Echinacea (Lion’s mane) – health benefits for the whole body
There is a lot of truth in the saying that strength lies in nature, that is why it is worth using herbal treatments in case of any ailments. Their effectiveness in most cases cannot be faulted, especially when we use herbs and plants with wide and confirmed health promoting properties. They have a positive effect on almost all aspects of our body’s health, and one that is particularly noteworthy is sea urchin, hericium erinaceus.
Contents
- 1 What is Lion’s Mane and where does it come from?
- 2 Chemical composition of Echinacea
- 3 Medicinal effects for which it is worth using coneflower
- 3.1 Proper functioning of the nervous system
- 3.2 Mitigate the negative effects of stress
- 3.3 Strengthening the body’s natural immunity
- 3.4 No ailments from the cardiovascular system
- 3.5 Protection against the destructive action of free radicals
- 3.6 Reduced risk of developing diabetes
- 3.7 Alleviating gastrointestinal discomfort
- 4 Recommended dosage and combination with other medicinal plants
What is Lion’s Mane and where does it come from?
When looking at the lion’s mane, also known as lion’s mane or bear or ram’s head, we can be really surprised by its unusual and highly original appearance. Like many other plants from the Far East, this mushroom has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, among other things, while being a tasty addition to many dishes. Interestingly, nowadays it is very rare to find it in the wild, it is mainly cultivated, even on an industrial scale, due to the popularity it is gaining around the world.
Its name perfectly fits the appearance of the fruiting body, which resembles a lion’s mane and can reach a size of 10 to 30 cm. The fruiting body is initially white or pale yellow in colour, and then changes to an intense shade of yellow-orange. The fruiting body is covered with thick, thin spines several centimeters long which give it its characteristic appearance.
Chemical composition of Echinacea
As in any plant used in herbal medicine, so in this case everything is determined by the composition, the content of active substances that affect various aspects of health. Not everything we need to enjoy full health can be provided with food, and composing such a diet is difficult. That is why all the possible deficiencies will be supplemented by a dietary supplement that has an extract from Echinacea, full of such nutrients as:
- B vitamins, including vitamin B12 (cobolamine);
- Vitamin D;
- Minerals: iron, potassium, zinc , selenium, phosphorus, germanium and sodium;
- fatty acids;
- amino acids, mainly essential ones;
- polysaccharides, or complex sugars, also known as polysaccharides;
- polypeptides;
- erinacins;
- hericenones;
- plant sterols.
Medicinal effects for which it is worth using coneflower
A plant with such a rich composition has a multifaceted effect on us and can be successfully used to treat and alleviate the symptoms of many ailments. It affects practically every part of our body, improving not only physical, but also mental health, thanks to which we feel better and are able to cope with even the most difficult challenges. Regular use of lion’s mane extracts has a beneficial effect on, among other things:
Proper functioning of the nervous system
Looking at the properties of lion’s mane, we can safely count it among supplements called nootropics, beneficially acting on all parts of the nervous system, allowing to regulate its work. The most important thing here is to speed up the processes of regeneration of nerve cells, or neurons, and nerve growth, the amount of which decreases with age. This is achieved by increasing the production of the responsible factor NGF(Nerve Growth Factor), and a greater number of neurons means better memory, concentration, and general intellectual ability.
Thanks to this you can also count on protection against neurodegenerative diseases, which often affect the elderly. Studies have shown that sopling slows down the processes of brain damage in Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, while improving impaired cognitive and motor functions.
Mitigate the negative effects of stress
Stress is one of the worst civilization diseases of our time, the negative effects of which are being felt with increased force right now during the pandemic, affecting mental well-being in an extremely negative way. We feel depressed, we often don’t feel like doing even the simplest daily activities, and this creates another threat, the possibility of depression, usually requiring long-term drug treatment.
Therefore, it is better to avoid such complications, in which again the “lion’s mane” can help, relieving virtually all the distressing symptoms of stress and other states of nervous tension, such as:
- sleep disturbances that can lead to insomnia;
- an accelerated heart rate that poses a health risk;
- lack of appetite or the opposite, unrestrained hunger attacks resulting in snacking leading to overweight and obesity;
- irritability and sometimes aggression;
- constant mood swings;
- hot and cold flashes, such as at menopause;
- problems with the digestive system.
