Lion's Mane: Has Science Seen Any Impact on Libido?
Listen, we’re no strangers to getting down and dirty. And by “down and dirty,” we’re talking about the fabulous world of functional fungi (say that three times fast!). If you thought we were talking about something else, you wouldn’t be too far off — there’s a pretty interesting connection between mushrooms and libido.
Specifically, lion’s mane mushroom may actually help support your libido depending on what knocked it down in the first place. Read on to learn more about lion’s mane and the science behind its libido-lifting potential.
What Is Libido?
When we talk about libido, we’re talking about sex drive. You know, the part of you that sees your partner and gets you thinking about the bedroom.
Libido exists on a spectrum. Some people go at it like rabbits and have sex every day, while others are completely content with intimacy every few weeks.
Basically, there’s no right or wrong amount of sex to have. As long as both people in a relationship are happy, you do you, boo! However, libido can become a problem when two people in a relationship don’t see eye to eye. If one person wants to have sex every night and the other is more of a once-a-month type of person, there’s bound to be a lot of friction (no pun intended).
Some people also use the term “libido” to describe how adventurous they are during sex. This is also a spectrum — some people like to get freaky while others prefer to get down missionary-style. Like frequency, the type of sex you have is totally up to you. However, both people in a relationship need to be on the same page at all times.
How Can Lion’s Mane Affect Libido?
Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a fuzzy-looking mushroom that people take because of its ability to support focus. Could there be more to this mushroom than meets the eye?
First, let’s dispel a nasty rumor we’ve seen circulating the web. Some sources have said that lion’s mane can actually lower testosterone in men, potentially causing a lower libido. In actuality, there is no research to support this conclusion.
There’s not much research that speaks directly to lion’s mane’s ability to support libido. However, there are plenty of other research-supported benefits of lion’s mane that may encourage libido as an unintended secondary effect.
Supports Mental Health
Lion’s mane can encourage feelings of relaxation and relieve feelings of stress, opens in a new tab. This is one of the biggest ways it can help support your sex drive, as stress is one of the main things that can kill your sex drive.
Think about it — if you’re worried about your job or dealing with family stress, you’re probably not thinking about spending an hour in the bedroom. Stress can not only kill your sex drive, opens in a new tab, but it can also cause your brain to ruminate on the things you’re stressed about. These thoughts can even come up during the act, which can seriously affect your enjoyment while you’re in the moment.
This mushroom can also relieve feelings of anxiety and depression, opens in a new tab, which can also have a massive effect on libido. In fact, one of the major symptoms of anxiety or depression is a loss of libido.
Encourages Sleep
When you’re exhausted, what’s the first thing on your mind? If you said “sleep,” you’re probably in the majority. Most people aren’t thinking about spicing up their intimacy when they’re several hours behind on sleep.
Unfortunately, no matter how much caffeine you throw back during the day, the only thing that can fix a sleep debt, opens in a new tab is, well, sleep. If you’re trying to increase your libido, a few nights of high-quality sleep could be all you need.
Luckily, lion’s mane mushroom can support healthy sleep. One study showed that supplementing with lion’s mane for eight weeks could support high-quality sleep in depressed individuals.
Supports Gut Health
You might be wondering how gut health, opens in a new tab can affect libido. Unless you’re bringing food into the bedroom (hey, don’t knock it till you try it!), why would your digestive health have anything to do with your sex drive? As it turns out, there’s a huge correlation.
The human gut microbiome has widespread effects throughout the body. It can affect mental health, mental clarity, skin health, metabolic health, and even the body’s energy production. When the gut is out of balance, the body may not be able to absorb all of the nutrients it needs to produce energy.
If you’re looking for a holistic approach to libido, then lion’s mane might just help. This mushroom contains prebiotic fibers that can feed good gut bacteria and support a balanced gut microbiome, opens in a new tab. If your skin looks great, your energy is high, and you’re not bloated, you’ll feel sexier than ever!
How To Enjoy Lion’s Mane
If you want to try lion’s mane, we wholeheartedly support you. We’ve tried it for ourselves, and you have to feel the benefits to believe them.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when looking for a lion’s mane supplement is consistency. Choose a supplement that you know you won’t forget to take. Sure, you could set reminder after reminder on your phone, but wouldn’t it be better to choose a supplement that’s so satisfying you actually can’t wait to take it?
Our Mushroom Coffee+ fits the bill. This blend is made using high-quality fruiting body extracts of lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms, as well as L-theanine to support mental health, collagen protein to support gut health, and coffee extract to provide the java taste we all know and love.
Sources:
Low Libido (Low Sex Drive): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic
Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder | PMC
Sleep Debt: The Hidden Cost of Insufficient Rest | The Sleep Foundation
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