冬虫夏草 Cordyceps sinensis

Rare and exotic, cordyceps is one of the most valued medicinal fungi in all Chinese medicine, and also one of the most expensive. Although used in China for hundreds of years, it was only recently brought to attention of the United States at the 1993 National Games in Bejing, China. Three female athletes broke five world records and came under suspicion of using performance-enhancing drugs. Their coach revealed that they had been taking cordyceps under his guidance. In addition to increasing endurance and energy, it has also been shown to treat low libido and impotence, and to strengthen and rebuild the body after exhaustion or long-term illness.

1. A highly prized traditional Chinese medicine for endurance and energy, and to improve lung function, is cordyceps sinensis, which is composed of the fungus cordyceps and the dried body of the larva of the moth on which it grows. Its active ingredients are polysaccharides, adenosine, and cordy-cepic acid.

 

- J. E. Williams, Beating the Flu: The Natural Prescription for Surviving Pandemic Influenza and Bird Flu

2. Recent research with extracts of cordyceps has yielded a protein-bound polysaccharide with high oral activity against tumors, as well as immunological enhancement.

- Jon Barron, Lessons from The Miracle Doctors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimum Health and Relief from Catastrophic Illness

3. Cordyceps has shown to improve liver function and help the body resist the effects of free radicals. It works by optimizing blood flow to the liver and kidneys, thus enhancing their natural function to better resist the onset of disease.

- Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, Health Begins in the Colon

4. Cordyceps has properties similar to those of ginseng and has been used to strengthen and rebuild the body after exhaustion or long-term illness. It has also been used traditionally for impotence, neurasthenia, and backache.

- Jon Barron, Lessons from The Miracle Doctors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimum Health and Relief from Catastrophic Illness

5. Cordyceps, originally only grown in Tibet and used solely by the Imperial family, were the secret natural performance enhancer used by Chinese Olympic athletes when the nation reentered the games.

- Dr. Steven R. Gundry, Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution: Turn Off the Genes That Are Killing You - And Your Waistline - And Drop the Weight for Good

6. Cordyceps should only be purchased from companies that test to exclude heavy metal contamination.

- Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D., The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions

7. Cordyceps is found in the highland regions of China. This mushroom, also known as caterpillar fungus, is one of the most valued medicinal fungi in Chinese medicine, and among the most potent.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Dietary Wellness: Using Foods to Heal

8. Cordyceps sinensis (CS-4) inhibits the production of DNA and RNA synthesis in cancer cells and has displayed antitumor activity on bladder, kidney, colon, and lung carcinoma as well as on fibroblas-toma cell lines.

- Freedom Press, Natural Cancer Cures: The Definitive Guide to Using Dietary Supplements to Fight and Prevent Cancer

9. Cordyceps supplements are still hard to find in natural-food stores. Cordyceps is most commonly found as a tincture (an average dose is 1 dropperful per day) and as a powder that is used to make a tea or added to soups.

- Mark Mayell, Off-the-Shelf Natural Health

10. Cordyceps has historically been used to treat low libido and impotence in men, and Chinese studies verify this effect.

- James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D., Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide for Treating Health Problems with Natural Remedies Including Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Bodywork, and More

11. Cordyceps has been known in China for at least 1,000 years as the anti-aging mushroom and reishi is considered sacred.

- Vincent Giampapa, Ronald Pero, and Marcia Zimmerman, The Anti-Aging Solution: 5 Simple Steps to Looking and Feeling Young

12. A constituent of cordyceps sinensis has been shown to have hypotensive and vasorelaxant effects in animal studies. Cordyceps sinensis protected animals from the nephrotoxic effects of cyclosporin A in one experiment.

- Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik, PDR for Nutritional Supplements

13. In addition to its uses listed above, the Beijing researchers found cordyceps to have immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory activity.

- J. E. Williams, Viral Immunity: A 10-Step Plan to Enhance Your Immunity against Viral Disease Using Natural Medicines

14. The immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory properties of cordyceps work by increasing levels of interferon, interleukin-1 and -2, regulating tumor necrosis factor, stimulating natural killer cell activity, and activating T helper cells.

- J. E. Williams, Beating the Flu: The Natural Prescription for Surviving Pandemic Influenza and Bird Flu

15. Cordyceps is one of the most valued medicinal fungi in all Chinese medicine, and also one of the most expensive (costing as much as $249 per kilogram). Cordyceps is widely employed to treat upper respiratory problems, impotence, weakened immune systems, and by athletes to increase endurance.

- Jon Barron, Lessons from The Miracle Doctors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimum Health and Relief from Catastrophic Illness

16. In ancient China, cordyceps was used in the Emperor's palace and was considered to have ginseng-like properties. It was used to strengthen the body after exhaustion or long-term illness, and for impotence, neurasthenia, and backache. It was also used to cure opium addiction.

- Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D., The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions

17. Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis, sometimes called simply ceps) is formed when a blade-like growth develops after fungal infestation of dead caterpillar larva. These bladelike growths are then harvested, cleaned, and dried in the sun.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Dietary Wellness: Using Foods to Heal

18. Cordyceps contains water-soluble polysaccharides that work to stimulate the cells of the immune system.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Dietary Wellness: Using Foods to Heal

19. Cordyceps is used as a kidney tonic for degenerative kidney diseases. It offers benefits for people with renal autoimmune disease, including glomerulonephritis and Berger's disease as well as chronic nephritis with degeneration.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief

20. Women who have endometriosis should avoid cordyceps.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies