Be warned that it has a reputation for suppressing libido, reducing motivation, or inducing apathy in some people. Some people seem to like it, but it’s not really the miracle mushroom that all of the YouTube ads and podcasts are suggesting lately.
2 things: 1) the effects are gone if you stop taking it 2) you're going to have some weird dreams if you take it in the evening (ie take it in the morning)
Apart from that, I have not noticed any libido, motivation or aphathy side effects but that's a data point of 1. YMMV
Since we're talkimg supplements I like the OG: fish oil, vitamin D, multivitamin.
I take lions mane most nights before bed. Haven’t noticed any weird dreams, nor the other effects around libido or motivation. I’ve been a chronic bad sleeper most of my life, and regularly would wake up feeling terribly in my head (headache, etc) after a subpar night of sleep. Lions mane has completely removed that feeling - my mind is clear in the morning and ready to go. Especially on nights when I go to bed extra late, I know if I take this stuff before bed I’ll be pretty good still in the morning.
Years ago I suggested some friends and family try it and nobody has had equally noticeable effects if any, so I no longer do. These things are just super individualized for whatever reason. Cool to hear some others here have benefitted too. I’m not sure if it’s the properties where it helps with inflammation or what it is that benefits me specifically. Would love to know. Also what side effects there are from long term use.
How does it differ from racetams/uridine/huperzine in your experience, if you've tried any of those?
https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P27361/entry
Cofactor Protein has 1 cofactor binding site: Mg2+
A Mucuna pruriens extract can have significant levels of L-DOPA, a precursor to dopamine.
L-DOPA (the active component in Mucuna Pruriens) is well known to cause degeneration when given clinically to Parkinson’s patients who actually need it.
L-DOPA becomes Dopamine, but given that the L-DOPA is distributed throughout your brain and body when you take it orally, the conversion happens in higher volumes in places in your brain where it’s not normally occurring. Dopamine metabolism produces toxic byproducts, so producing Dopamine in random places and having it break down isn’t good.
There are a lot of mostly harmless supplements out there. Mucuna Pruriens isn’t one of them.