Quietly growing in the vast forests of the world is a medicinal powerhouse! Hericium erinaceus, a beautiful and superb gourmet edible mushroom, is progressively becoming recognized for a multitude of health promoting effects. Similar to the other extensively researched medicinal mushrooms: Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Hericium confers a broad range of health augmenting and "quality of life" extending properties. In part, these include: neuronal cell support and survival, cognitive improvement, immuno-modulation, glucose regulation (blood sugar level stabilizing), lipid (triglyceride and cholesterol) reducing and anti-cancer/anti-metastasis properties. This monograph explores the body of published literature focusing on Hericium as a functional food conferring multiple health promoting effects. The content is current and provides information to both the scientist and non-scientist alike.