# Lion's mane dosage: how much to take a day

Source: https://lionsmanemushroom.uk/how-to-take/dosage/
Author: Jo Calder · Updated 2026-11-03

**Short answer:** Most trials used 1 to 3 g a day of dried fruiting body, or about 1 g a day of an erinacine-rich mycelium extract, split into two to four doses with meals. That is a sensible daily dose for adults. Higher doses, up to 10 g a day, were tolerated but showed no extra benefit.

## What doses did the trials use?

The ten human trials used between 1 g and 10 g a day, and the table above lists each one. The doses fall into three groups:

- **Fruiting body powder, 2 to 3.2 g a day.** Used in the memory trials in Japan (3 g and 3.2 g a day, as tablets taken three or four times a day) and the mood trial (2 g a day in cookies).
- **Mycelium extract, about 1 to 1.5 g a day.** The Alzheimer's trial used three 350 mg capsules a day of mycelium containing 5 mg of erinacine A per gram. The Italian mood study used 1.5 g a day of a mycelium and fruiting body blend.
- **Healthy adult trials, 1 to 10 g.** 1.8 g a day for 28 days, single doses of 1 g and 3 g, and 10 g a day in muffins. None of these found a lasting benefit.

## So how much should you take?

For an adult, **1 to 3 g a day of fruiting body powder** is the dose best supported by the trials, taken with meals and split into two or three doses. If you prefer mycelium, look for an extract that states its erinacine A content and follow the Alzheimer's trial: about 1 g a day.

| What you have | A dose in line with the trials |
| --- | --- |
| Fruiting body powder or capsules | 1 to 3 g a day |
| Erinacine A-standardised mycelium (5 mg/g) | About 1 g a day (3 × 350 mg) |
| Extract with a stated beta-glucan content | Enough to give 0.2 to 0.5 g of beta-glucan a day |
| Extract with only a ratio (such as 8:1 or 10:1) | Hard to say; ask the seller what it is standardised to |
| Mushroom coffee | Usually well below trial doses |

The beta-glucan figure comes from lab analysis of lion's mane fruiting bodies, which found about 17% beta-glucan by dry weight: 1 to 3 g of powder therefore provides roughly 0.2 to 0.5 g.

## Is more better?

Not on current evidence. The highest dose tested, 10 g a day for four weeks, was well tolerated but did nothing measurable for thinking. Start at the lower end, at 1 g a day, for the first week, then increase if you want to.

## Who needs a different dose?

There is no trial evidence for children, pregnancy or breastfeeding, so there is no safe dose to recommend for them. If you take regular medicines, or have liver or kidney disease, ask your pharmacist first. See [safety](/safety/).

## Frequently asked questions

### How many grams of lion's mane should I take a day?

1 to 3 g a day of fruiting body powder, or about 1 g a day of a standardised mycelium extract, covers the doses used in the trials that found benefits.

### How do I dose a 10:1 lion's mane extract?

In theory 300 mg of a 10:1 extract comes from 3 g of mushroom, but an extract keeps some compounds and loses others, so it is not a straight swap. Choose a product that states its beta-glucan content, and compare that with about 0.2 to 0.5 g of beta-glucan a day, roughly what 1 to 3 g of fruiting body provides.

### Is 500 mg of lion's mane enough?

500 mg of plain powder is below every trial dose. It may be enough if it is a concentrated extract, but the label needs to show what it is standardised to before you can tell.

### Can I take lion's mane every day?

Yes. The trials gave it daily for up to 49 weeks without serious side effects.

## References

1. [Mori K et al. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 2009.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18844328/)
2. [Nagano M et al. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomedical Research, 2010.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20834180/)
3. [Saitsu Y et al. Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Biomedical Research, 2019.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31413233/)
4. [Vigna L et al. Hericium erinaceus improves mood and sleep disorders in patients affected by overweight or obesity. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31118969/)
5. [Li IC et al. Prevention of early Alzheimer's disease by erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia: pilot double-blind placebo-controlled study. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 2020.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32581767/)
6. [Grozier CD et al. Four weeks of Hericium erinaceus supplementation does not impact markers of metabolic flexibility or cognition. International Journal of Exercise Science, 2022.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36582308/)
7. [Docherty S et al. The acute and chronic effects of lion's mane mushroom supplementation on cognitive function, stress and mood in young adults. Nutrients, 2023.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38004235/)
8. [Keerthana CS et al. Unveiling the glucan profile: a comparative study of lion's mane and shiitake mushrooms. Natural Product Research, 2026.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40407020/)