From Football to Fungi: How Mushrooms Saved My Mind

Written by: Hunter Allan - Co-founder Vesper Mushrooms

Growing up playing high school football, head trauma was simply part of the game. You’d take a hit, see stars, shake it off, and get back on the field. It was almost a badge of honor, a testament to your toughness. For years, coaches preached about grit and resilience, but rarely did anyone talk about the long-term effects of the physical toll we endured. This is of course, not a unique experience as almost 6 million people play tackle football in the US each year.

It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that our training staff introduced a new concussion protocol. Suddenly, we had baseline tests, cognitive assessments, and recovery plans. What struck me the most wasn’t the complexity of the new protocol but the glaring realization of how underserved we as young athletes had been during all those years leading up to it. I can honestly say that I would not have known there was anything dangerous about continuing to play with a concussion prior to that new protocol. Hell, I wouldn’t have known how to identify a concussion short of being knocked out cold.

As things changed on the science side, so too did our attitudes towards our brain health. Suddenly it wasn’t a funny quip when a player was visibly shaken to say he had ‘gotten his bell rung’, a phrase I had heard on almost a daily basis before. It was serious now. What a sobering wake-up call. I couldn’t help but think back to all those times I had played through the dizziness, the headaches, and the confusion. What was the long-term cost of all those hits? Would the damage continue to haunt me decades down the road? Was this to blame for what I would consider uncharacteristic behavior of late? I had been more irritable, anxious and sensitive. The uneasiness stuck with me like a shadow I couldn’t shake. I needed to do something.

The Solution on the Slopes

A year or 2 after hanging up the cleats, Jake and I were hitting the slopes east of Salt Lake City like we often did. Half a decade prior, we had met on the practice field preparing for our freshman fall season. Now we maintained a bond over the shared love of snow sports.

This particular day, sitting on a ski lift with the freezing wind biting at our faces, we passed directly over the spot where one of us had just taken a firm tumble and gotten up rattled. One of us probably remarked about how “there’s the spot where you went down, you’re lucky there’s a lot of powder left right there”. This Prompted a remark about how that crash was just one more tally on the sum total of all of the head trauma from our football days. The joke didn’t land.

Turns out, both of us shared a deep concern about how all those hits to the head could impact our lives down the road. It wasn’t just paranoia; there was mounting scientific evidence entering the zeitgeist suggesting that former football players often faced serious cognitive issues later in life related to the game. The thought of early-onset dementia or memory loss was terrifying, especially when you’re still so young and should feel invincible.

And that’s when I brought up something I’d recently heard about. “Have you heard of Lion’s Mane?” I asked Jake who had recently begun learning about mushroom cultivation as a hobby. “Supposedly, it’s good for brain health”.

The idea intrigued both of us. By the time we reached the top of the lift, we were already talking about how we could start incorporating Lion’s Mane into our routines. Jake mentioned that he had considered growing some and would do just that.

We couldn’t have imagined the path that this, the first in a series of important conversations, would lead us down.

The more we learned about this natural marvel, the more excited we were to begin experimenting and sharing our findings as far and wide as possible.

Let's take a look into the science behind the fascinating mushroom that offered us a beacon of hope.

Lion’s Mane for Cognitive Support and Brain Health: The Science

You’ll notice a trend here regarding the early science of lion’s mane and its benefits; the lion’s share (pun intended) of the science up till now has been published in Japan.

Japan is where Yamabushi monks were perhaps the first people to ever use lion’s mane to enhance their meditative practice. Japan is also where the renowned biochemist Hirokazu Kawagishi first described the potential of lion’s mane to promote NGF synthesis. More on that later.

Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) had begun to gain widespread attention for its ability to support brain health and cognitive function. This interest is due to the presence of bioactive compounds called hericenones and erinacines, which have been studied for their potential neuroprotective properties. This discovery held the possibility of not only protecting our brains from further damage but potentially repairing some of the harm already done.

But that’s not what I found most interesting for my purposes.

Neuroprotection and Cognitive Studies with Lion’s Mane

Research suggests that Lion’s Mane may promote the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a protein essential for the growth, maintenance, and survival of neurons. Enhanced NGF levels are associated with improved neuroplasticity, which is critical for learning and memory. This is unique and Lion’s mane is one of the only things known to potentially support cognitive regeneration.

In a 2009 study conducted by researchers at Tohoku University in Japan, participants aged 50–80 with mild cognitive impairment were given Lion’s Mane mushroom powder for 16 weeks. The study found significant improvements in cognitive function compared to the placebo group.

Research published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms found that Lion’s Mane extracts significantly stimulated NGF production, promoting neurite outgrowth by as much as 60.6%. This discovery supports the notion that Lion’s Mane could be a powerful natural tool for encouraging nerve regeneration and protecting the brain from degenerative processes.

Another study published in The Journal of Neurochemistry demonstrated that active compounds from Lion’s Mane improved nerve growth and memory in pre-clinical testing. The researchers noted significant improvements in cognitive performance, further suggesting Lion’s Mane’s potential to protect against age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Further research into Lion’s Mane’s potential to combat neurodegenerative diseases has been promising. In a 2011 study, also conducted by researchers at Tohoku University, Lion’s Mane extract was shown to reduce memory loss and prevent neuronal damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques—one of the primary contributors to Alzheimer’s disease.

If I had already taken enough damage to cause deterioration in my brain, maybe NGF stimulation and neurogenesis could give me a shot at reclaiming some of what I’d lost. It sounded too good to be true. The idea that you could reverse brain damage felt like a pipe dream. Still, how unwise not to look at this incredible body of literature.

Mental Health Studies with Lion’s Mane

Beyond cognitive protection, Lion’s Mane may also help with mental health. A 2010 study conducted by researchers in Japan explored the mushroom’s effects on anxiety and depression. Over four weeks, menopausal women who consumed Lion’s Mane extract reported significantly reduced feelings of irritation and anxiety compared to those who received a placebo

The potential of Lion’s Mane to promote hippocampal neurogenesis (the growth of new neurons in the brain’s hippocampus) and reduce inflammation makes it a powerful natural tool for supporting emotional regulation and cognitive function.

Even if I wasn’t guaranteed to reverse any of my concussion damage or to see improvements in my focus, it would be worth it to at least try lion’s mane if it may at least help me to feel less irritable and anxious. Plus, it’s natural.

Why It Matters; Why I Take Lion’s Mane

These findings suggest that Lion’s Mane is a powerful natural tool for promoting brain health, enhancing cognitive function, and supporting overall mental wellness. While more research is always useful, the evidence so far is incredibly promising for those looking to support their brains through natural, holistic means.

Lion’s mane certainly isn’t any more magical than anything nutritive and antioxidizing but is certainly a large piece of a larger puzzle, one that many are already seeing benefit from.

In my own experience, when I began using lion’s mane extract regularly, I noticed improved focus which allowed me to get through a workday or a long study session without constant need to distract myself.

I felt quicker, with faster word recall and better fluidity.

Maybe most importantly and most noticeable of all, I felt better. I wasn’t irritable the way I had been before. I had alleviation of light and sound sensitivity which had been a grating symptom since receiving one concussion in particular.

Once I switched from using powder to the more bioavailable liquid extracts, the timeline worked like this; (this is meant to highlight where my personal excitement came from. Everyone seems to have their own unique take as to why they enjoy using lion’s mane extract)

Days 1-3: Usually no noticeable improvement from using the lion’s mane (though some of our clients report feeling impact within the first 2 days so it’s not unheard of).

Day 3 - 2 weeks: Steady improvement in my mood, I feel noticeably present and aware of my surroundings. I am prone to sweating the small stuff.

Beyond 2 weeks: As I continue to use lion’s mane, I feel sharper. I feel like I’m able to easily shrug things off and continue focusing on what matters. I feel like any word in my vocabulary is immediately available, I don’t have to go searching for it. Plus, it might just be me but I think my Spanish improves.

That’s just me.

In the years since lion’s mane, we embarked to share the potential value of functional mushrooms like lion’s mane and in return, many in our community have shared their experiences with us. The positive and enlightening stories of growth we’ve heard from our customers act like the motor that keeps us pushing to share the power of these amazing organisms.

From Beckett:

“I definitely felt like my cognition improved. It was like I had another layer to my thoughts, and it's really helped me in my daily life.”

From Sarah:

“I drink it every morning in a glass of water. It has helped me be more focused and alleviated some brain fog issues.”

