What Is Cordyceps Mushroom

Cordyceps, also known as the caterpillar fungus, is a powerful medicinal mushroom which grows wild in mountainous regions in China and Tibet. Healers and herbalists have harnessed the power of this adaptogenic fungi for thousands of years. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cordyceps is used to treat 21 ailments including respiratory issues, sexual dysfunctions, immune disorders and liver damage.

Used by Olympic athletes and spiritual seekers alike, cordyceps truly is a special medicinal mushroom that will make an excellent addition to any diet.

The Legend Of Cordyceps Mushroom

Folklore has it that Tibetan herders noticed their yaks had increased strength and stamina after they grazed on wild cordyceps. The herders started to ingest these mushrooms too, and found that they naturally boosted their energy levels and helped to reduce respiratory illnesses.

Cordyceps was considered to be rare treasure throughout parts of China, and the Chinese Royal Family even ordered that it was exclusively reserved for their use. Nowadays, cordyceps is widely available around the world because scientists have discovered how to cultivate it in laboratory conditions.

Cordyceps Mushroom: Health Benefits At A Glance

Performance-Enhancing: Increases endurance and stamina
Immune-Strengthening: Supports and strengthens the immune system
Fights Fatigue: Provides a steady supply of energy
Detoxifying: Helps the liver to eliminate toxins more rapidly
Increases Libido: Encourages a healthy sex drive for both men and women
Anti-Ageing: May slow-down the ageing process
Aids Respiration: Increases lung capacity and fights respiratory infections
Liver Tonic: Supports the healthy functioning of the liver
Antioxidant: Has powerful free radical scavenging abilities
Adaptogen: Enables the body to better deal with stress and anxiety
Safe to Use: A totally natural tonic herb with no reported side effects

Cordyceps: An Athlete's Ally

One of the most famous benefits of cordyceps is its ability to enhance athletic performance. This small but mighty medicinal mushroom hit the headlines during the 1993 Beijing Athletic Games. Three world records were smashed by the Chinese track and field team under the guidance of Mr. Ma Jun Ren. 

The results were so unbelievable that the athletes were ordered to take additional drugs tests, however, the results found no traces of illegal substances. Mr. Ma Jun Ren revealed that their enhanced performance was partly due to a cordyceps mushroom complex blend that they took daily.

In 2010, a study published in the American Journal of Alternative Medicine found that healthy adults displayed enhanced athletic performance capabilities after taking cordyceps. In 2007, a study by the Hong Kong University of Science revealed that adenosine in cordyceps naturally enhanced the body’s ability to produce ATP. ATP has been proven to extend the length of time that athletes can comfortably exercise for.

Cordyceps Mushroom: Nutritional Profile

Cordyceps contains a wide spectrum of health-enhancing compounds including nucleic acids, amino acids, fatty acids, alkanols, sterols, polysaccharides, beta-glucans and trace elements. It’s rich in vitamins B1, B2, & B12, E, K, as well calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, potassium and zinc.

How To Use Cordyceps Mushroom

Cordyceps needs to be properly prepared in order to transform it into a fine powder that can be easily digested by the body. When choosing a powder, take into consideration the source, preparation methods and potency of the product. If you’re vegan, you will want to choose cordyceps that has been ethically cultivated.

For a morning pick-me-up, dissolve one teaspoon of cordyceps into warm water to create a warming tonic tea which will give you a gentle caffeine-like energy boost without the jitters. You can also use in pre or post-workout smoothies and shakes, or in treats such as energy bars, brownies and protein balls.

We offer a pure, vegan-friendly cordyceps powder that is finely-milled and ready to use. Unlike many other powders, we transform 10 pounds of cordyceps into a super strong extract powder that is ten times more potent that the raw mushroom.

Head over to our shop to find out more about our 10:1 Cordyceps Sinensis extract powder, as well as our much-loved mushroom blend which contains cordyceps and seven other superstar fungi.
Sources
[1] http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredi...
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC31212...
[3] http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/herbal/cordyceps.htm...
[4] https://draxe.com/cordyceps/
[5] http://www.naturalnews.com/039361_cordyceps_Gilen...
[6] Valkov, Nathalie: Cordyceps: Treating Diabetes, Cancer and Other Illnesses: It Could Save Your Life
[7] Huang H, et al. Inhibitory effects of cordyceps extract on growth of colon cancer cells. Zhong Yao Cai; 30: 310-313. (2007)
[8] Gu YX, et al. Antioxidant activity of natural and cultural Cordyceps sp. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi; 32: 1028-1031. (2007)