Omnia SanaPlant Comparison
Lions mane vs Hop
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Lions mane and Hop: they share 5 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, bloating, indigestion, …); 2 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Lions mane | Hop | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Lions mane |
| Bloating | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Lions mane |
| Indigestion | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Lions mane |
| Inflammation (general) | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Lions mane |
| Skin irritation | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Lions mane |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Diterpenoid erinacines (concentrated in the mycelium) and aromatic hericenones (in the fruiting body) are the signature low-molecular-weight compounds that stimulate nerve growth factor synthesis and underlie the mushroom's neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects.
Alpha- and beta-bitter acids responsible for the characteristic bitterness and much of the sedative, GABA-A-receptor-active and antimicrobial activity.
Xanthohumol has antioxidant activity; 8-prenylnaringenin has notable phytoestrogenic activity, the basis of the mild oestrogenic caution.
Aromatic volatile oil contributing to the characteristic hop aroma.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from neuroprotective action
inferred from immunomodulator action
inferred from digestive action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from digestive action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from sedative action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Mild gastrointestinal upset (nausea, bloating, diarrhoea) is the most common side effect. Rare allergic reactions can occur, particularly in individuals sensitive to mushrooms, and it may slightly lower blood sugar or have mild blood-thinning effects, so caution is advised for people on diabetes or anticoagulant medications.
Generally safe at therapeutic doses for short-term use. Hop preparations may enhance the sedative effects of alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other CNS depressants — avoid combination. Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. May have mild oestrogenic effects due to 8-prenylnaringenin — caution in hormone-sensitive conditions. Fresh hops can cause contact dermatitis in pickers.
Duke (2002) rates hops as +++ and provides clinical evidence (score 2) for sedative activity, consistent with Commission E approval for nervousness, unrest, and sleep disturbances. The primary sedative compound is 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, formed from humulone during storage. Duke notes that hop cones have estrogenic activity, explaining occupational menstrual irregularities reported among hop pickers. Dose: 0.5 g dried flower in tea before bed; often combined with valerian. Hops should not be used in depression, as its CNS-depressant effect may worsen depressive symptoms (Duke, 2002).
External Ids
Botanical Description
Wood-decay fungus (not a true plant) forming a distinctive rounded, cushion-like fruiting body covered in long, dangling, tooth-like spines rather than gills or pores, resembling a white or cream 'lion's mane' or icicle cluster. It grows as a single mass rather than a typical cap-and-stem mushroom, on wounds or dead wood of hardwood trees.
Vigorous, twining perennial climbing vine with rough, hairy stems and deeply lobed, opposite leaves resembling grape leaves. The plant is dioecious; female plants bear the characteristic papery, cone-like flower clusters ('hops'), covered in yellow, resinous lupulin glands, that are the medicinal and brewing part.[1]
Habitat
Grows on wounds, dead or dying wood of hardwood trees (notably oak and beech) in temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere; also widely cultivated commercially on hardwood logs or sawdust substrate.
Grows in hedgerows, woodland edges and damp thickets, climbing over other vegetation; native to Europe, Western Asia and North America, and widely cultivated for brewing.
Harvesting
Wild fruiting bodies are collected once mature; cultivated material is harvested from logs or substrate at maturity, then used fresh, dried, or processed into mycelium-based supplements.
The female flower cones are picked in late summer once mature (when the lupulin glands are fully developed and sticky), then dried quickly to preserve the volatile oils and bitter resins.[1]
Traditional Uses
Lion's mane has a long East Asian culinary and medicinal tradition, valued in Chinese and Japanese medicine as a digestive tonic and, more recently, intensively studied for its unique ability to stimulate nerve growth factor, giving it a modern reputation as a neurotrophic and cognitive-support mushroom.[1]
Hop cones have a long European tradition as a calming, sedative herb for nervous tension, restlessness and insomnia, and as a bitter digestive tonic; the sedative reputation, historically noted among hop-pickers who became drowsy from handling the cones, is now linked to GABA-A receptor-active bitter resins.[1]
Preparations
Fruiting-body or mycelium extract standardised to erinacine or hericenone content, taken as capsules or powder; the form used in most clinical cognitive-support studies.
Dried flower cones infused in hot water as a herbal tea, 500-1000 mg in 150-200 ml, taken 30-60 minutes before bedtime per the EU herbal monograph. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Tincture (1:5) of the dried cones, 1-2 ml up to three times daily per the EU herbal monograph. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Concentrated extract standardised to xanthohumol/humulone content, studied for sleep-enhancing activity via GABA-A receptor modulation.
