Interview: Unlocking the health benefits of Lion’s Mane mushrooms
Interview:
Let’s chat with Marissa Hughes, Herbalist and Owner of Sunshower Wellness
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your journey to launching Sunshower Wellness!
In 2021, my design career felt like it had become a mismatch of values and I needed to realign myself with my work. I wanted to build a business rooted in supporting others through community and nature. Entering into the wellness space it was important to me to be approachable and authentic, and that meant acknowledging how complicated and layered life can be. We often experience conflicting emotions and identities, so I named my company Sunshower Wellness. Like a sunshower that beams sunlight down while the clouds scatter raindrops, we too can feel opposites - deep sadness and soaring happiness are many times happening at once. Let’s support that.
Sunshower Wellness helps you bring herbal products into your daily routines in a welcoming and easy way. Since launching in early 2022, Sunshower Wellness has grown to formulate 13 herbal remedies and make several custom tea accessories. We’ve curated products from several amazing herbal-focused brands, and plan to onboard more this year.
As an herbalist, why are you excited about Lion's Mane mushrooms?
The popularity of the Lion’s Mane mushroom has gotten so many people interested in ways to support themselves naturally. It’s becoming more acknowledged and accepted to look for support for a variety of ailments in mushrooms or herbs. For example, there are neuroprotective qualities in Lion’s Mane mushrooms that have shown promise in preventing cognitive decline in various clinical trials. This could be a major breakthrough in medicine and cognitive health.
Do you currently have any products that are made with Lion's Mane?
Yes! Our Clarity brain support tincture is made to support cognitive function and help get rid of brain fog. It contains Lion’s Mane that I double-extracted in heat and alcohol for maximum potency, and then blended with lemon balm and rosemary.
How do the benefits compare when consuming Lion's mane in a tincture or tea vs eating it in prepared form via a meal?
The important thing here is to break down the cell walls of the mushroom so that the benefits, like beta-glucans, are bioavailable. Beta-glucans are special components in mushrooms that can stimulate our immune system and regenerate our nervous system. When we heat a mushroom, this is considered an extraction as we are extracting the benefits from the mushroom.
When consumed in food or tea, the heated liquid the mushrooms are prepared in or with functions as the extraction method. Our Clarity brain support tincture is a concentrated liquid containing Lion’s Mane, therefore it’s considered a medicinal method of using Lion’s Mane.
What's something interesting people may not know about Lion's Mane?
While new to the mainstream markets, Lion’s Mane has a deep history with roots in Traditional Chinese medicine dating back centuries. It was recorded that Buddhist monks would consume Lion’s Mane to enhance their meditative states!
Thank you so much to Marissa for sharing more information about this super mushroom with us. Head over to the Sunshower Wellness website to shop her full collections of items and follow her Instagram page for the latest!
Can’t wait to share my vegetarian “skagenröra” or Swedish shrimp salad with you using Lion’s Mane mushrooms!
Amelia 🍓
