If you are looking for the next big cutting edge mushroom supplement, then look no further than tiger milk mushroom! Up until very recently, this was an extremely rare mushroom and was pretty much impossible to obtain. This is due to the fact that cultivation methods had not been successful and the tiger milk mushroom grows in very small quantities in the wild. This means that it has only really enjoyed extensive use in countries tiger milk mushroom is native to, particularly in Malaysia. However, a few years ago viable cultivation methods were developed allowing for larger scale production of this elusive mushroom. This has resulted in a research boom on this mushroom and we believe this mushroom will be all the rage in the next few years!
One of the reasons why we think tiger milk mushrooms are going to be so popular is due to its ability to mimic the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF).* NGF is one of the factors that makes lion’s mane mushroom so popular and thus, finding a mushroom that targets NGF from a different angle is very exciting! By mimicking the effects of NGF, tiger milk mushroom can boost cognitive function, memory, mood, nerve function and can even help protect the brain.* Pair this with the incredibly unique ability of this mushroom to promote respiratory function and bolster immune function and you have quite the heavy hitting mushroom supplement!*
Lignosus rhinocerus, also known as tiger milk mushroom, is a very unique and elusive mushroom that is native to Southeast Asia. A lot of its traditional use seems to stem from Malaysia, where the mushroom has been in use for centuries. In folklore, it is said that the tiger milk mushroom grows from small patches of milk left behind from nursing tigers which has earned tiger milk mushroom its unique name. This more than likely is also in reference to the rare nature of this mushroom, because in the wild tiger milk mushrooms grow incredibly far apart and in very small quantities. This makes them extremely hard to find growing in the wild which has made the tiger milk mushroom highly elusive and sought after over the years. Many attempts have been made to cultivate tiger milk mushroom starting all the way back in the late 1800’s, but up until recently none of these attempts were successful. Only a few years ago, various scientists developed methods that allowed tiger milk mushrooms to be grown in an indoor setting. It is still a difficult task which takes a long time and thus the tiger milk mushroom remains fairly obscure even though cultivation is now possible.
One of the things that makes tiger milk mushroom tricky to cultivate is that the bioactives are contained in an underground tuber-like structure called the sclerotium. The sclerotium forms underground and from this sclerotium a fruiting body can also eventually grow. However, since the sclerotium is growing underground it can be fairly difficult to keep track of its growth. Luckily, through rigorous scientific research, repeatable cultivation methods have now been created which allow for a large scale and consistent cultivation of high quality tiger milk mushroom. There are various cultivators of tiger milk mushroom which we have explored and we believe that the cultivator that we ended up going with cultivates the most potent and high quality tiger milk mushroom.* As a marker for its high quality, just take a look at its beta-glucan content which is a whopping 50%!* Keep in mind that this is not an extract, which makes this number even more impressive.
We initially crossed paths with tiger milk mushroom due to various reports on reddit of its unique nootropic potential. However, for years it was pretty much impossible to get your hands on real tiger milk mushrooms. So, when we eventually heard rumors of tiger milk mushrooms finally being successfully cultivated, we got incredibly excited! One of the main drivers of our excitement was due to the tiger milk mushroom acting on the TrkA receptor, which is the receptor nerve growth factor (NGF) binds to in order to produce its neuroplasticity modulating effect. This means that tiger milk mushroom is acting as a NGF mimetic and thus can be a major driver of neuroplasticity. In our opinion, this places tiger milk mushroom at a very similar level as one of the most famous nootropic mushrooms, lion’s mane!* It is currently unknown what compounds in tiger milk mushroom produce this NGF mimetic effect, which is one of the reasons why we opted for a whole sclerotium product and not an extract. This means that every single compound that occurs in tiger milk mushroom will exist in our tiger milk product since the whole sclerotium is preserved and nothing is discarded.
NGF is highly important for many functions in our nervous system and, as the name suggests, is important for the health of our nerves. Since tiger milk mushroom can mimic the effects of NGF, this means that it can be very beneficial for promoting cognitive function, protecting the brain, enhancing mood and even for mitigating nerve pain. When the NGF mimetic effect of tiger milk mushroom is paired with its prominent inflammation and oxidation regulating effects, these NGF mediated effects are enhanced to a fairly significant level.*
While we are obviously very interested in the NGF mimetic properties of tiger milk mushroom, it is actually particularly famous for its respiratory and immune function benefits. In fact, this is what tiger milk mushroom is traditionally used for. Modern science has also backed these effects up by clearly illustrating that tiger milk mushroom has a highly beneficial effect on overall immune function while also promoting respiratory function. Unlike with its NGF mimetic properties, we do actually know what compounds in tiger milk are responsible for the respiratory and immune function promoting effects, the beta-glucans. Thus, the fact that our tiger milk mushroom has 50% beta-glucans makes it a fantastic immune modulating supplement!* Overall, when looking at the neuroplasticity boosting effects combined with the respiratory and immune function benefits of tiger milk mushroom, it is clear that this is a heavy hitting mushroom which fully deserves a spot high up with the rest of the legendary mushrooms we have become intimately familiar with over the years such as red reishi, cordyceps and lion’s mane!*
The NGF Stack: Tiger Milk Mushroom + Lion's Mane Mushroom 8:1 Dual Extract Capsules
Lion’s mane has been one of the most popular nootropic mushrooms for a very long time now and this is due to its ability to stimulate NGF production. Combine this with the NGF mimetic effects of tiger milk mushroom and you get a very comprehensive NGF modulating effect!*
The Neuroplasticity Stack: Tiger Milk Mushroom + 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone Capsules
This stack targets neuroplasticity via two separate neurotrophic factor mimetic mechanisms. The tiger milk mushroom acts as a nerve growth factor (NGF) mimetic while the 7,8-DHF acts as a brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mimetic. Together, they should produce a very synergistic neuroplasticity boosting effect!*
The Respiratory Stack: Tiger Milk Mushroom + Andrographis paniculata Capsules
One of the main traditional uses of both tiger milk mushroom and Andrographis paniculata is for enhancing respiratory function. With this in mind, we figured that combining the two would produce an even more comprehensive effect on respiratory function and in our experience this indeed seems to be the case!*
The Immune Function Stack: Tiger Milk Mushroom + Red Reishi Mushroom 8:1 Dual Extract Capsules
We always love stacking mushrooms together and to boost the immune modulating properties of tiger milk mushroom it made sense to combine it with one of the most famous mushrooms for immune function, red reishi. Better yet, we decided to stack the tiger milk mushroom with our highest potency red reishi extract which helps produce a very comprehensive immune stack that is particularly geared towards respiratory function due to the tiger milk mushroom!*
As a dietary supplement, take one capsule of Tiger's Milk Mushroom 1-2 times daily.
To gain more insight, see the Tiger's Milk Mushroom reviews and experiences below.
Nootropics Depot offers 60ct. or 180ct. jars of high-quality Tiger's Milk Mushroom. Nootropics Depot’s Tiger's Milk Mushroom has been lab-tested and verified for both product purity and identity.
| *Attention: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. |
