Lion’s Mane Mushroom Extract

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a functional mushroom traditionally used in Chinese herbal preparations and Japanese cuisine for centuries, also known as Yamabushitake and Hou Tou Gu. Alchemy Dose Lion's Mane Extract is the 8:1 dual-extracted form sold in India, made from whole fruiting bodies using both hot water and ethanol. This captures both water-soluble beta-D-glucans and alcohol-soluble hericenones in one finished extract powder. Documented compound profile: beta-D-glucans at ≥25 percent, verified per third-party COA, alongside naturally occurring hericenones.

Lion's Mane is studied for its compound profile, particularly the hericenones first isolated by Kawagishi and colleagues in 1991, and the beta-D-glucan polysaccharide class characterised across functional-mushroom research. Clinical research on Hericium erinaceus is ongoing, with peer-reviewed work including the Mori 2009 trial (PMID 18844328). We do not make medical claims. Lion's Mane Extract is intended as a food supplement and not a medicine. Individual responses vary; consult a qualified practitioner if you have specific health conditions or take prescription medication.

There is no single timeline, and Alchemy Dose makes no efficacy claims for Lion's Mane Extract. The product is intended as a daily food supplement, not a single-dose intervention. Individual experiences vary based on dose, frequency, diet, sleep, and many personal factors. Many users take Lion's Mane Extract daily for several weeks before forming their own view of how it fits their routine. Consult a qualified practitioner if you have specific health concerns or take prescription medication.

Two forms of the same species with different uses and concentration levels.

Dried Lion's Mane mushroom is the whole fruiting body gently dried and packaged. Ideal for cooking: sauté, soups, tea decoctions, broths. Lower concentration of compounds per gram since it is the whole mushroom.

Lion's Mane Extract (this product) is dual-extracted at 8:1. Eight kilograms of dried fruiting body concentrated into one kilogram of finished extract powder, with beta-D-glucans at ≥25 percent. The most concentrated form, designed for measured daily use mixed into beverages.

Use dried for culinary preparation, extract for measured daily compound intake. Explore Dried Lion's Mane →

Yes, this is one of the key distinctions in the Lion's Mane category, and most brands get it wrong.

Hericenones are aromatic compounds found in the fruiting body of Hericium erinaceus, first isolated by Kawagishi and colleagues in 1991. They are characterised across the fruiting-body Lion's Mane research literature.

Erinacines are diterpene compounds found only in the mycelium, the underground network of Lion's Mane. They are not present in the fruiting body.

If a brand claims a product contains both hericenones AND erinacines, the product must contain mycelium (often grown on grain substrate). Alchemy Dose Lion's Mane Extract is whole fruiting body. It naturally contains hericenones and never claims to contain erinacines.

8:1 means eight kilograms of dried fruiting body are processed down to one kilogram of finished extract, concentrating the compounds eight-fold.

Dual refers to using both hot water (which pulls out water-soluble polysaccharides and beta-D-glucans) and ethanol (which pulls out alcohol-soluble hericenones and lipid-soluble compounds). Single-solvent extracts, water-only or alcohol-only, capture only one side of the natural compound profile.

Suggested use is 500 mg to 1 g daily (approximately ¼ to ½ teaspoon) for the first one to two weeks. Once your body adjusts, gradually increase to 2 to 3 g daily (up to 1 teaspoon).

Consistency over weeks tends to matter more than precise daily quantity. Always consult a qualified practitioner if you have specific health conditions or take prescription medication.

Most people take Lion's Mane in the morning, mixed with warm water, coffee, tea, or smoothies. Some split the daily quantity across morning and afternoon. It can be taken with or without food. There is no strict time requirement. Pick a time that fits your daily rhythm; consistent daily use is what matters most.

Add the powder to a small amount of warm or hot water first, then stir thoroughly or use a milk frother. Once smooth, top up with your beverage of choice: warm water, coffee, tea, milk, or any plant-based alternative. Warm liquids blend most easily. With cold drinks, stir or froth a little longer to dissolve any clumps.

Lion's Mane has a long history of culinary and traditional use in East Asia, and most people tolerate it well at the suggested daily range. Pregnant or nursing women, individuals on prescription medication, or those with existing health conditions should consult a qualified practitioner before use. Stop use and consult a practitioner if any unusual reactions occur. This product is intended as a food supplement and not a medicine.

Two different traditions, two different categories.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a root from the Ayurvedic tradition, classified as a rasayana herb in classical Indian medicine.

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a fungus, not a plant or a root. It comes from East Asian wellness traditions (Yamabushitake in Japan, Hou Tou Gu in China), with a different compound class (hericenones and beta-D-glucans).

Many users include both in their daily routine because the two come from different traditional categories and product types. There are no known interactions between functional mushrooms and Ashwagandha in the food-supplement context. Anyone combining either with prescription medication should consult a practitioner first.

Yes. Lion's Mane pairs naturally with coffee, tea, and other functional mushrooms like Cordyceps, Reishi, Chaga, and Turkey Tail. It is commonly stacked in daily wellness routines, and there are no known interactions between functional mushroom species. If you are combining with prescription medication, consult your practitioner first.

Whole fruiting body. Never mycelium grown on grain, rice, or any starch substrate. Mycelium-on-grain products contain a large percentage of leftover grain by weight, which dilutes the compound profile. They also contain a different compound family (erinacines) instead of the fruiting body's hericenones. Alchemy Dose Lion's Mane Extract is dual-extracted from whole dried fruiting bodies into a concentrated Hericium erinaceus powder.

Yes to both. Lion's Mane Extract is naturally vegan (mushrooms are fungi, not animal or plant), gluten-free, and contains no fillers, additives, sugars, sweeteners, preservatives, or anticaking agents. Only dual-extracted Hericium erinaceus fruiting body powder.

Pregnant or nursing women should consult a qualified practitioner before use. For children, traditional preparations have been used in family contexts across East Asia, but consult a paediatrician for specific guidance.

For pets: functional mushrooms have a long traditional record in Asian wellness, and modern veterinary interest in them is emerging. Dosage and suitability vary by species, size, and individual health profile. Consult a qualified veterinarian before introducing Lion's Mane to your pet's diet.

Alchemy Dose sources Lion's Mane Extract from established functional mushroom cultivation partners using sterile, controlled environments. The whole fruiting body is dual-extracted at 8:1 into the finished powder you receive in India, with consistent compound profiles batch to batch verified per third-party COA. Alchemy Dose is the brand and curator; we work with established functional mushroom manufacturers, never with mycelium-on-grain producers.

The price of Lion's Mane in India varies by format and concentration. Dried Lion's Mane mushroom sells at lower per-gram prices because it is the whole mushroom. Lion's Mane Extract sells at higher per-gram prices because it is concentrated 8:1, meaning each gram of finished powder represents eight grams of dried fruiting body.

Look for two markers before buying: (1) whole fruiting body, not mycelium grown on grain; (2) disclosed beta-D-glucan percentage backed by a third-party COA. These are the two specifications that drive real cost, and most Indian-market alternatives do not disclose either.

Current pricing for Alchemy Dose Lion's Mane Extract is on the product page.

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. The biophotonic ultraviolet glass jar is designed for this; it filters visible light, the wavelength range that degrades many natural compounds over time. Keep the lid tightly closed between uses. Avoid storing in humid environments such as bathroom shelves, near stovetops, or inside the refrigerator.

Properly stored, the extract retains its compound profile through the printed best-before date on the jar (typically 24 months from packaging).