Cordyceps
Cordyceps Sinensis (or Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is the most studied species of cordyceps. Found primarily in South Asia, Europe and North America, the spores of the Cordyceps mushroom naturally infect and invade insects. The mycelium then spreads through their body killing the host, before sprouting a thin stalk-like fruiting body from the corpse which then releases more spores to find more future hosts.
So, why are we talking about an insect invading parasitic fungus? Along with the other medicinal mushrooms we love, Cordyceps has been used for centuries in traditional medicine systems for a wide range of uses, especially for boosting energy and libido, reducing fatigue and also for helping to fight kidney and lung diseases.
Due to its popularity, wild cordyceps is actually becoming quite rare, even now being classified as an endangered species, so it’s actually mass produced in a lab. The cordyceps produced by this method contains all of the same active components as its wild counterpart, and so it’s just as effective but more sustainable which we love.
Health Benefits of Cordyceps
Boosting Energy and Exercise Performance
Cordyceps increases Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) levels in the body, thanks to it’s high levels of adenosine and amino acids. ATP provides energy to our cells and assists with muscle contraction, nerve impulses, metabolic reactions and chemical synthesis.
Cordyceps can help the body to use oxygen more effectively, reducing fatigue which improves exercise performance, endurance and recovery.
Exercise isn’t the only performance Cordyceps can help with. Having been used traditionally as an aphrodisiac, and even referred to as the “Himalayan V*agra”, it can increase libido and your endurance in this area.
Balancing the Immune System
Like other medicinal mushrooms, Cordyceps is classified as an adaptogen, which means it can help the body to properly moderate and balance natural functions. For the immune system, Cordyceps can potentially help to lower it when it’s overactive (such as in auto-immune diseases) and increase it when it’s weakened or under attack.
In a study of patients suffering from auto-immune thyroid diseases, Cordyceps was shown to aid in balancing pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune cell levels as well as reducing thyroid anti-bodies.
Improving Lung and Kidney Function
Trials on people suffering from asthma showed that Cordyceps reduced inflammation in the lungs as well as improving lung function. Other studies on those suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) showed that it helped to improve lung function as well as shortness of breath.
It’s also been studied on people who received kidney transplants, finding that Cordyceps reduced the number of complications from the transplant, such as rejection and infections, as well as improving kidney and liver function.
For those suffering from kidney damage and chronic kidney disease, Cordyceps has also shown promising results in delaying the progression of disease as well as protecting the kidney from damage from certain medications needed for treatment.
Assisting Cognitive Performance
Along with helping physically, Cordyceps may also help provide a mental boost too. Some studies have shown that cordyceps can help to boost brain circulation, prevent short term memory loss and brain cell damage.
Full Spectrum Mushroom Powder
To fully take advantage of all of the amazing health benefits that Cordyceps mushroom has to offer, after extensive research we decided to use full spectrum mushroom powder in our products. Our mushrooms are grown using a unique and specialised process to ensure that all of the beneficial compounds found in each life cycle of the mushroom are fully utilised and bio-available in our formulations. The fermentation process used in growing our mushrooms utilises only organic substrate material and is extended so there is less than 5% substrate in the final product.
Another benefit of Full Spectrum Powders is they contain all of the antiviral and antibacterial extra-cellular compounds that are excreted throughout the lifecycle of the mushroom, in order to protect itself in its environment. These extracellular compounds are not included in mushroom extracts as they are lost in both hot water and alcohol extraction processes.
Find out more about the benefits of full spectrum mushroom powder and our processes here.
References
- The Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Actions of Cordyceps sinensis
- The genus Cordyceps: An extensive review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology
- Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi
- A Brief Chronicle of the Genus Cordyceps Fr., the Oldest Valid Genus in Cordycipitaceae (Hypocreales, Ascomycota)
- Host insect species of Ophiocordyceps sinensis: a review
- The caterpillar fungus, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, genome provides insights into highland adaptation of fungal pathogenicity
- Cordyceps as an Herbal Drug
- The demise of caterpillar fungus in the Himalayan region due to climate change and overharvesting
- Investigation on natural resources and species conservation of Ophiocordyceps sinensis, the famous medicinal fungus endemic to the Tibetan Plateau
- Culture Conditions for Production of Biomass, Adenosine, and Cordycepin from Cordyceps sinensis CS1197: Optimization by Desirability Function Method
- Cordyceps industry in China
- Effect of Cs-4® (Cordyceps sinensis) on Exercise Performance in Healthy Older Subjects: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial and assessment of fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) in enhancing aerobic capacity and respiratory function of the healthy elderly volunteers
- Cordyceps Sinensis (CordyMax Cs-4) supplementation does not improve endurance exercise performance
- Mycelial fermentation characteristics and anti-fatigue activities of a Chinese caterpillar fungus, Ophiocordyceps sinensis strain Cs-HK1 (Ascomycetes)
- Antifatigue and antistress effect of the hot-water fraction from mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis
- Effect of medicinal plant extracts on forced swimming capacity in mice
- Studies on the Antifatigue Activities of Cordyceps militaris Fruit Body Extract in Mouse Model
- CordyMax Cs-4 improves steady-state bioenergy status in mouse liver
- Dual-Directional Immunomodulatory Effects of Corbrin Capsule on Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases
- Immunomodulatory effects of a mycelium extract of Cordyceps (Paecilomyces hepiali; CBG-CS-2): a randomized and double-blind clinical trial
- Cordyceps sinensis Health Supplement Enhances Recovery from Taxol-Induced Leukopenia
- Immune activation by a sterile aqueous extract of Cordyceps sinensis: mechanism of action
- Cordyceps militaris Enhances Cell-Mediated Immunity in Healthy Korean Men
- Immunomodulatory activities of HERBSnSENSES Cordyceps — in vitro and in vivo studies
- Traditional uses and medicinal potential of Cordyceps sinensis of Sikkim
- Effect of Cordyceps militaris supplementation on sperm production, sperm motility and hormones in Sprague-Dawley rats
- Aqueous extract of Cordyceps alleviates cerebral ischemia-induced short-term memory impairment in gerbils
- The Prophylactic and Therapeutic Effects of Fermented Cordyceps sinensis Powder, Cs-C-Q80, on Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Dementia in Mice
- Cordyceps Militaris improves neurite outgrowth in Neuro2A cells and reverses memory impairment in rats