Lion's Mane for ADHD
If you have a hard time focusing on tasks and planners just aren’t cutting it, you’re not the only one. ADHD diagnoses have been increasing over the last couple of decades. With the uptick in diagnoses, it only makes sense that more and more people are looking for natural ways to help them function.
One popular supplement that is used for trouble focusing is lion’s mane mushroom. Read on as we discuss ADHD, lion’s mane mushroom, and natural ways to support focus.
What Is ADHD?
First things first, let’s define ADHD. This acronym stands for “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.” ADHD is a medical condition that can be diagnosed and treated by a psychiatrist.
The symptoms of ADHD include:
- Trouble focusing
- Missing important details
- Difficulty organizing
- Forgetfulness
- Fidgety or hyperactive
- Talking a lot
- Trouble waiting your turn
- Difficulty completing tasks
Doctors aren’t yet sure what causes ADHD. So far, theories include genetics, environment, brain chemistry, and other medical conditions. The condition does seem to run in families, so you may be more likely to have ADHD if someone else in your family has been diagnosed with it.
How Is ADHD Treated?
ADHD is often treated with a combination of therapy and medication. Therapy can help people with ADHD manage their symptoms and confront some of the emotional challenges that come with them.
When it comes to medications, amphetamines and methylphenidate are the most commonly prescribed drugs to manage symptoms of ADHD. These medications work by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which can help increase focus and brain function. These medications can also have side effects, so it’s important to work closely with a doctor while you fine-tune your treatment plan.
What Is Lion’s Mane Mushroom?
Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is a white, fuzzy-looking mushroom that grows in moderate climates throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. This mushroom is completely edible and is actually considered a delicacy in some regions because of its light, seafood-like flavor. It is often used as a replacement for crab or fish.
Can Lion’s Mane Encourage Focus?
Lion’s mane isn’t just delicious fried up and served on a plate — it can also have some seriously wonderful health benefits. As you might have guessed, one of these benefits is its ability to support focus.
One small study found that taking lion’s mane could help subjects perform attention tasks more quickly. Of course, lion’s mane also has other benefits that can have the side effect of supporting focus.
Some other ways that lion’s mane can support concentration include:
- Supports Mental Health: Lion’s mane can relieve feelings of depression and anxiety, which can both have effects on our ability to focus.
- Supports Brain Health: This mushroom can support the body’s production of nerve growth factor (NGF), which can support memory-making ability and overall brain health.
- Encourages Healthy Sleep: Lion’s mane mushroom can encourage a good night’s sleep, which allows our brains time to repair overnight.
- Supports Gut Health: This mushroom contains loads of prebiotic fiber and can also support gut detoxification, which can support the brain via the gut-brain connection.
We’d like to take a minute here and say that while lion’s mane can have great benefits when it comes to focus, it isn’t a treatment for ADHD. If you have ADHD or suspect you might have ADHD, it’s best to see a doctor or psychiatrist. They can examine your symptoms and provide medical treatment based on your needs.
How Can You Take Lion’s Mane for Focus?
You might not find lion’s mane mushroom in the supplement aisle at your average grocery store, but it’s a pretty common ingredient in various mushroom blends. You may also find it in supplements that are designed to combine multiple nootropic ingredients.
Our Mushroom Coffee+ belongs to both categories. Our blend features lion’s mane mushroom and L-theanine, which can help you feel relaxed and support concentration. It also features chaga mushroom to support immunity, collagen protein to encourage gut health, and coffee extract to help you feel alert and energetic.
You can enjoy our blend plain by combining it with hot water. You can also get a little creative and mix our mushroom coffee up in some overnight oats, your favorite smoothie, or even brownies. It also makes a delicious iced latte.
How Else Can You Support Concentration?
Lion’s mane is a great natural supplement that can support focus, but like all supplements, it generally works best when you combine it with some other lifestyle changes.
These include the following:
- Taking Plenty of Breaks: This might sound counterintuitive, but taking more breaks can actually help you focus better during the windows you’re working.
- Get Plenty of High-Quality Sleep: One of the hallmark symptoms of a bad night’s sleep is trouble focusing the next day. Start a bedtime routine and implement good sleep hygiene to make every night count.
- Eat a Balanced Diet: Eating plenty of protein, fat, and fiber can help manage blood sugar levels. Blood sugar spikes due to eating too many carbs can often cause trouble focusing.
- Try Omega-3s: Omega-3s have been shown to improve symptoms of ADHD. You can take a supplement or enjoy fatty foods like eggs, chia seeds, yogurt, and fish.
- Get Some Exercise: Working out can release some of the same chemicals that make ADHD medications work so well.
- Get in Nature: Spending time outside can have a centering effect and support mental health, which is often a factor in focusing issues.
- Put on Background Music: Sometimes, having something subtle playing in the background can be a great way to satisfy the part of your brain that needs to multitask.
Wrapping Things Up
We’re not talking about an actual lion’s mane — rather, we’re talking about lion’s mane mushroom, the brain-supporting superfood that everyone’s been raving about. This mushroom can support focus by targeting multiple areas of health, such as sleep, gut health, mental health, and brain health.
We know what it’s like to have trouble concentrating — that’s why we developed our mushroom blends in the first place. Learn more about our story to see if our formulas could help you, too!
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/adhd-throughout-the-years.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10675414/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24266378/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection
