Thread by @enhancedathlete

This might be why Ryan Russo experienced something similar to post-finasteride syndrome using Lion's Mane THREAD...

Lions Mane/Hericium Erinaceus shows 5-alpha reductase inhibition. Here we see about a 20% reduction in 5-ar.

Unfortunately I wasn't about to source the amount of mushroom used in the study, but if we look at the 5-ar inhibition with finasteride it occurs in a dose-dependent manner until 0.2mg where it shows diminished returns.

This could mean that the more LM someone consumes, the more 5-ar is inhibited.

It also shows Aromatase Inhibition of less than 20%

Aromatase inhibitors also show dose-dependent reductions in aromatase activity.

It's completely uncertain as to how much Russo had lowered his DHT and or Estrogen from his dosage of LM, but if he took enough LM to lower both hormones to a significant amount it could explain just one aspect of his issues (including low libido or sexual function).

Lions Mane can also affect dopamine/serotonin pathways as well. It has the ability to modulate monoamine neurotransmitters

LM has the ability to both increase and lower levels of neurotransmitters, and because Russo had taken Tesofensine (a triple re-uptake inhibitor) prior to his LM experiment, Tesofensine may have had an adverse effect with the LM neuromodulation.

LM stimulates nerve growth factor (NGF), and If NGF is stimulated in the presence of beta amyloids can lead to hippocampal degeneration.

Russo may have genes involved in beta amyloid overproduction, which might cause the NGF in LM to work counterproductively.

Aside from serotonin, DHT, and estrogen, even a slight amount of hippocampal degeneration might explain some of his neurological symptoms.

PSSD, PFS, etc... are still somewhat controversial subjects, as it seems there is a larger percentage of individuals who do not experience those symptoms as opposed to those who do.

This does not mean that PSSD is not real. Everyone is different, and it's possible that genetics can pre-dispose us to adverse effects with specific medications. Schizophrenia and psyclocybin is a perfect example.

When we look at the poll that I took, the overall experience of lions mane is positive, yet still 21.7% negative is still a significant amount.

LM may just simply be unsuited for some.