Guide to the 10 Best Lion’s Mane Supplements in the UK 

Traditional Asian healers have used potent medicinal mushrooms for thousands of years to treat a range of ailments. 

Lion’s mane is one of the mushrooms with a long history of use, along with reishi, chaga, maitake, cordyceps and turkey tail mushrooms.

Until recently, these medicinal mushrooms were relatively unknown in the Western world, but that has changed, and the market for lion’s mane mushroom supplements has exploded.

And as medicinal mushroom supplements are sold as food supplements and not medications, production is relatively unregulated, and manufacturers have a lot of freedom.

As the buyer, it’s up to you to be vigilant and ensure you’re getting a high-quality lion’s mane supplement with concentrated bio-available compounds.

Read on to discover 10 of the best lion’s mane supplements in the UK, the benefits of lion’s mane and what to look for when choosing a lion’s mane supplement.

What to Look for in a Lion’s Mane Supplement

Due to the surge in popularity of lion’s mane supplements, manufacturers have released numerous new products and innovative lion’s mane blends.

The trouble is not all lion’s mane supplements are equal. 

If you’re not careful, you may end up purchasing a low-strength supplement that does not provide the expected benefits.

Creating a high-quality supplement like our MycoTonics lion’s mane extract that only contains locally grown, nutrient-dense, organic fruiting bodies takes time and commitment.

Many of the cheaper lion’s mane supplements on the market contain fillers, use inferior quality fruiting bodies or contain lion’s mane mycelium, not fruiting bodies.

Before you buy a lion’s mane supplement, read the label carefully, looking for the following information: 

• Is it made from organic mushrooms?
• Is it made using whole fruiting bodies or mycelium on grain? It’s challenging to separate mushroom mycelium from the grain it is grown on, and supplements made using mycelium on grain usually contain some grain.
• Are there any fillers, binders or preservatives? Many supplements contain starchy fillers to bulk out the product or substances to keep it stable as a powder.
• What is the strength or concentration of the supplement? Many products don’t actually contain much lion’s mane. The concentration is usually measured in mg per dose and sometimes expressed as a ratio, for example, 1:3.
• Is the supplement made using mushrooms that are UK-grown? Many supplements contain imported mushrooms or powders from China, with questionable traceability and quality, that are only packaged and branded in the UK.
• Does the supplement contain lion’s mane extract or dried, powered lion’s mane mushrooms? You get much better bio-absorption from an extract than you do from dried, powdered mushrooms.
• Which extraction methods were used when making the supplement? Look for supplements made using a dual extraction process. This means the manufacturers used a combination of hot water and alcohol extraction to access both the water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds in lion’s mane.

To learn more about the different types of supplements available and how they compare, take a look at our article, “Mushroom Tinctures vs. Extracts vs. Powders vs. Capsules.”

10 Best Lion’s Mane Supplements in the UK

Below, in no particular order, are 10 of the best lion’s mane supplements produced in the UK:

1. Mycolabs Lion’s Mane Extract

We are very proud of our MycoTonics lion’s mane liquid extract that we produce using organic lion’s mane mushrooms grown at our farm in Devon.

We only use fruiting bodies to make our concentrated liquid extract, and it takes 170g of lion’s mane mushrooms to make each 50ml bottle.

We favor liquid extracts over other supplement types, as they’re easy to take, provide a measured dose and are fast-acting when taken under the tongue.

Our lion’s mane extract ticks all the boxes, and we take great care in every stage of production, including:

• Growing them on supplemented hardwood sawdust to ensure they’re nutrient dense
• Picking the mushrooms at the ideal time 
• Dehydrating them gently to retain nutrients
• Using a long, slow, dual-extraction process to make sure we draw out all the beneficial compounds.

We produce our extract in small batches, providing our customers with fresh tinctures that haven’t lost bioactive compounds due to extended storage times or long-distance shipping.

We recommend taking 1-2 ml daily, directly under your tongue or in your favorite beverage, preferably in the morning at least 10 minutes before eating.

A 50ml bottle of MycoTonics organic lion’s mane mushroom extract provides approximately one month’s supply, depending on dosage.

2. Time Health Organic Ultra Strength Lion’s Mane Extract Capsules

If you don’t enjoy the flavor of liquid extracts, then these ultra-strength capsules from Time Health could be exactly what you are looking for.

Capsules are convenient, provide a measured dose and have no flavor, making them a popular supplement choice.

Time Health’s ultra-strength capsules contain 425mg of powdered lion’s mane extract made using pure fruiting bodies and hot water extraction.

Although the capsules are manufactured in the UK, it’s unclear where the mushrooms are grown. 

One of their selling points is that they use traditional cultivation techniques and grow their lion’s mane mushrooms naturally on hardwood logs, suggesting they are sourced from outside the UK. 

Another indication the mushrooms are not locally grown is that their soil association organic certification is for non-UK agriculture.

However, the capsules do not contain any fillers, additives or binders and are gluten-free, GMO-free and vegan-friendly.

These capsules are sold in a pack of 60, and as the recommended dose is 1-2 capsules spread out during the day, they should last 1 to 2 months.

3. New Leaf Products Lion’s Mane Extract Tablets with Black Pepper

These tablets make it easy to include lion’s mane mushrooms in your daily routine, as New Leaf Products use a high-strength 15:1 extract to keep the tablet size small, making them easier to swallow than capsules.

But although New Leaf Products lion’s mane extract tablets are manufactured in the UK using high-quality, non-GMO ingredients, it is unclear where they source their lion’s mane mushrooms.

The product packaging also has no information on whether the manufacturers used lion’s mane fruiting bodies or mycelium to produce the extract.

New Leaf Products lion’s mane extract tablets also contain black pepper extract that is reported to help the body better absorb nutrients. Thus helping your body to absorb as many of the beneficial compounds in the tablets as possible.

These tables come in a recyclable bottle of 180 tablets, providing at least 3 months’ supply of lion’s mane.

The recommended daily dose is 2 tablets, providing 2000mg of lion’s mane extract and 66.7mg of beneficial polysaccharides.

4. SolveLabs Lion’s Mane 10:1 Extract Capsules

Solvelabs is another company offering high-strength lion’s mane capsules containing a concentrated extract powder.

These capsules tick almost all the boxes, except for the fact that their mushrooms are not grown in the UK.

Their mushrooms come from farms in the mountainous regions of China’s Fujian Province, where they’re grown on enriched sawdust to ensure high levels of active compounds.

Although they claim the mushrooms are naturally and organically grown, they do not have organic certification.

However, they regularly test the mushrooms for heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other unwanted compounds to ensure maximum food safety.

Solvelabs uses only 100% dried fruiting bodies and a dual extraction process to create their concentrated liquid extract that is then spray dried to create an extract powder. 

Spray drying is thought by many to be the optimum dehydration process for liquid extracts as it keeps nutrient losses to a minimum.

Each Solvelabs lion’s mane extract capsule contains 500mg of ultra-concentrated 10:1 lion’s mane extract, containing 35-45% beta-d-glucans, without grain, fillers or other additives.

They come in a container of 60, providing one month’s supply as Solvelabs recommends a daily dose of 1000 mg (2 capsules) taken with water.  

5. Bristol Fungarium Organic Lion’s Mane Tincture

Bristol Fungarium takes locally grown a step further and uses lion’s mane mushrooms that they cloned from species found 300m from their farm to produce their liquid extracts.

They use native strains whenever possible to try and avoid spreading spores from commercial mushroom strains into the area around their farm. 

Commercial strains are often specifically selected for their ability to grow fast and produce large yields, meaning they’ll easily outcompete native strains growing around the farm.

Like us, Bristol Fungarium is proud that their organic lion’s mane tinctures are made from mushrooms grown on the same farm. 

They use two hot water extractions and a final alcohol extraction to access all the beneficial bioactive compounds in lion’s mane.

When making their extract, they use a 1 to 4 ratio of 1g of mushrooms for every 4 ml of water. 

