Lion's mane, alcohol, and protecting your stomach.

Many people enjoy consuming alcoholic drinks but alcohol compromises the protective mucosal barrier in your digestive system. This mucosal barrier is like a shield for your stomach, preventing harmful substances from damaging the sensitive lining. When alcohol damages this barrier, your stomach can become irritated and inflamed, which may explain why your stomach can feel horrible after drinking alcohol. This discomfort is often referred to as "stomach pain" or "stomach issues," and it can be quite unpleasant.

Luckily, new research is being done on ways to counter this effect of alcohol consumption. Lion’s mane mushroom, traditionally a herbal medicine in Eastern Asia, has gained great interest in current research for its role in supporting brain health. Now, scientists are exploring its potential benefits for digestive health as well. As of May 2022 scientists discovered that key components of lion’s mane mushrooms could support the health of your digestive tract , especially in relation to alcohol consumption.*

The research showed that two polysaccharides (chains of sugar molecules) are unique to lion’s mane. The polysaccharides are Hericium erinaceus mycelium polysaccharide (HMP) and Hericium erinaceus fruiting body polysaccharide (HFP). These polysaccharides act like tiny shields, protecting the cells in your digestive system from damage.

After solving the structure of these polysaccharides, tests were performed to determine if they would have a protective effect on the digestive system.  Both prevented damage from alcohol on cells in the digestive system in cell culture and rats and improved the health and survival of cells when exposed to alcohol.  HMP even outperformed Ranitidine, a medication commonly prescribed to protect and heal the digestive system, while HFP was nearly as effective. This means that if you are looking for the best protective effect against alcohol through supplementation, you may want to consider consuming both the mycelium and fruiting body of lion's mane mushroom or supplements containing extracts of both. This could potentially help reduce the "stomach pain" and "stomach issues" often associated with alcohol consumption.*

This research provides strong evidence for the protective effect of lion’s mane mushroom on the digestive system particularly against alcohol although for it to be approved as an FDA treatment more research is needed*. Lion’s mane has an extensive history of being used as an herbal supplement since ancient times in eastern Asia. The safety profile of lion’s mane mushroom is well documented but as with any supplement you should discuss its use and any concerns with a doctor before consuming it*.   

So, should lion’s mane be part of your routine to prevent negative effects from alcohol? For now, it is still too early to say with confidence as experiments in humans have not yet been done on this topic, but the preliminary data looks promising that lion’s mane could help support your digestive health when consuming alcohol*.

If you're interested in learning more about how "lion's mane mushroom and alcohol" interact or how "alcohol and lion's mane mushroom" can be used together, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider. They can help you understand the potential benefits and risks and advise you on whether it's a good choice for you.