Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I am pretty familiar with the effects of lions mane and the dosages of high quality lions mane that can produce a given effect. I have been using lion's mane for awhile, but this is my first time using this specific product, which i bough because of how cheap it was. According to the ingredients label, the gel caps contain lions main, black pepper extract, and rice powder. This product feels different from other lions mane I have taken. I suspect there is not much lions mane in it and rice powder is being used as filler (the contents of the gel caps look a lot different from the way lions mane usually does). VitaRaw is using black pepper extract to increase the effect of the lions main, black pepper inhibits the breakdown of some compounds in the liver. The usage I am familiar with is combining black pepper with turmeric to increase blood levels of curcumin (20x times). The effects could definitely be described as nootropic. My cognition is enhanced, but the effects are decidedly different from pure lions mane, and there are some potential issues with using black pepper extract. I noticed in another review someone said they became dizzy after taking it. I had a similar experience after taking some capsules and drinking a kombucha, I *think* it was the result of the black pepper extract inhibiting the breakdown of something in the kombucha in by my liver. Lions mane works by making acetylcholine receptors in the brain more sensitive. The nicotine molecule is identical to acetylcholine (a class of Ach receptors are called nicotinergic receptors). The benefit of making the receptors more sensitive as opposed to taking nicotine is that your body can regulate your states better, the focus is more intense but you don't get "locked in" in the same way you can if you use nicotine gum or a patch. Hence the benefit of lions mane. I am concerned about the potential effects if someone took this product with nicotine. If the liver is inhibited from breaking nicotine down by the black pepper extract, and the lions mane is increasing nicotenergic receptor sensitivity (and likewise not being broken down by the liver) it could be VERY unpleasant, perhaps dangerous to someone with another preexisting condition. Also curious about the interactions of black pepper extract with prescribed pharmaceuticals people could be taking. I may be blowing it out of proportion, but I think some of the complaints in other reviews are the result of the black pepper extract. I get VitaRaw is going for the lowest priced lions mane, but they may want to be careful. ------------ All that being said, I will continue to use the rest of the lions main (+ black pepper extract) nootropic i bought from vita raw. I just won't treat it like pure lions mane--being careful about what i mix it with--and in the future I will buy a different product.