Source
r/Nootropics•
Jengu

Is it important to get ethanol extracted Lion's Mane rather than hot water extracted?

I've read that ethanol extraction is better, and looking at the original paper showing the nerve growth benefits it looks like that's the technique they used. I'm interested in Lion's Mane but all the brands I see on Google either say hot water extracted or confusingly say "hot-water/alcohol extract". How important is the distinction likely to be, and does anyone know where I can find ethanol extracted Lion's Mane? (I'm in the USA)

Posted Aug 12, 2010, 5:51 AM UTC

42
Tobicles•

I'm not sure but there is a good discussion of this on imminst, there is a thread called 'benefits to enhancing NGF' or something like that, about 8 pages of discussion within which is talk of different sources and the methods they use to make their extract. I'm about to order some myself, though from swanson vitamins, I am not sure of the method they use.

1
sapiophile•

My best guess is that the term "hot-water/alcohol extract" is what's referred to in herbalism as a "concoction," in this field having a very specific meaning. Traditional concoctions are made by adding the material to boiling water, covering, reducing heat to a simmer, simmering for 10 minutes to as much as 2 hours, then mixing the un-strained result roughly half and half with strong alcohol. After 2-6 weeks in this state, in a sealed container that is typically shaken daily, the concoction is strained and/or pressed, and the product is complete.

In this way, a concoction more effectively extracts compounds that are only significantly soluble at high temperatures, as well as those that a conventional ethanol/water extract (tincture) would. It may also be used if certain volatile components of the material are undesirable, as the simmering can be done uncovered to allow vapor to escape.

TL;DR: "hot-water/alcohol" extract sounds like what you want.

1