Was it lion’s mane or placebo? I didn’t know – or care. I’d gone from sluggish (even on Concerta, a methylphenidate ADHD medication) to energised and focused.
“Lion’s mane acts on our brain, repairing it and making it grow, a process we call neurogenesis. Many patients say they feel more clear-headed and that they can focus for hours,” explains Raquel Britzke, registered dietitian and founder of Britzke Nutrition. Britzke recommends mushrooms to patients when they complain of mental fatigue, difficulty concentrating and as a healthier replacement for coffee.
How do I take lion’s mane mushroom?
Lion’s mane is available as powders, coffees, gummies, capsules, tinctures, even transdermal patch stickers. (Recently, I’ve been loving Kind Patches Focus Patches for long writing stints.)
“Powders and coffees are a good way of getting it – then it has the potential to interact with the gut, and that can have a positive impact which can link to brain health,” nutritional therapist and founder of Nourish&Be, Helena Barham, tells Glamour. “Be careful with gummies – you don’t know what fillers they’ve put in there.” A capsule or liquid version (e.g. a tincture), will likely have a higher concentration of the key ingredient, and also help with absorption.
Confession: I was obsessed with apple-flavoured Dirtea Lion’s Mane gummies when they launched last year, but I’m convinced anything that tastes better than Percy Pigs must be dangerous, so I’ve swapped to Dirtea’s Mushroom Coffee – it’s like superpowered Nespresso, and I drink half the coffee I used to.
Other lion’s mane brands with ardent fan bases and positive reviews include The Nue Co, Balance, Sixways and Protein Works.
What’s the link between lion’s mane and ADHD?
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis in my late-30s was heartbreaking and empowering at once. Medication turned things quickly, but in autumn 2024, my NHS pharmacy ran out.