Remeday | The Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms

Can Lion's Mane Help with Tinnitus? The Complete Guide

Written by Remeday | 28 Sep 2022

More than 50 million people in America suffer from tinnitus, and about 20 million of those cases are chronic.

That constant ringing in your ears is enough to make anyone feel hopeless.

It can be demoralizing and affect your entire day.

It’s also tough to compare different cases as it tends to vary from person to person.

Some experience it during specific times of the day, some have a more faint sound, while others deal with something much louder.

Living a normal life with tinnitus can be extremely challenging. 

The one thing everyone wants to find is a solution, whether it be a complete cure, or for those that have a severe case, anything that can help alleviate some of the symptoms to quiet that ringing a bit.

In recent years, the medicinal mushroom, lion’s mane, has risen up from the forums of reddit as a possible cure for tinnitus.

Here's an example:

View thread and comments here.

Of course, this is just one of several examples on popular threads and forums.

But does lion's mane actually help with tinnitus?

Let’s see what science says!

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus is an interesting condition because the cause can be hard to quantify and qualify.

Typically, tinnitus tends to affect older people because the function of nerve fibers in your ears declines as you age. But there are a variety of potential causes, making it possible for people at any age to develop symptoms.

Tinnitus is most commonly caused by:

  • Hearing loss
  • Ear infection or blockage
  • Head or neck injuries
  • Certain medications
  • Meniere's disease
  • Eustachian tube dysfunction
  • Muscle spasms in the inner ear
  • Blood vessel disorders
  • Other chronic conditions

Read more about the causes of tinnitus on WebMD.

What are the common treatments for tinnitus?

There isn’t a “cure all” treatment that can be used universally. The best treatment for you depends on the type of tinnitus you have and the possible cause.

However, these are the most common forms of treatment:

  • Hearing aids
  • Medication change
  • Treating a blood vessel condition 
  • Earwax removal

But if you’re here, you’ve probably talked with your doctor and have tried some of the most common treatments to help with tinnitus.

If you've made it this far, you're likely looking for something else to help to mute that ringing in your ears.

How does science support lion's mane for tinnitus?

In short, lion’s mane has been shown to help stimulate nerve growth and repair in the brain, spinal cord, retina. As we age, it’s common for our brain and nervous system to decline.

Remember, one of the main causes of tinnitus is the decline of the nerve fibers in the ear. Research has shown that lion’s mane mushroom can not only slow down this decline but could stimulate new nerve growth.

Feel free to take a look at all the health benefits of lion’s mane here. 

It's important to note that to date, most of the studies on lion’s mane have been animal studies and in-vitro (on cells in a lab) to tie this potential benefit to the popular medicinal mushroom.

However, growing nerve research and interest in lion's mane has provided the basis for an increase in human studies to better understand how and why it helps.

For now, understand that research is limited and there are no clinical trials on lion’s mane and its specific applications for tinnitus. We only know as much as science has told us.

But, because of its link to nerve repair and neuroregenerative properties in the brain and body, it has become a hopeful supplement for those trying to find a solution to their condition.

Let’s take a look at what people have to say about it.

Lion’s mane as a tinnitus treatment on Reddit

There have been a handful of people that have said that lion’s mane has helped with their tinnitus. Some report a big difference, others say that it’s been a mild improvement - but an improvement nonetheless.

It’s important to take these reviews with a grain of salt, as each person is different. And a handful of anecdotal experiences is not the same thing as a clinical trial.

There are some responses that state that lion's mane did not work as well for others as it did for some. One person even said that it made their symptoms worse. 

Why lion’s mane might not work for tinnitus?

There are two key factors in why lion’s mane might not work.

  1. Your specific condition
  2. The product you’re choosing

Simply put, what works for someone may not work for someone else. Your overall age, health, and underlying conditions may affect how lion’s mane reacts with your body as a treatment. 

It's also extremely important that you find and use a trusted lion's mane supplement product. The sourcing and extraction method of the mushroom product you buy is extremely important.

For example, one comment on Reddit stated they were using a product with no results. At Remeday, we know that the product they were using is notoriously low-quality.

