Cordyceps Mushrooms 80 g, 40 g, 20 g

Cordyceps Mushrooms – 80 g ($17.99), 40 g ($11.99), 20 g ($7.99)

Benefits:
Cordyceps relieves conditions that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) associates with the kidneys, including high cholesterol and ringing in the ears. It was also used for fatigue, sexual dysfunction, cough, and as an immune stimulant. The herb is an aphrodisiac that has been used as a cure for erectile dysfunction (ED). Cordyceps has been shown to increase testosterone in mice. It has also been used in cancer treatment and has anti-tumour effects in cells. Cordyceps strengthens the immune system of people who have undergone radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery, and helps to strengthen people who have had long-term illnesses or suffer from exhaustion. Cordyceps is known to boost energy levels and increase endurance in athletes.

Cancer. Cordyceps delays the diffusion of cancer cells and is able to control the division of cancer cells. It also increases the ability of the immune system’s T cells and macrophages to engulf and destroy invaders. It therefore may aid in the fight against cancer. However, as yet, few clinical studies are available to support its use in cancer patients.

Researchers believe the fungi may exert anti-tumour effects in several ways. In test-tube studies, Cordyceps have been shown to inhibit the growth of many types of human cancer cells, including lung, colon, skin and liver cancers. Studies in mice have also shown that Cordyceps have anti-tumour effects on lymphoma, melanoma and lung cancer.

Cordyceps may also reverse the side effects associated with many forms of cancer therapy. One of these side effects is leukopenia. Not to be confused with the cancer leukemia, leukopenia is a condition in which the number of white blood cells (leukocytes) decreases, lowering the body’s defenses and increasing the risk of infection. One study tested the effects of Cordyceps on mice that developed leukopenia after radiation and treatments with Taxol, a common chemotherapy drug. Interestingly, Cordyceps reversed the leukopenia. These results suggest the fungi may help reduce complications associated with some cancer treatments. The effects of Cordyceps on leukopenia and tumour growth in humans is unknown, so health experts can’t currently draw conclusions.

Congestive heart failure, kidney disease, lung cancer (in the elderly). Cordyceps improves a variety of conditions in elderly patients. Patients with congestive heart failure had improved quality of life with 3 to 4 grams a day. Using 3 to 4.5 grams a day improved respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and sleep. Improved renal function was seen in patients with chronic renal disease such as creatinine clearance, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine. More patients who had lung cancer completed radiation and chemotherapy with 2 to 5 grams of cordyceps.

Tinnitus. Cordyceps helps people with tinnitus caused by fluid accumulation in the inner ear. It is not helpful for tinnitus accompanied by a long history of auditory nerve disorder, however. Elderly patients with tinnitus and other ailments such as fatigue, dizziness, and intolerance to cold had improvements with 3 grams a day.

Exercise Performance  Cordyceps are thought to increase the body’s production of the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is essential for delivering energy to the muscles. This may improve the way your body uses oxygen, especially during exercise.

In one study, researchers tested their effects on exercise capacity in 30 healthy older adults using a stationary bike. Participants received either 3 grams per day of a synthetic strain of Cordyceps called CS-4 or a placebo pill for six weeks. VO2 max increased 7% in participants who took CS-4, while participants given the placebo pill showed no change. VO2 max is a measurement used to determine fitness level. In a similar study, 20 healthy older adults received either 1 gram of CS-4 or a placebo pill for 12 weeks. While researchers found no change in VO2 max in either group, participants given CS-4 improved other measures of exercise performance. Another study tested the effects of a Cordyceps-containing mushroom blend on exercise performance in younger adults. After three weeks, participants’ VO2 max had increased by 11%, compared to a placebo.

Anti-Aging  The elderly have traditionally used Cordyceps to reduce fatigue and boost strength and sex drive. Researchers believe their antioxidant content may explain their anti-aging potential. Several studies have found that Cordyceps increase antioxidants in aged mice, helping improve memory and sexual function. Antioxidants are molecules that fight cell damage by neutralizing free radicals, which can otherwise contribute to disease and aging.

