Description

Cordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi that grows on the larvae of insects. When these fungi attack their host, they replace its tissue and sprout long, slender stems that grow outside the host’s body. The remains of the insect and fungi have been hand-collected, dried and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to treat fatigue, sickness, kidney disease and low sex drive.

Commonly known as “dong chong xia cao” (summer-plant, winter-worm) in Chinese, cordyceps has been used as a tonic food in China and Tibet and has been used as a food supplement and tonic beverage among the rich because of its short supply due to over harvesting. It is also an ingredient in soups and other foods used traditionally in Chinese medicine for thousands of years helping debilitated patients recover from illness.

Although written record of Cordyceps sinensis use appeared in Traditional Chinese Medicine centuries ago, it wasn’t really noticed in the West until recently. The last two decades have seen a great increase in research on cordyceps as a medicinal mushroom.

There are many reported cordyceps health benefits. Some of these include:

• Cholesterol reduction
• Stimulation of the immune system
• Faster recovery from bronchitis and respiratory diseases
• Increased efficiency and stamina of the circulatory system
• Anti-tumor properties
• Liver protection and enhanced recovery from chemotherapy
• Sexual issues
• A general body adaptogen, resulting in more energy, strength, and stamina