Does lions mane help adhd kids?

What the evidence says

There isn't any good scientific research on whether lion's mane mushroom helps kids with ADHD. Lion's mane is a type of mushroom supplement that some people take for brain health, but almost all the studies on it have been done in adults, not children.

A few reviews looked at lion's mane and thinking skills, memory, and mood. These were mostly small studies in healthy young or older adults, and the results were mixed: some found small improvements in certain thinking tasks, while others found no real effect compared to a placebo, which is a fake pill used for comparison.

Separately, researchers have reviewed many alternative treatments that parents try for ADHD in kids, like zinc, fish oil, and ginkgo. Lion's mane mushroom was not part of any of these ADHD-specific reviews, so there is simply no evidence either way for this particular use.

Because there's no research on lion's mane and ADHD in kids, we can't tell you if it's safe or effective for this purpose. If you're considering it, talk to your child's doctor first, since 'natural' supplements can still interact with medications or cause side effects.

The treatments with the strongest evidence for ADHD in children remain behavioural therapy and, when appropriate, medication, as recommended by pediatric guidelines.