The Benefits Of Cordyceps

Many of you may have recently heard of cordyceps and their benefits, but may still be wondering what the heck these are.  You’ve heard it’s some sort of fungus or a parasite of some sort and from this point may have lost interest in its appeal.  However, for centuries cordyceps have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to combat liver and kidney problems.  

Cordyceps are a genus of the ascomycete fungi and operate as parasites on insects and sometimes other fungi.  The best known of the species is Cordyceps sinensis, first recorded in fifteenth-century Tibet.  Known in English most frequently as caterpillar fungus, this group is known as a medicinal mushroom in Traditional Chinese Medicines and Traditional Tibetan medicine.  

Over four hundred species of cordyceps have now been described.  Most of these are found in Asia, including Japan, China, Thailand and Korea.  Cordyceps are mostly available in diverse humid tropical forests.

The use of cordyceps was largely unknown in the West until the 1993 Olympic games when female athletes from China shocked the world by breaking five new world records for running.  This caused suspicion and some of these women subsequently failed drug tests for anabolic steroids.  However, according to their coach no illegal substances had been ingested, but the runners had instead been taking cordyceps at his request.

Cordyceps sinensis has been found to be beneficial in helping with liver fibrosis.  These fungi have also proved useful in combating diabetes.  In animal studies, high doses of cordyceps were found to produce a major drop in blood glucose levels.  

Cordyceps have also been researched for their effects as antioxidants.  Studies have found that Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps sinensis were effective against oxidative damage.  They have also been used as free radical scavengers.

Finally cordyceps may have beneficial effects for cancer sufferers.  They have been found to be useful in one study against the leukemia cells HL-60 and as inhibitors of tumor growth in mice.  Breast cancer cells have also been found in one study to be responsive to Cordyceps sinensis.  

Cordyceps are beneficial in preventing infection and inflammation.  They may also be immune system stimulants.  Cordyceps have also been found to be useful in improving male sexual function by stimulating the production of hormones.  Female infertility might also be benefitted by the use of these fungi.

As per the Chinese athletes cited above, these little fungi are also great for building muscle and enhancing athletic performance.  Cordyceps tend to make competitors show better results.  They also have anti-aging effects and can be utilized to reduce fatigue.  As an antioxidant the beneficial effects for aging are well known.  Cordyceps are also great for reducing anxiety.

All of the numerous benefits associated with the use of cordyceps suggests that it is probably best to get over any hesitation surrounding the origin of these little power fungi.  We’re all used to eating mushrooms and so eating cordyceps shouldn’t be much of a stretch.  With all of the life enhancing and health boosting effects recent research has revealed, cordyceps are one of the most important health supplements on the market today.