It's hard to say whether a better quality product would have helped them. But we know that a poor quality product certainly wouldn't. 

Rather than call that particular company out, here’s a list of the best lion’s mane products that we trust for potency, beneficial compounds, and overall quality.

The best lion's mane products for tinnitus

At Remeday, we've done extensive product research to identify the best brands on the market. Unfortunately, until there is more regulation in the industry, companies can be misleading about how effective and potent their products are.

Here are the products we would use if we would try if we were suffering from tinnitus. 

The best lion's mane tincture for tinnitus

You've got a few options when it comes to the best lion's mane brands for tinnitus. Here at Remeday, we don't make any mushroom products. It's our goal to help people connect to the best brands. We only recommend products we've used ourselves and would recommend to family and friends. 

Life Cykel Lion's Mane Tincture

We love this brand for a number of reasons. We've been using them personally for quite some time. Because they're a relatively small company, they're hyper focused on sourcing, quality, and top-notch ingredients.

Mushroom Revival Lion's Mane Tincture

There are more than just a few reasons to love Mushroom Revival. As a small US-based company, they are not only focused on creating great products, but also educating the mushroom community with their incredible Mushroom Revival Podcast.

 

The best lion's mane powders for tinnitus

Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Powder/Capsule

Organic mushroom extract, tested for beneficial compounds, potent powder available in capsule form as well. This company is trustworthy and has been around for decades. Their pricing is competitive as well. 

FreshCap Mushroom Powder

Tinctures aren't really your thing? We get it. Powders are easy to add to your morning coffee or evening tea. FreshCap is a trusted brand that's focused not only product quality, but also on mushroom education. 

How to take lion's mane powder for tinnitus

Until more clinical research is completed, the dosage recommendations below are simply guidelines.

The usual dosage for lion's mane powder for tinnitus can range between 1/2 to 1 gram per day. For particularly stubborn cases of tinnitus, you might try a higher dose and see how that feels. 

Always talk to your doctor before adding a mushroom supplement to your routine. 

Lion's mane powder is easy to supplement with. Try adding a measured scoop to your coffee, tea, smoothie, yogurt, and more. 

Tips on how to supplement with lion's mane for tinnitus

Lion's mane is a very popular gourmet mushroom. You're likely to find it on grocery store shelves or at your local mushroom farm

But to get functional benefits from this medicinal mushroom, it needs to be extracted. 

Dual extraction (hot water and alcohol) is ideal for the most functional benefit - like helping to treat tinnitus. The products we listed above are all dual-extracted. 

Check out our guide to mushroom extraction to learn why this process is so important to get the most benefit from your medicinal mushrooms. 

How long should I supplement with lion's mane?

In general, lion’s mane and medicinal mushrooms are not meant to be an “instant” fix. Lion's mane is unlikely to be a miracle cure for your tinnitus. But it may be able to help. And for some people, it has helped quite a bit.

With that said, in order to see if functional mushrooms are working for you, it’s recommended to supplement with them for at least 30 days, preferably 60 to evaluate their effects.

This is usually the case for many natural supplements. Most people quit on them too early to see if a difference was made. 

Medicinal mushrooms should be treated similarly to other natural supplements. Try to gauge how you feel throughout the course of supplementation, and try slightly higher and lower doses as you see fit.

Lion's mane mushrooms are not addictive and are generally considered to be very safe.

What's the best dosage for lion's mane and tinnitus?

Speak with your doctor to see if a typical dose of 1000mg (1g) of lion’s mane extract per day is a good place to start.

Increase as needed and journal how you’re feeling throughout the course of 30-60 days.

While lion’s mane has not been scientifically proven to be an effective treatment for tinnitus, enough people are talking about it to at least give it a try and see how it works for you.

A lot of natural remedies require trial in order to understand their potential benefits.

How much does lion's mane cost?

And for those suffering with tinnitus, paying around $30 for a full month for some of the products listed above would be well worth the try given how much of a burden tinnitus can have on your overall health and wellbeing.

If you have any questions about this or other medicinal mushrooms, feel free to contact us today!