And from Erica:

“The Lion's Mane helps calm my nervous system, far better than anything else I have encountered and I have tried numerous things. “

From Curiosity to Creation: The Birth of Vesper Mushrooms

A single remark on a frigid ski lift was the spark that set everything into motion. The more Jake and I talked about Lion’s Mane and its potential benefits, the more fascinated we became. We weren’t interested in a quick fix or a magic pill so we kept an eye out for something real. Something natural that could actively support brain health even in already-healthy brains and possibly even reverse some of the damage we’d already endured.

As Jake and I began experimenting, we tried out different extracts and blends of Lion’s Mane. One of the biggest lessons we learned from clear evidence is that liquid mushroom extracts are the way to go. Lion’s mane and other mushrooms have a rough chitinous cell-wall which doesn’t digest well. When you extract the nutrients from the mushrooms into a liquid, you can readily use the beneficial nutrients in your cells.

As we got deeper into the world of functional mushrooms, we were fascinated to learn that Lion’s Mane was only the beginning. The other mushrooms we classify as ‘functional mushrooms’ are the following:

• Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum): Known as the “Mushroom of Immortality,” or “Queen Mushroom”. Reishi is renowned for its calming effects. Studies suggest it may help reduce stress, enhance sleep quality, and support immune function through its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

• Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris): Commonly used to boost energy and physical performance, Cordyceps is thought to improve oxygen utilization and enhance stamina. It may also support heart health and assist the body’s natural ability to manage stress.

• Chaga (Inonotus obliquus): Often referred to as the “King Mushroom,” Chaga is prized for its high antioxidant content. It has been studied for its potential to support immune health, reduce oxidative stress, and promote overall cellular health.

• Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor): This mushroom is best known for its immune-boosting properties. Rich in polysaccharides like PSK and PSP, Turkey Tail has been researched extensively for its ability to support gut health and enhance immune function.

• Maitake (Grifola frondosa): Sometimes called the “Dancing Mushroom,” Maitake is believed to enhance immune function and support metabolic health. It may also assist in balancing blood sugar levels and promoting cardiovascular wellness.

We began to extract each of these mushrooms, growing most of them in-house. Whenever we have to add outside mushrooms to our extracts, we use all-USA mushrooms from a vendor we are confident in. What started as a couple of concerned former football players trying to find some assurance for themselves turned into something multi-faceted. Vesper Mushrooms is our liquid extract brand and Myco Energy combines lion’s mane and cordyceps along with l-theanine and B-vitamins into a natural, sugar free energy drink.

By now we have all seen ads for mushroom coffee or other mushroom supplements, all offering unique approaches to making functional fungi accessible and simple for everyone. However you choose to incorporate these mushrooms into your lives, we would be glad to hear from you regarding your experiences with functional fungi.

Mushrooms are incredible. Roughly 2 million unique organisms and for the most part, we understand very little about them. In recent years we’ve discovered how they can help digest plastic waste and oil spills, how they can help save the bees, and how mushrooms intelligently interact with each other and the world. Did you know mushrooms can communicate with each other? We are now even beginning to understand how psychoactive compounds found in mushrooms might have therapeutic benefits. But of all the 2 million mushrooms, and the 6 ‘functional mushrooms’, I never hesitate when I’m asked which of them all is my favorite. There’s just something about lion’s mane.

Hunter Allan Co-founded Vesper Mushrooms in 2022 along with Jake Stout. Vesper Mushrooms makes high-quality liquid mushroom extracts, grown and extracted in the USA.

Learn more about Vesper Mushrooms products below:

• Lion’s Mane Extract: Perfect for enhancing cognitive function, promoting mental clarity, and supporting nerve regeneration.

• Reishi Extract: Known for its calming properties and support of the body’s natural stress response.

• Pink Freud - Reishi and Lion’s Mane Blend: A powerful combination designed to promote both relaxation and focus.

• Gray Matter - 5 Mushroom Spagyric Concentrate: A holistic formula for overall brain health and vitality.

• Chaga Extract: Renowned for its immune-boosting properties.

• Cordyceps Extract: Ideal for enhancing physical performance and stamina.

• Turkey Tail Extract: Supports gut health and overall immune function.

• Gold Metal Cordyceps and Lion’s Mane Blend: The basis for our Myco Energy drink, aimed at promoting sustained energy and mental performance.

You can check out Myco Energy at mycoenergy.com.