independent health food stores and farmers market stands also offer excellent mushroom products harvested locally and packed with flavor and nutritional value.

Online Marketplaces

For added buying convenience, consumers can procure lions mane supplements on popular digital marketplace platforms like:

• Amazon - Extensive selection including Host Defense, Real Mushrooms, Om, Pure Nootropics, Nature Restore and other highly-rated brands
• eBay - New and used lions mane mushroom products from individual sellers and stores
• Etsy - Handmade mushroom extracts, teas and seasonings often sustainably wild harvested

Carefully vet seller feedback, manufacturing details, ingredients lists and product images before purchasing capsules or other lions mane items to ensure quality.

Factors to Consider When Buying

With so many lion's mane options available both online and in stores, use this criteria to zero-in on the best choice for you:

Organic

Opt for lions mane mushroom supplements verified organic whenever possible. Organic production protocols prohibit use of toxic pesticides and other concerning contaminants during growing, harvest, and processing into supplements.

Extraction Method

Hot water, alcohol and dual hot water/alcohol extraction techniques yield lions mane products with heightened concentrations of bioactive nutrients compared to raw mushroom powder alone. Seek out supplements leveraging clinically-backed extraction processes.

Lab Tested

Quality suppliers test lions mane mushroom supplements in third-party facilities for purity and potency confirmation before sales. Contaminant testing for things like heavy metals, solvent residues and bacteria also matters for safety.

Sourcing

Ask brands about their lions mane sourcing locale and methods. Some import wild-harvested or cultivated mushrooms with proven high actives content from premiere regions like the Changbai Mountains of China.

Others may source lions mane mycelium grown on North American grains to extend supply amid growing demand. Review sourcing transparency to guide selection.

Price

Factor your budget against purity testing rigor, organic status, extraction quality, sourcing sustainability and further credibility markers. While very inexpensive lion's mane likely signals overly-processed or questionable products, paying exorbitant premiums doesnt necessarily guarantee improved supplement performance either.

Aiming for competitively-yet moderately priced lions mane sourced consciously from reputable producers helps maximize both health support potential and purchasing power from supplements.

Other Sourcing Considerations

Those interested in harnessing lions mane mushroom benefits have a few additional supply channel options worth considering:

Grow Your Own

While home cultivation takes some research and practice, growing your own organic lion's mane lets you control inputs while reaping quantities lasting well beyond a single harvest. Lions mane mushroom spawn plugs, liquid cultures, grow kits and fruiting substrates are available to start modest home-scale production.

Forage It

In certain forested mountain regions of North America and Asia where lions mane mushrooms grow wild, experienced mushroom hunters forage legal, tested supplies each fall harvest season. Guided foraging tours and seminars in locales like Vermont, Oregon and British Columbia help identify edible lions mane and other functional mushroom types thriving abundantly in local wilderness.

When buying or foraging lions mane mushroom supplements, closely vet source transparency, testing rigor, organic credibility and processing care taken to ensure obtaining the highest potency nutrition possible from this profoundly beneficial fungus.

Pairing routine lions mane consumption with lifestyle upgrades like stress reduction, improved sleep hygiene, balanced whole food diets and regular exercise helps fully activate the mushrooms supportive cellular and systemic effects for peak wellbeing.

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.