One study found that mice that given Cordyceps lived several months longer than mice given a placebo. Another study found that Cordyceps extended the lives of fruit flies, further supporting the belief that they have anti-aging benefits. However, it’s unknown if Cordyceps have these same anti-aging benefits in humans.

Diabetes  Cordyceps contain a special type of sugar that may help treat diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body either does not produce or respond to the hormone insulin, which normally transports the sugar glucose into your cells for energy. When your body does not produce enough insulin or respond well to it, glucose cannot enter the cells, so it stays in the blood. Cordyceps may keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range by mimicking the action of insulin. In several studies in diabetic mice, Cordyceps have been shown to decrease blood sugar levels.

Some evidence suggests that they may also protect against kidney disease, a common complication of diabetes. In a review of 22 studies including 1,746 people with chronic kidney disease, those who took Cordyceps supplements experienced improved kidney function.

Heart Health  As research emerges on the effects of Cordyceps on heart health, the benefits of the fungi are becoming increasingly apparent. Cordyceps are approved in China for the treatment of arrhythmia, a condition in which the heartbeat is too slow, too fast or irregular.

A study found that Cordyceps significantly reduced heart injuries in rats with chronic kidney disease. Injuries to the heart from chronic kidney disease are thought to increase the risk of heart failure, so reducing these injuries may help avoid this outcome. The researchers attributed these findings to the adenosine content of Cordyceps. Adenosine is a naturally occurring compound that has heart-protective effects.

Cordyceps may also have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels. Animal research has shown that Cordyceps decrease “bad” LDL cholesterol. LDL can raise your risk of heart disease by leading to the buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Similarly, Cordyceps have been shown to decrease triglyceride levels in mice. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. High levels are linked to a greater risk of heart disease.

Inflammation  Although some inflammation is good, too much can lead to diseases like heart disease and cancer. Research has shown that when human cells are exposed to Cordyceps, special proteins that increase inflammation in the body become suppressed. Thanks to these potential effects, researchers believe Cordyceps may serve as a useful anti-inflammatory supplement or drug.

In fact, Cordyceps have been shown to reduce inflammation in the airways of mice, making them a potential therapy for asthma. However, the fungi appear to be less effective than commonly prescribed drugs used to provide relief for inflamed areas of the body. Cordyceps may also have topical uses. One study found it reduced skin inflammation when applied topically in mice, further demonstrating its anti-inflammatory properties.

Recommended  Use
Cordyceps is available in tablets and tinctures. You should not use it if you have a hormone-sensitive disorder such as breast cancer (for women) or prostate cancer (for men). Most manufacturers of cordyceps products also caution that the fungus should be used by adults only, and that people who use anticoagulant drugs, asthma inhalers, or immunosuppressant drugs for lupus, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjögren’s syndrome should consult a health-care provider before using the herb.

Botanical Name: Cordyceps sinensis
English:Cordyceps
Also, known as: Vegetable caterpillar, Chinese caterpillar fungus, Yartsa gunbu, Dong Chong xia cao, and Semitake, Jin Chong Cao
Habitat: China
Part Used: Fungus
Origin: China

General Information:
Cordyceps sinensis has been described as a medicine in old Chinese medical books and Tibetan medicine. It is a rare combination of a caterpillar and a fungus and found at altitudes above 5000m in Sikkim. Cordyceps sinensis is a fungus traditionally grown on the bodies of caterpillars and just one species in a genus of hundreds. All species are parasites. This species is found only on the Tibetan Plateau. Other Cordyceps species grow all over the world, mainly in Asia in humid tropical forests. The name cordyceps comes from Latin words meaning club and head.

The fungus is parasitic in nature. The base of the mushroom first originates from an insect larval host and ends at the club-like cap, including the stipe and stroma. The stroma is the upper fungal part and is dark brown or black, but can be a yellow color when fresh, and longer than the caterpillar itself, usually. It grows singly from the larval head, and is clavate, sub lanceolate or fusiform, and distinct from the stipe. The stipe is slender, glabrous, and longitudinally furrowed or ridged. The immature larvae (host) on which cordyceps grows usually lies about 4-10 cm below the surface of the ground.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.