Cordyceps: Benefits & Uses of Nature’s Energy Booster

Cordyceps have been stealing the spotlight in the mushroom community in recent years, but what’s driving all the buzz? This fascinating fungus, recognized for its distinctive appearance resembling caterpillars, has gained significant popularity in the natural health and wellness world for its array of potential benefits. You might even have come across these intriguing mushrooms through HBO’s hit show ‘The Last of Us’. Join us as we delve into the unique properties of Cordyceps and explore the potential benefits they may offer.

What Is Cordyceps?

Cordyceps mushrooms (Cordyceps sinensis), native to the high-altitude regions of China and Tibet, belong to the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. Also known as ‘Dong Chong Xia Cao’ in Chinese, which translates to ‘winter worm, summer grass’, these mushrooms are known for their unique parasitic life cycle, growing on insect larvae. After attacking their host insect, they replace the insects’ tissue and grow long stems that extend outside of the host’s body Cordyceps are orange to brown in colour and have a long, slender, caterpillar-like appearance.

Cordyceps mushrooms are revered for their rarity and medicinal properties. While traditionally harvested in the wild, they are now cultivated and available in various forms, including supplements, making them more accessible to consumers worldwide

Potential Cordyceps Mushrooms Benefits

Cordyceps are considered a type of functional mushroom, belonging to a class of edible fungi known as adaptogens, which are believed to offer health benefits beyond their nutritional composition. Emerging studies suggest that consuming Cordyceps mushrooms may provide numerous potential health and wellness benefits. These may include:

Enhancing energy levels:

Cordyceps are believed to support energy and endurance by potentially increasing the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which plays a crucial role in delivering energy to muscles. [1]. “Studies on sedentary humans also show a significant increase in energy output and oxygen capacity” [4].

Supporting respiratory health:

Cordyceps are believed to support lung function and may assist in managing respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies. “Traditionally C. sinensis has been used to treat respiratory ailments and is reported to be beneficial for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease”[4,7].

Boosting athletic performance:

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts may find that Cordyceps consumption supports increased oxygen uptake and may contribute to improved stamina. [2,3].

Strengthening the immune system:

Cordyceps mushrooms are recognized for their potential immunomodulatory properties, which can help in regulating and enhancing the body’s immune response.“the nucleoside analogues present in cordyceps species are able to inhibit viral replication. At the same time the polysaccharides in cordyceps modulate the immune response to viral infections.”[5].

Cordyceps Dosage: How Much Should I Take?

For liquid extract supplements, the recommended dosage is typically around 1-2 mL per day. For a powder extract, the recommended dosage generally ranges between 500 mg to 3000 mg per day.

We recommend consulting a healthcare professional or a qualified herbalist for personalised advice and dosage recommendations tailored to you.

Cordyceps mushroom health benefits are best experienced when taken in the morning or before/after exercise, as they may help boost energy levels, enhance performance, and improve overall quality of life [6].

Smith (Co-Founder of Love Mushrooms) with Cordyceps Militaris

Types of Cordyceps Supplements

You might wonder which form of Cordyceps works best for you. Although fresh Cordyceps may provide the most benefits, there are many ways to incorporate these mushrooms into your daily routine. We offer organic Cordyceps supplements in the form of liquid tinctures, capsules, and even delicious fruit-flavoured gummies you can have on the go!

Fun Fact: Did you know that Cordyceps mushrooms have been traditionally used to support libido and sexual function? This is thought to be due to their potential to enhance energy and endurance, making them regarded as a natural aphrodisiac in traditional medicine.

Sources

1. Increased aerobic capacity in healthy elderly humans given a fermentation product of Cordyceps CS-4. Xiao Y, Huang XZ, Chen G, Wang, MB, Zhu, JS, Cooper CB. FACSM Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: May 1999; 31(5): 174.

2. Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Chen S, Li Z, Krochmal R, Abrazado M, Kim W, Cooper CB. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 May;16(5):585-590.

3. Does Cordyceps sinensis Ingestion Aid Athletic Performance? TB Walker. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 2006

4. Medicinal value of the caterpillar fungi species of the genus Cordyceps (Fr.) Link (Ascomycetes). A Review. Holliday J, Cleaver M. Int J Med Mushr, 2008; 10(3 ):219-234.

5. Medicinal Mushrooms–A Clinical Guide Martin Powell

6. 15. Antiaging effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract. Ji DB, Ye J, Li CL, Wang YH, Zhao J, Cai SQ. Phytother Res. 2009;23(1):116-22.

7. 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. Xiao Y, Huang XZ and Zhu JS. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2004;10,3:187-192.