Ashwagandha and Lion's Mane: A Natural Dose for Steady Focus & Clarity
Ashwagandha and Lion’s Mane: though these words may sound exotic or like characters from a fantasy novel, they are two of the most powerful functional ingredients in the world of modern wellness.
While they come from different traditions, ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, they share a common goal: helping your body and mind perform at their peak.
However, finding reliable information on how these two interact can be tricky.
Can you take them together? Do they cancel each other out?
If you’re looking for a natural way to boost focus while keeping calm, you have come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll shed light on the science behind this power couple and how to use them for better focus, energy, and stress relief.
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What ashwagandha and lion’s mane are
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The benefits of using ashwagandha and lion’s mane supplements
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The science behind the benefits
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How to incorporate ashwagandha and lion’s mane into your lifestyle
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The synergistic effect of lion’s mane and ashwagandha working together
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Functional and nutritional ways to enjoy these adaptogens together
What are ashwagandha and lion’s mane?
Before we look at how ashwagandha and lion’s mane can work together, we need to better understand what each is. Ashwagandha, also called withania somnifera, is an evergreen shrub used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.
It’s classified as an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body manage and adapt to stress. It’s primary benefit is in lowering cortisol and promoting relaxation without leaving a feeling of sedation.
We also have lion’s mane, also called Hericium erinaceus. Lion’s mane is a shaggy, white mushroom used primarily in traditional Chinese medicine. Unlike ashwagandha, which focuses on the body's stress response, lion's mane is famous for its cognitive benefits.
Its primary benefit includes supporting brain health, memory, and overall focus.
When combined together in foods and beverages, ashwagandha and lion’s mane are a powerful duo for enhanced mental clarity and focus.
Benefits of ashwagandha and lion’s mane supplements together
When combined, ashwagandha and lion’s mane create a "best of both worlds" effect. For example, ashwagandha hits the brakes on stress, while lion’s mane hits the gas on focus.
When consumed together, lion’s mane and ashwagandha act as a comprehensive support system for your day.
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Ashwagandha calms anxiety, nerves, and jitters, which often distract us from staying present.
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Lion’s mane clears “brain fog” and helps sharpen concentration.
What’s more, lion’s mane mushroom extract is rich in B vitamins and minerals like manganese, zinc, and potassium. When consuming ashwagandha and lion’s mane together, many users also report the following health benefits:
Best of all, the effects are varied, but ashwagandha and lion’s mane can help support sustained mental energy, giving you energy when you need it most, and restful sleep when you need to recharge.
The science behind ashwagandha and organic lion’s mane
“Is this just a placebo?” You might be wondering. The research suggests otherwise.
If you’re wondering about the science behind ashwagandha and lion’s mane, here are a few facts that may surprise you and confirm that these two adaptogenic herbs are worth exploring in your favorite foods:
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Mood: A 2022 study shows that ashwagandha may help improve sleep, mood, and energy, whereas lion’s mane may help support cognitive functioning.
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Physical and mental health: Including lion’s mane mushroom as a complement to a healthy lifestyle may support brain functioning, specifically neurogenesis, the process of growing and developing nervous tissue in the brain. What’s more, including adaptogens like ashwagandha may help promote muscle recovery, research says.
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Stress reduction and sleep quality: Research even goes as far as saying that lion’s mane may support neurological health, mood regulation, and improve mood and perceived stress in young adults aged 18-45, according to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of organic mushroom extract on young adults.
How to incorporate ashwagandha and lion’s mane into your lifestyle
Because raw ashwagandha root has a bitter, earthy taste and raw lion's mane is a culinary mushroom, they can be difficult to consume daily in their natural form.
Here are the most functional ways to add them to your routine:
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Capsules: Consuming these herbs in capsule format is the most straightforward method. Digestion time varies.
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Powders: Can be mixed into smoothies, teas, herbal soups, or baked goods.
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Functional beverages: The modern solution. Combining these extracts with other organic ingredients., like green tea or yerba mate, creates a "ready-to-drink" flavorful mix.
For example, our Berry Coconut Lavender sparkling yerba maté tea includes the right combination of ashwagandha and lion’s mane mushroom powder in an easy-to-carry, ready-to-drink can, perfect for the busy professional on the go.
When combined as an extract in the right dose with other organic ingredients like green tea extract or even yerba maté, ashwagandha and lion’s mane can be incorporated into a daily health and wellness plan for improved brain and heart health, and better well-being.
Summary: Functional and nutritional ways to take ashwagandha and lion’s mane
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Functional beverages: Where energy meets focus
We dug into the research on functional drinks. 🔬
The results? Honestly surprising. 📊
The research suggests that specific blends of adaptogenic herbs may play a role in the way caffeine affects mood and cognition. In fact, certain adaptogenic herbs can help keep you focused 78 minutes longer than traditional energy drinks.
For a quick visual summary of the key findings from this study, and how different concentrations of adaptogens can affect focus and clarity, check out our Instagram page here.
Boost your health and nourish your body with ashwagandha and lion’s mane
Full transparency: we might be a little biased about lion’s mane and ashwagandha. But, the reason is that when consumed in appropriate doses, these adaptogens can:
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Boost energy levels
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Support a sense of alertness
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Modulate stress hormones and bodily processes related to digestive health and fatigue
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Impact bodily processes to bring about a sense of calmness and relaxation
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Taste delicious when combined with organic food sources in functional beverages
After reviewing the research, we decided we needed lion’s mane and ashwagandha in our Ola maté sparkling tea beverage. If you’re looking to take lion’s mane and ashwagandha together in a way that’s palatable and delicious, look no further.
Every can of Ola maté sparkling yerba maté tea is ethically sourced and contains heart, gut, and mind-nourishing adaptogens. Plus, all ingredients are USDA-organic.
To grab an ashwagandha and lion’s mane-rich beverage that skips on the fake stuff and is packed with the good stuff, browse our entire catalogue of beverages here.
Still have questions about lion’s mane and ashwagandha? Reach out to us! We’d love to see how we can help.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding optimal supplement doses, pre-existing health conditions, or making changes to your diet or wellness routine.
