Cholesterol Reduction Cordyceps Sinensis Plant Extracts Fitness Health Food

Cordycepsis considered a medicinal mushroom that increases energy, stimulates the immune system, and acts as an overall tonic to the body. It is one of the more famous Chinese herbs, but has only gained attention in the West over the last few decades.
In addition to its reported health benefits, this fungus is known for its unique way of reproducing. It develops inside insect larvae,killing and mummifying the remains before popping out of the ground as a fruiting body.This horror movie action makes cordyceps one of the coolest mushrooms around.
Let's take a closer look at this fascinating fungus. We'll start with somebasic facts, where we'll see that truth really can be stranger than fiction! Next we'll move on tohealth benefitsandinformation on supplements. Finally we'll end with some cordycepscontroversy, harvesting the wild fungus on the Tibetan Plateau.
BasicFacts
is just one species in a genus of hundreds. All species are parasites.This species is found only on the Tibetan Plateau. Otherspecies grow all over the world, mainly in Asia in humid tropical forests.It preys specifically on the larvae of several species of ghost moths in thegenus. Spores infect the larvae while they live underground before pupating. The spores germinate and mycelium grows, killing and mummifying the larva/caterpillar. Eventually a fruiting body grows from the mummified larva and pops above ground, reminiscent of something from an awesome science fiction movie.The fruiting body ofis technically not a mushroom but an ascocarp. Ascocarps are created by Ascomycota, a Phylum of fungi defined by their reproductive structure. For the purpose of this article we won't argue semantics, as most people refer to cordyceps as a mushroom as well.The fruiting body is usually up to 4 inches (around 10 cm) long and .2 inches (1/2 cm) wide. Unlike a typical mushroom, these are curved and club shaped like a small cane. They're usually orange or brown.In addition to the English term "caterpillar fungus" there are other interesting names. In Tibetan it is referred to as yartsa gunbu. The Chinese name is dong chong xia cao (meaning "winter worm, summer grass"). The Latin name cordyceps means "club head", and sinensis is "from China".Cordyceps Fungus Health BenefitsAlthough written record ofuse appeared in Traditional Chinese Medicine centuries ago, it wasn't really noticed in the West until recently. The last two decades have seen a great increase in research on cordyceps as a medicinal mushroom.
There are many reported cordyceps health benefits.Some of these include:Cholesterol reductionStimulation of the immune systemFaster recovery from bronchitis and respiratory diseasesIncreased efficiency and stamina of the circulatory systemAnti-tumor propertiesLiver protection and enhanced recovery from chemotherapySexual potentiator A general body adaptogen, resulting in more energy, strength, and stamina
The reasons behind some of these benefits are still not fully understood. Yet research has found some promising proof behind cordyceps claims. A few of the helpful constituents found are:
- Alcohols of the steroid group. Believed to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease, and possibly have some anti-tumor properties.
- Complex carbohydrates made up of chains of sugars. Known to stabilize blood pressure, have an effect on free radicals, and stimulate the immune system.
- Organic molecules that are the converted into building blocks of the genetic material DNA and RNA. Nucleoside drugs are sometimes used to treat cancer.
One of the most useful things thatappears to dois to perform the simple act of oxygenation.The fungus dilates the airways in the lungs, resulting in more oxygen to the blood. Thus more oxygen reaches every cell of the body, resulting in better cell function and greater energy levels.
Curious about Supplements?
All this talk of energy and vigor may make you want to start using cordyceps supplements. I personally like either the Aloha Medicinals brand or the Now Foods brand.
Fortunately this is a safe fungus to take, so go ahead and experiment. Just please keep the below info in mind:
Dosage
Dosing of medicinal mushrooms varies between people and diseases, but the average reporteddose is between 2 and 5 grams. If using store-bought pills with a concentrated extract, the bottle will tell you how many to take.
Supplier
Product quality varies drastically between companies. Try to purchase only from a reputable supplier that you trust. As always, organic is best when it comes to medicinal mushrooms.
There's a lot of hype and money around this fungus, so do your research on a company before you purchase.
Origin
You can purchase cordyceps that was either cultured in a lab from vegetable/liquid media or picked wild in the Tibetan Plateau. The wild fungus is much more rare and expensive. Since it is sold by weight, people reportedly sometimes stick small sticks or lead filaments into it to make it heavier. Others claim this is just a myth, and I have never read of any concrete evidence of this happening.
Regardless of any lead poisoning myths, it's best to stick with the indoor cultivated fungus from a trustworthy supplier. It's much cheaper and possibly safer.