Dosage
A 49-week double-blind randomised trial in mild Alzheimer's disease used three erinacine A-enriched H. erinaceus mycelia capsules per day at 350 mg per capsule, i.e. 1050 mg daily. Other clinical studies of cognitive support commonly use around 1-3 g of dried fruiting body extract daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
The EU herbal monograph distinguishes two uses, in adolescents, adults and elderly. To aid sleep - 500-1000 mg of the comminuted flower in 150-200 mL of boiling water as an infusion, 30-60 minutes before bedtime. In mental stress - 500 mg in 150-200 mL as an infusion, up to 4 times daily. A 1:5 tincture at 1-2 mL up to 3 times daily is also listed. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Lookalikes Review
Drug Class Interactions
Not documented
Pairings
Dangerous Lookalikes
Not documented
References & Sources
- Szucko-Kociuba, I., Trzeciak-Ryczek, A., Kupnicka, P. and Chlubek, D (2023) 'Neurotrophic and Neuroprotective Effects of Hericium erinaceus', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(21). doi:10.3390/ijms242115960 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242115960 - Contato, A.G. and Conte-Junior, C.A (2025) 'Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus): A Neuroprotective Fungus with Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Potential - A Narrative Review', Nutrients, 17(8), pp. 1307. doi:10.3390/nu17081307 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081307 - Li, I.C. and Chang, H.H. and Lin, C.H. and Chen, W.P. and Lu, T.H. and Lee, L.Y. and Chen, Y.W. and Chen, Y.P. and Chen, C.C. and Lin, D.P (2020) 'Prevention of Early Alzheimer's Disease by Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study', Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 12, pp. 155. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2020.00155 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2020.00155 - Friedman, M (2015) 'Chemistry, Nutrition, and Health-Promoting Properties of Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane) Mushroom Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia and Their Bioactive Compounds', Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 63(32), pp. 7108-7123. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.5b02914 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b02914 - Xie, G. and Tang, L. and Xie, Y. and Xie, L (2022) 'Secondary Metabolites from Hericium erinaceus and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities', Molecules, 27(7), pp. 2157. doi:10.3390/molecules27072157 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27072157 - Li, H., Feng, J., Liu, C., Hou, S., Meng, J., Liu, J.Y. and others (2024) 'Polysaccharides from an edible mushroom, Hericium erinaceus, alleviate ulcerative colitis in mice by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasomes and reestablish intestinal homeostasis', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131251 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131251 - Shi, X.Z., Zhang, X.Y., Wang, Y.Y., Zhao, Y.M. and Wang, J (2024) 'Polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus and its immunomodulatory effects on RAW 264.7 macrophages', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134947 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134947 - Liu, J.H., Li, L., Shang, X.D., Zhang, J.L. and Tan, Q (2016) 'An experimental research on the anti-gastric-cancer activity of hericenone B extracted from Hericium erinaceus', 37(1), pp. 1--8. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=An%20experimental%20research%20on%20the%20anti-gastric-cancer%20activity%20of%20hericenone%20B%20extracted%20from%20Hericium%20erinaceus - Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K., Azumi, Y. and Tuchida, T (2009) 'Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial', 23(3), pp. 367--372. doi:10.1002/ptr.2634 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2634 - National Institutes of Health (2023) 'Hericium erinaceus'. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=hericium+erinaceus Traditional / reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=hericium+erinaceus - Pellegrino, R. and Gravina, A.G (2025) 'Potential of traditional Chinese medicine in gastrointestinal disorders: Hericium erinaceus in chronic atrophic gastritis', World Journal of Gastroenterology, 31(20). doi:10.3748/wjg.v31.i20.106615 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v31.i20.106615 - Docherty, S., Doughty, F.L. and Smith, E.F (2023) 'The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study', Nutrients, 15(22). doi:10.3390/nu15224842 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224842 - Surendran, G., Saye, J., Binti Mohd Jalil, S., Spreadborough, J., Duong, K., Shatwan, I.M. and others (2025) 'Acute effects of a standardised extract of Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane mushroom) on cognition and mood in healthy younger adults: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study', Frontiers in Nutrition. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1405796 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1405796 - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