To enjoy the benefits of their tincture, Bristol Fungarium recommends taking one squeeze of organic lion’s mane tincture twice a day directly under the tongue or in a short glass of water.

6. Mushies CREATE Lion’s Mane Extract Tincture

The founders of Mushies believe there are many lessons we can learn from fungi and that they have the potential to help people think better, feel better, and create a better world. 

Their hericenone-rich lion’s mane tincture is called ‘Create’ and is intended to help improve cognitive performance.

They make their Mushies lion’s mane tincture using organic lion’s mane fruiting bodies and refer to the extract as 10:1 because they use 10 kg of raw lion’s mane mushroom to produce one kilogram of extract.

They do not state where they source their lion’s mane mushrooms but mention they’re grown on hardwood logs using traditional methods without chemicals or pesticides.

This suggests they are sourced from outside the UK, and more than likely, come from China.

Mushies is one of few manufacturers listing the amount of alcohol-soluble compounds like hericenones and erinacines in their lion’s mane products and focusing on the benefits these compounds provide.

They recommend taking 1 ml of their high-strength tincture daily, and their 60 ml bottle of Create lion’s mane tincture should last you around two months.

7.  DIRTEA Lion’s Mane Mushroom Extract Powder

If you’re looking for a versatile supplement you can add to any meal or beverage, then DIRTEA Lion’s Mane Extract Powder could be perfect for you.

This powder ticks almost all the boxes, as it’s made using only 100% organically certified lion’s mane fruiting bodies, the dual extraction process, and spray drying. 

Each DIRTEA product batch is also third-party tested for quality and purity, ensuring you get exactly what the packaging promises.

However, DIRTEA tells us their organic mushrooms are grown in forest-shaded greenhouses on small family farms in mountainous regions, suggesting they come from China.

Lion’s mane mushrooms have subtle flavors, and DIRTEA describes their powder’s light, savory taste as similar to miso soup. 

Each gram of DIRTEA extract powder contains 1000mg of lion’s mane, and they recommend using half a tablespoon (2g) to make a cup of tea or in coffee, shakes or smoothies.

A container of DIRTEA mushroom powder contains 60g of powder that should last 30 days if you take the recommended daily dose.

8. Grass & Co FOCUS Lion’s Mane, ginseng and Omega-3 capsules

Grass and Co formulated this lion’s mane blend to promote mental focus, clarity and alertness. Their capsules contain a combination of lion’s mane extract powder, Korean ginseng extract, Algam omega-3 powder, vitamin D and vitamin B12.

Because each capsule contains several ingredients, you get less lion’s mane mushroom than many of the supplements on this list, with each FOCUS capsule providing 300mg of lion’s mane.

But the other ingredients in the capsule have their own unique benefits, and depending on your desired outcomes, these capsules may be what you’re looking for.

Grass and Co grow their lion’s mane mushrooms naturally and organically in greenhouses in the UK and use an advanced hot water extraction process to access the bio-available compounds.

FOCUS lion’s mane capsules come in a bottle of 60 capsules, providing a month’s supply at the recommended dose of 2 capsules daily.

9. TwentyTwo’s Organic Lion’s Mane Capsules

It’s a priority for the founders of TwentyTwo that their high-quality supplements are grown, harvested and encapsulated by them on their farm in Essex.

They set out to create products that were traceable back to their roots, and as they have control of the entire production process, they can be completely transparent about how their mushrooms are grown and harvested.

Their lion’s mane capsules contain a high-strength extract powder made using organically certified lion’s mane fruiting bodies and a hot water extraction process.

Each TwentyTwo organic lion’s mane capsule contains 900mg of lion’s mane hot water extract power, and the recommended dose is 2 capsules (1800mg) taken in the morning with water.

10. Purefungi’s Organic Lion’s Mane Extract Powder

We end our list with another high-quality lion’s mane extract powder that’s manufactured and quality control tested in the UK.

