Can Lion’s Mane Cause Headaches? It Happened to Me — Here’s Why

Lion’s Mane has been everywhere lately. I was getting recommended videos about it constantly, and viewers were asking me what I thought of it. So I bought some and started taking it every day. Within two weeks I had daily headaches that got progressively worse and eventually stopped me training. Here’s what happened and what you should know before trying it.

What Is Lion’s Mane and Why Is Everyone Taking It?

Lion’s Mane is a mushroom that gets its name from how it looks in its raw form. It’s been used medicinally in ancient China and Greece for centuries. The main reasons people take it today are brain health — memory, focus, cognitive function — and mental health, particularly for anxiety and depression symptoms. It’s also associated with heart and liver health and blood pressure management.

Men in particular have been drawn to it for the cognitive benefits. My memory isn’t great at the best of times so it was appealing for that reason.

What Dosage Did I Take?

I bought capsules that contained black pepper — specifically piperine, the active ingredient in black pepper which improves the bioavailability of other supplements. I was taking two tablets a day as recommended on the label, which worked out to 2,000mg. Most studies use between 1,000mg and 3,000mg daily so there was nothing unusual about my dosage.

The first week passed without any noticeable changes. I stayed patient and kept to the dose consistently.

Can Lion’s Mane Cause Headaches?

Yes — and this is what happened to me. Coming into the second week I started waking up with headaches. Some days faint, some days stronger. I initially put it down to dehydration or diet — those are the usual suspects. But the headaches persisted and got worse as the days went on. Eventually they were strong enough that I didn’t want to train and would stay with me well into the early afternoon.

Up to that point I’d spent most of my research time on the benefits and history of Lion’s Mane and not much time on potential side effects or allergic reactions. When I actually looked into it, the explanation was pretty clear: Lion’s Mane can increase blood flow to the brain, which in some people triggers headaches or even migraines. That was almost certainly what I was experiencing. An allergic reaction was also a possibility.

I stopped taking it. Within a week the headaches had completely cleared up.

Should You Still Try Lion’s Mane?

Yes — my experience doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. There’s solid research showing it’s effective for many people. Side effects are genuinely rare. What my experience showed is that the concentrated extract form — which most supplements use — is more potent than people expect, and it’s worth approaching carefully.

If I try it again I’ll start with a much lower dose than recommended and build up slowly. That’s the lesson. Don’t assume that because something is natural and the tablets look small that you can just take the full recommended dose and see what happens. Especially with something that actively increases blood flow to the brain.

What Should You Do If Lion’s Mane Gives You Headaches?

Stop taking it. Some people suggest lowering the dose and continuing — that’s an option — but I chose to stop altogether and the headaches resolved within a week. If you do want to try again, start with the smallest possible dose and increase gradually rather than starting at the full recommended amount. And read into the side effects before you start, not after the symptoms appear.

Author

Stuart Patrick

Stuart Patrick is a health and fitness lifestyle journalist who writes for ListedFit.com.

“I've spent a lot of time trying to get in shape and change my body and I realised there are so many untruths in the health and fitness industry that can slow down or stop your progress, so I share my knowledge and experience to help others to cut through the BS.”

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