- Lee, H., Chung, S.H., Kwon, D.J., Nam, M.J. et al (2024) 'Sleep-enhancing effect of Hongcheon-hop (Humulus lupulus L.) extract containing xanthohumol and humulone through GABA-A receptor', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 338(Pt 2), pp. 119019. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.119019 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.119019 - Kenda, M., Glavač, N.K., Nagy, M. and Sollner Dolenc, M (2021) 'Herbal Products Used in Menopause and for Gynecological Disorders', Molecules, 26(24), pp. 7421. doi:10.3390/molecules26247421 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247421 - Dietz, B.M., Hajirahimkhan, A., Dunlap, T.L. and Bolton, J.L (2016) 'Botanicals and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals for Women's Health', Pharmacological Reviews, 68(4), pp. 1026-1073. doi:10.1124/pr.115.010843 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.115.010843 - Sun, X.L., Xia, T.S., Jiang, Y.P., Wang, N.N., Xu, L.C. and Han, T (2022) 'Humulus lupulus L. extract and its active constituent xanthohumol attenuate oxidative stress and nerve injury induced by iron overload via activating AKT/GSK3beta and Nrf2/NQO1 pathways', Journal of Natural Medicines, 76(4), pp. 801-814. doi:10.1007/s11418-022-01642-1 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-022-01642-1 - Karbalaei, N., Sadeghi, N., Nekoeian, A. and Malekzadeh, A (2019) 'Impact of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Humulus Lupulus L. on Sperm Quality, Reproductive Organs and Hormones in Male Rats', Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 25(9), pp. 1-8. doi:10.1007/s11655-019-3025-7 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-3025-7 - Xia, T.S., Lin, L.Y., Zhang, Q.Y., Jiang, Y.P., Li, C.H. and Liu, X.Y (2019) 'Humulus lupulus L. Extract Prevents Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporosis in Mice and Regulates Activities of Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts', Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 27(1), pp. 31-38. doi:10.1007/s11655-019-2700-z Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-2700-z - Hurth, Z., Faber, M.L., Gendrisch, F., Holzer, M., Haarhaus, B. and Cawelius, A (2022) 'The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Humulus lupulus Extract In Vivo Depends on the Galenic System of the Topical Formulation', Pharmaceuticals, 15(3), pp. 350. doi:10.3390/ph15030350 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15030350 - Caban, M., Chojnacka, K., Owczarek, K., Laskowska, J., Fichna, J. and Podsedek, A (2020) 'Spent hops (Humulus Lupulus L.) extract as modulator of the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages', Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 71(1). doi:10.26402/jpp.2020.1.05 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.26402/jpp.2020.1.05 - Wang, S., Dunlap, T.L., Howell, C.E., Mbachu, O.C., Rue, E.A. and Phansalkar, R (2016) 'Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Extract and 6-Prenylnaringenin Induce P450 1A1 Catalyzed Estrogen 2-Hydroxylation', Chemical Research in Toxicology, 29(7), pp. 1142-1150. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00112 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00112 - Kyrou, I., Christou, A., Panagiotakos, D., Stefanaki, C., Skenderi, K. and Katsana, K (2017) 'Effects of a hops (Humulus lupulus L.) dry extract supplement on self-reported depression, anxiety and stress levels in apparently healthy young adults: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot study', Hormones, 16(2), pp. 171-180. doi:10.14310/horm.2002.1738 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.14310/horm.2002.1738 - Hege, M., Jung, F., Sellmann, C., Jin, C., Ziegenhardt, D. and Hellerbrand, C (2017) 'An iso-alpha-acid-rich extract from hops (Humulus lupulus) attenuates acute alcohol-induced liver steatosis in mice', Nutrition, 41, pp. 70-77. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2017.07.010 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2017.07.010 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2014) 'Community herbal monograph on Humulus lupulus L., flos, Revision 1'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-humulus-lupulus-l-flos-revision-1_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-humulus-lupulus-l-flos-revision-1_en.pdf - Becker, A., Felgentreff, F., Schröder, H., Meier, B. and Brattstrom, A (2014) 'The anxiolytic effects of a Valerian extract is based on valerenic acid', pp. 267. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The%20anxiolytic%20effects%20of%20a%20Valerian%20extract%20is%20based%20on%20valerenic%20acid - Koetter, U. and Blumenthal, M (2010) 'Valerian and hops for insomnia: overview of clinical data', pp. 44--50. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Valerian%20and%20hops%20for%20insomnia%3A%20overview%20of%20clinical%20data - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003 - Koetter, U., Schrader, E., Kaeufeler, R. and Brattstroem, A (2007) 'A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, prospective clinical study to demonstrate clinical efficacy of a fixed valerian hops extract combination (Ze 91019) in patients suffering from non-organic sleep disorder', Phytotherapy Research, 21(9), pp. 847-851. doi:10.1002/ptr.2167 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2167 - Ngan, A. and Conduit, R (2011) 'A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects of Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) herbal tea on subjective sleep quality', Phytotherapy Research, 25(8), pp. 1153-1159. doi:10.1002/ptr.3400 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3400 - Totally Wild UK 'Hops (Humulus lupulus) Identification Guide'. Available at: https://totallywilduk.co.uk/2022/12/08/hops-humulus-lupulus-identification-guide/ Traditional / reference
https://totallywilduk.co.uk/2022/12/08/hops-humulus-lupulus-identification-guide/
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.