Posted 29 October 2025
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Many of today’s most popular supplements can trace their roots to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where plants and fungi were used for healing long before modern wellness trends emerged. So if you’ve ever taken ginseng for stamina, ginger to aid circulation or ginkgo biloba to sharpen focus, you’re doing so thanks to a practice that was first developed thousands of years ago.
The latest traditional remedy to gain modern attention is lion’s mane – a snow-white mushroom celebrated for its purported ability to enhance brain function and immunity. “Vegans and vegetarians also enjoy lion’s mane for its meaty texture and versatility,” adds Jen Messer, a registered dietitian and president of the New Hampshire Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Here’s what the science actually shows about this intriguing fungus – and why moderation and caution still matter.