Strengthening the body’s natural immunity
The foundation of our health is the immune system, the natural barrier that protects the body from all factors that cause both mild infections and serious conditions. These are, among others, pathogenic microorganisms, bacteria, fungi or viruses, and against their destructive action also protects sopling.
It strengthens our immunity by intensifying the production of a specific type of proteins, interferons responsible in turn for the increased production of white blood cells, leukocytes that counteract the action of any pathogens in our body. Apart from that, soprano is characterized by antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties and inhibits the development of cancer cells.
No ailments from the cardiovascular system
Diseases of the heart and circulatory system are the cause of death of millions of people around the world every year, and the number of deaths in our country reaches several tens of thousands. Unfortunately, the truth is that we are most often guilty of arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease and atherosclerosis. In extreme and increasing number of cases negligence leads even to heart attack, that is why it is so important to implement proper prophylaxis early enough to prevent it.
Anyone who finds themselves in this situation, in addition to a healthy, easily digestible diet and a large portion of physical activity, can again be helped by bear’s head, and this is facilitated by its following properties:
- lowering too high levels of lipids in the blood, which is extremely important for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis;
- lowering to safe levels of fraction LDL cholesterol in the blood;
- counteracting arterial hypertension;
- Preventing aggregation, i.e. the accumulation and clumping of platelets, posing a risk of life-threatening blood clots.
Protection against the destructive action of free radicals
Resulting from the antioxidant properties of soprano, effectively counteracting the action of free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS), which put the body in a state of so-called oxidative stress. This becomes the cause of many dangerous diseases, among which are worth mentioning:
- Alzheimera and Parkinson’s disease mentioned above;
- stroke;
- the aforementioned cardiovascular diseases;
- skin diseases, including the much disliked and difficult to treat acne;
- problems with the digestive system, ailments of the stomach, pancreas, liver and duodenum;
- eye disorders.
Reduced risk of developing diabetes
Another condition for which it is definitely worth using soplice is diabetes, both stage I and II. Studies conducted for this purpose have shown its effectiveness in lowering blood glucose levels that are too high, with a concomitant increase in insulin secretion. It also counteracts diabetes in another way by blocking the enzyme responsible for breaking down carbohydrates in the small intestine, and those already suffering from the disease will experience less neuropathic pain associated with it.
Alleviating gastrointestinal discomfort
This benefit of introducing supplements containing extracts of Echinacea into your diet cannot be underestimated. It was appreciated hundreds of years ago, and therefore it is still worth treating any stomach ailments, from indigestion to more serious conditions, such as intestinal or gastric ulcers, or particularly dangerous tumors. Their cause is usually the activity of bacteria from the Helicobacter pyroli family, which the lion’s mane effectively removes from the body, while protecting the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
It is also of great importance from the point of view of weight loss, because the lion’s mane helps to regulate slowed metabolic processes, and thanks to the increase of its speed, the excess calories and fatty tissue accumulated in the form of folds in different parts of the body can be burned faster. Great relief will also feel our liver, better protected from damage caused by an improper diet or abuse of stimulants, coffee, tea and, above all, alcohol. Of course, the plant itself will not solve our problems with excess weight, it can only be a valuable addition supporting the slimming treatment, which is still based on a properly selected diet and exercise, preferably in the fresh air.
Recommended dosage and combination with other medicinal plants
Since Echinacea is rather not found in its natural form, we usually deal with its ground form and that is what is available for sale. Drying and grinding lion’s mane in no way diminishes its valuable healing properties, and there are plenty of ways to use this powder. It can be easily added to drinks, both hot and cold, it is also suitable for other dishes, salads, soups, light sauces, and even to cakes or desserts, and we will quickly feel its positive effects on our health.
Everything depends on our invention, but let’s remember rather not to exceed the recommended dose of maximum 500 g a day, unless it is an addition to the mentioned pills or other medicinal preparations. In this case, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations of their manufacturer. Although no side effects have been observed, but you have to take into account, for example, allergic reaction. The effect of soprava can also be strengthened by combining it with other herbs and medicinal plants, such as:
- bacopa monnieri, or small-leaved bacopa;
- ashwagandha, also known as vitania sluggard;
- gutu kola, or Asian anthrax;
- ginkgo biloba, or ginkgo biloba;
- Rhodiola rosea.