Purfungi’s lion’s mane extract powder differs from the other supplements on this list as it’s made using high-quality organic lion’s mane fruiting bodies and mycelium.

Thus, even though it is made using a high ratio of 16:1, the final product contains 30% polysaccharides and 1.5% terpenes, which is less than some of the other supplements on this list.

Purfungi’s founders aim to produce sustainable, eco-friendly products, and a nice feature of this powder is that both the pouch and label are fully compostable.

For maximum benefits, they suggest adding 2g or 1 teaspoon of their extract powder to any beverage or meal once or twice a day.

What Are the Benefits of Taking Lion’s Mane?

Lion’s mane are remarkable medicinal mushrooms best known for enhancing brain and nervous system functioning.

Some of the compounds in lion’s mane can cross the blood-brain barrier, and once inside the brain, they stimulate nerve growth factors (NGFs).

NGFs protect the brain from injuries and aid neurogenesis, which is the formation of new neurons in the brain, enhancing cognitive, motor and sensory functions.

But improved memory and focus are not the only benefits of taking lion’s mane supplements. Research suggests they also:

• Boost the immune system
• Help alleviate anxiety and depression
• Help slow or reverse the effects of several types of cancer
• Improve cardiovascular health
• Support the digestive system
• Help with diabetes management

Our research-backed article, “Nature’s Brain Booster: Incredible Lion’s Mane Mushroom Health Benefits.” has more in-depth information on all these benefits. 

And if you prefer videos, check out this video summarizing the health benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms. 

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Lion’s Mane Supplements

With so many supplements to choose from, deciding which lion’s mane supplement to take can be challenging. 

To make it easier for you, we have put together a list of answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, including:

Which Form of Lion’s Mane is Best?

The best way to access the benefits of lion’s mane mushroom is to consume a high-strength lion’s mane extract made using the dual extraction process.

These extracts come in several forms, including liquid extracts, loose extract powders or capsules, tablets or gummies made using extract powders.

Which form is best for you will vary depending on your lifestyle, personal preferences and daily routine.

Is Lion’s Mane Legal in the UK?

Wild lion’s mane mushrooms are protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the highest level of legal protection given to fungi in the UK.

This makes it illegal to harvest wild lion’s mane mushrooms, but growing, buying and consuming cultivated lion’s mane mushrooms is perfectly legal.

Do Lion’s Mane Supplements Work?

Thousands of people and numerous studies suggest lion’s mane extract supplements make a difference. 

The bioactive compounds in lion’s mane work with several of the body’s systems simultaneously, helping them to function better and allowing the body to heal itself.

But like other functional medicinal mushrooms, the effects are cumulative, and you may only notice significant changes after one to two months of use.

What Are the Side Effects of Lion’s Mane Supplements?

Lion’s mane supplements are considered non-toxic and safe to consume for extended periods, but no long-term human studies have explored their side effects.

Although uncommon, people who are allergic to other mushrooms should take care as they may experience allergic reactions to lion’s mane, including abdominal pain, nausea and skin rashes.

Some first-time users of lion’s mane report mild gastrointestinal discomfort, including bloating and flatulence. Adjusting the dosage or taking lion’s mane with food seems to help.

Lion’s mane supplements may cause problems if you’re taking chronic medication for pre-existing conditions, so it’s best to consult your doctor before you add it to your daily routine.

For example, lion’s mane mushrooms’ ability to modulate blood clotting may interfere with anticoagulant drugs. And if you’re taking diabetes medications, you may need to adjust your dosage as lion’s mane helps lower blood glucose levels.

Final Thoughts

There are numerous lion’s mane supplements in the UK, but few are made with the care and attention to detail that we put into our MycoTonics extracts.

We grow, harvest and dehydrate the lion’s mane mushrooms ourselves, and then slowly dual extract the beneficial compounds in our lab to produce small batches of highly concentrated liquid extract.

And lion’s mane is not the only medicinal mushroom extract we produce at MycoTonics.

To learn more about our range of organic medicinal mushroom extracts and the benefits they offer, check out our MycoTonics website.