New Research: Reishi and Lion’s Mane in the Management of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Epilepsy affects approximately 3.4 million people in the United States, and an estimated 30% of those individuals continue to experience seizures despite standard anti-seizure medications. This is known as drug-resistant epilepsy, and it remains one of the most complex challenges in neurology.

In 2025, a peer-reviewed mixed-methods study published in Pharmacological Research – Natural Products examined the use of Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) alongside existing treatment plans for epilepsy. This study represents one of the first structured investigations into functional mushrooms as adjunctive support for seizure management in real-world settings.

Study Overview

• Study design: Mixed-methods (survey and qualitative interviews)
• Participants: 19 individuals with epilepsy
• Drug-resistant subgroup: 14 participants
• Published: Pharmacological Research – Natural Products (2025)

Participants incorporated Reishi and Lion’s Mane into their daily routines while continuing standard medical care under the direction of their physicians.

Acknowledgement of Research Leadership

This study was conducted through a collaborative effort led by Lily’s Lighthouse in partnership with Realm of Caring and Unlimited Sciences. Lily’s Lighthouse, founded to support families navigating treatment-resistant epilepsy, helped initiate the project and connect affected families with research resources.

Realm of Caring has played a significant role in advancing observational research in pediatric and adult epilepsy, including early real-world data collection on cannabidiol (CBD) use in seizure disorders.

Unlimited Sciences contributed expertise in community-based data gathering and mixed-methods study design, helping bridge lived experience with emerging scientific inquiry. Their collective leadership enabled this research to move forward outside traditional pharmaceutical research pathways.

Key Findings

Safety: One mild gastrointestinal side effect was reported. Additional quality-of-life observations included improvements in focus, speech clarity, energy, and post-seizure recovery.

These results are preliminary, but they suggest potential adjunctive neurological benefits associated with non-psychoactive functional mushrooms when used consistently.

Where Naturealm Fits In

Naturealm did not design, conduct, or fund this research.
No dosing guidance, product recommendations, or study methodologies were influenced by Naturealm.

Some participants independently chose to use functional mushroom blends, and when asked, Naturealm provided product at no cost to families already exploring these options.

This study examined Reishi and Lion’s Mane specifically. Our product Sacred 7 includes Reishi and Lion’s Mane, along with five additional mushrooms. 

About Sacred 7 (Ingredient Context Only)

Sacred 7 contains equal portions of:

Mechanistic Areas of Scientific Interest

While the study focused on Reishi and Lion’s Mane specifically, many families in real-world use choose broad-spectrum mushroom blends. Several biological pathways are under investigation for their relevance to neurological stability and seizure vulnerability. These mechanisms are early-stage and not yet clinically confirmed, but they provide context for why these mushrooms are being studied.

Neurotrophic Signaling

Lion’s Mane contains compounds such as hericenones and erinacines that have been observed in preclinical research to support nerve growth factor (NGF) pathways. NGF helps maintain healthy communication between neurons. In epilepsy, where neural networks can become unstable or hyperexcitable, supporting neuronal resilience is an area of ongoing interest.

GABAergic Receptor Modulation

Reishi contains triterpenes that may interact with GABA-A receptors, which are central to inhibitory signaling in the brain. Many anti-seizure medications also act on this pathway. Supporting GABAergic tone may contribute to a steadier baseline neural activity pattern, although this has not been demonstrated in controlled epilepsy trials.

Oxidative Stress Buffering

Chaga is notable for its high concentration of polyphenols and antioxidant compounds. Seizure activity is known to increase oxidative stress in neural tissue, influencing recovery and inflammatory signaling. Antioxidant support may help maintain cellular stability, but its role in seizure management remains theoretical at this stage.

Modulation of Neuroinflammation

Maitake and Turkey Tail contain beta-glucans that are being studied for their influence on immune signaling networks. Neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor in some forms of epilepsy. Adjusting inflammatory pathways may be relevant to seizure threshold, though effects are expected to vary widely across individuals and seizure types.

On Blends and Synergy

Many families report that blends feel more stabilizing than single-mushroom preparations, but these observations are anecdotal and influenced by individual differences such as dosage, duration of use, medication interactions, gut health, and underlying neurological patterns.

Controlled research has not yet validated synergy between mushroom species. It is not known whether blending produces additive, synergistic, or redundant effects.

Future clinical trials will need to determine:

• Whether blends differ meaningfully from single-mushroom preparations

• Which compounds are responsible for neurologically relevant effects

• Appropriate dosing ranges and durations

• Whether certain epilepsy subtypes respond differently

At this stage, functional mushrooms should be understood as complementary support used alongside medical care, not as a standalone treatment.

Study Limitations

• Outcomes were self-reported by participants and caregivers

• No placebo control group was included

• Dosing and formulation varied across participants

• Results cannot be generalized or interpreted as curative

Functional mushrooms should be considered adjunctive and used in collaboration with a neurologist.

Why This Study Matters

This publication expands the conversation around non-psychoactive, non-pharmaceutical neurological support, especially for individuals with limited remaining treatment options. It also highlights the need for:

• Larger controlled clinical trials

• Standardized dosing research

• Mechanistic studies examining inflammation and neuroplasticity pathways

This is promising early evidence, not a conclusion.

Citation

Lowe, M. X., Darby, Q. A., Seguin, H. R., Boylan, T., Lewis, E. C., Boylan, S. K., Kalcheff-Korn, S., & Jackson, H. (2025). “Functional mushrooms saved my daughter’s life”: A preliminary mixed methods survey study of Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) for epilepsy. Pharmacological Research – Natural Products, 9, 100402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100402.