Today we are going to talk about a type of mushroom that is considered a prebiotic of natural origin. Is about hericium erinaceus. It is also known by the name of the lion's mane mushroom. It is high in fiber and numerous studies confirm its ability to improve some digestive problems. It is protected given its importance in medicine.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, habitat and possible confusions of the hericium erinaceus.
Key features
In Japan this mushroom is popularly known as Yamabushitake. The first part of the word means "the one who sleeps the mountain" and refers to the hermit monks of Shushendo. On the other hand, take means mushroom. Therefore it could be considered as a fungus that sleeps on the mountain. It is known to have great medicinal abilities to solve digestive problems. It is usually used to treat reflux two, inflammation, food intolerances and some allergies. However, what stands out the most about this curious medicinal mushroom is that it has a regenerative action on memory loss, dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Hat and foils
It is formed by a base that has a rectangular tongue shape adhered to the wood that it uses as a substrate. This base has a white color. From this base of peace in infinity of fairly long needles, some of them measuring 5 centimeters. The most normal thing is that they have a length of 3 centimeters. The needles are characterized by having a fragile and flexible texture. In this way, the specimen can be released quite easily from the ground.
When the mushroom is young, the needles are white. As it develops and reaches maturity, the carpophor begins to grow. This is when the needles turn cream. At the end of the process, they adopt ocher colors when aging occurs. The hymenium is made up of a series of needles that are arranged in a vertical direction.
Pie and meat
As for the foot, it is totally non-existent in this species of fungus, since it is a sessile species. The meat is thick and white. It has a somewhat elastic consistency and a very mild fungal smell. This mushroom is edible and has a sweet, mild flavor.
Habitat of hericium erinaceus
It is a type of mushroom that grows on the trunks of flat-leaf trees. It needs the tree to be alive since it is a sessile mushroom and it does not have its own foot. The time of appearance of this mushroom is usually during the final part of autumn. Sometimes it usually happens in early winter. Although it is not an abundant species, it is not rare either.
Due to its multiple medicinal properties, it is a protected mushroom. In other words, its collection is totally prohibited. It is considered a good edible, although it becomes a bit stubborn. The most used applications encompass the field of medicine. It is very useful as a protector of the upper gastric system.
As we have mentioned before, it is an edible mushroom that has white flesh and is very precious gastronomically both in China and Japan. And it is that it has a flavor similar to that of lobster. Nutritionally it is remarkable for having a high content of proteins and important minerals that are usually scarce in a normal diet. We know that people do not have a diet that is too good in minerals and vitamins and there are usually deficiencies in selenium, germanium, and zinc. Precisely these three minerals are abundant in the hericium erinaceus.
Medicinal properties of hericium erinaceus
This mushroom has various active principles for which it has become very famous and useful in the world of medicine. They contain several polysaccharides that have antitumor effects such as FI-1a and FIII 2b, Herinacina Ie, Herinacina H and other Hericinacina. It also contains the Hericinones A, B, C, D and E that induce the production of the hormone Nervous Growth Factor.
It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal problems. Among the medicinal actions that this fungus has, we find a regenerative action of the epithelium that the gastrointestinal mucosa has. This makes the hericium erinaceus is considered one of the most indicated remedies to use in cases of gastric and duodenal ulcers. It is also useful for those diseases related to chronic inflammations of the mucosa, irritable bowel, Crohn's disease and some similar diseases.
The properties that the hericium erinaceus being able to regenerate the epithelium contributes to the recovery of the impermeability of the digestive tract. In addition, it helps to restore the intestinal flora, this being the first step to avoid all the pathologies related to leaky gut syndrome.
Lion's mane has been studied and it has been shown in numerous studies that it has properties that stimulate the renewal of both neurons and the protective myelin layer. Other clinical trials highlight its usefulness in many nervous pathologies, from its adaptogenic action against stress and insomnia to the development of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Indications and precautions
We know that the hormone NGF plays a fundamental role in all neuropathies of the peripheral nervous system. In particular, this hormone influences the cases of diabetes. It has a self-regulating action of the human immune system since it contains polysaccharides with immuno-regulatory activity that is especially indicated for the treatment of leaky gut syndrome.
As for the precautions of the hericium erinaceus we found that it is an immune modulator and should not be consumed if taking immunosuppressive compounds. Nor should it be administered during pregnancy and lactation. It is not advisable for children under 6 years of age. If you have allergies to mushrooms, it is better not to use it. As you can see, this mushroom is very useful both in the gastronomic field and for its medicinal properties.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about hericium erinaceus and their characteristics