Alfredo was a 60-year old sport cyclist who rides his bike 200 miles a week. Yet, he found his endurance declining over the past few years.
He began to lag behind on trips and was no longer able to keep up with the younger guys in his group.
Alfredo’s friend suggested a visit to my office to find the problem.
Alfredo was sent to the lab for a complete evaluation including a testosterone level. The results showed his testosterone level was actually quite good, so instead, I instead suggested an energy super food called Cordyceps Sinensis.
He agreed to try it, and two weeks later, an amazed Alfredo reported his endurance had improved and he’s riding faster and farther than before, thanks to the Cordyceps.
Rather than lagging behind, he is now the leader of the pack.
Medicinal mushroom held in high esteem in Chinese Medicine
Cordyceps Sinensis is a Chinese medicinal mushroom, and is actually a type of “energy vitamin.”
The Corcyceps Fungi are unique because they live inside various insect hosts. The name for this is “entomopathogenic fungus” There are about 600 species of Cordyceps Fungi, each one lives in a different insect and capable of manufacturing a different spectrum of bio-active substances. Some live inside ants. (56-61)
Cordyceps was originally discovered centuries ago by Yak herders of the Tibetan mountains, who observed the goats and Yaks displaying energetic behavior after grazing on the wild Cordyceps sprouts in early spring.
The Cordyceps Sinensis grows wild at 16,000 feet, as a parasite inside a caterpillar of the Himalayan Bat Moth. In the early spring, the Cordyceps sends sprouts up from the ground, arising from the head of the caterpillar host.
Cordyceps was held in high esteem and used over the centuries by Chinese Medicine. Because native wild Cordyceps is rare and costly, its use was restricted to the Emperor and Chinese Imperial Court.
However, more recently, a few decades ago, mass consumption has become a reality with commercial production of cultivated strains. (4-9)
Increases athletic stamina and endurance
Athletes use Cordyceps as a favorite supplement for endurance and stamina. And research studies reveal why. Cordyceps increases ATP energy production, and increases oxygen utilization.
Studies on lab mice using in-vivo NMR (Nuclear Magnsetic Resonance) show Cordyceps treated mice have increased ATP production in the liver. ATP is Adenosine Tri-Phosphate, the currency of energy in the cell, so this means increased energy in the liver. Another mouse study showed Cordyceps treated mice have better liver function, and will clear injected carbon particles from the blood stream more rapidly. (10-12)
A simple way to measure if Cordyceps increases energy is the “mouse swim test.” This is a test in which mice are placed in a tank of water with steep sides and allowed to swim until exhausted. The Cordyceps treated mice swim longer than placebo treated mice. (47)
Protect the liver from chemical injury & viral hepatitis B
Two human studies showed Cordyceps treats patients with chronic hepatitis B, improving liver function, reducing antibody levels, and raising serum albumin levels. (13)(14)
In an experimental mouse model of chemical injury to the liver with carbon tetrachloride, Cordyceps sinensis inhibited the onset of chronic liver disease by inhibiting hepatic fibrosis, and improving liver function. (15)
Cordyceps reduces fatigue & improves exercise performance in the elderly
A study of elderly patients showed that Cordyceps enhances aerobic capability, endurance performance, and exercise metabolism in healthy elderly humans. (16)
Another study of 20 healthy seniors receiving Cordyceps showed a 10% increase in metabolic threshold (above which lactate accumulates), and an 8.5% increase in ventilatory threshold (above which unbuffered H(+) stimulates ventilation). (17)
Cordyceps was found to have a strong antioxidant effect (19)(20)
Cordyceps is beneficial for chronic renal disease
Thirty patients with chronic kidney failure used Cordyceps, with improvement in creatinine clearance rate, reduced blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine(SCr). The combined treatment of Cordyceps and Jin Shui Bao to a chronic kidney failure patient, showed decreased serum BUN and Cr levels, and reduction in the urine protein and blood pressure. (67)
Cordyceps was given to Sixty-0ne systemic lupus erythematus patients with renal involvement under treatment with cyclophosphamide and the cordyceps prevented renal function deterioration and decreased the proteinuria. (67)
Sixty-nine renal transplant patients receiving with cyclosporine-induced nephro-toxicity were divided randomly divided into two groups. Control group received cyclosporin only and the other group received cyclosporin and cordyceps (3g/per day). The results showed that the cordyceps group had decreased serum BUN and Creatinine levels. (67)
In another report, mice treated with cyclosporine-A and Cordyceps significantly reduced interstitial edema tubular necrosis and fibrosis compared to the group which received only cyclosporin A. (67)
Modern drugs come from the fungal world
Medicine Drugs
Many of our modern day drugs originate from nature, from the plant world and the microbial world of fungi and bacteria.
In fact about ten of the top twenty drugs used today originated in the fungal world. Examples include antibiotics such as penicillin, cholesterol lowering statin drugs such as lipitor, immunosuppresive drugs such as cyclosporin, and psycho-active drugs such as LSD. These all originated in fungi.(1)(2)(3)
The Cordyceps species is a treasure trove of bio-active and potentially useful medicinal substances, only recently coming under the scrutiny of university and pharmaceutical researchers looking for the next wonder drug. (45)(46)(47)
Hypertension & artery health:
In a mouse model of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, Cordyceps sinensis suppressed proliferation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells indicating benefit in pulmonary hypertension. (18) In a mouse model of middle cerebral artery ischemia, cordyceps protected the brain from ischemia reperfusion injury (21) Another study showed Cordyceps useful in reducing blood pressure. (22)
Oxygen utilization:
Cordyceps treated mice showed prolonged survival under hypoxic conditions indicating better oxygen utilization.
Pulmonary edema:
In a mouse model of epinephrine induced pulmonary edema, the Cordyceps treated mice had marked reduction of only 20% mortality compared to 80% mortality for untreated mice. (8)
Memory:
Cordyceps improved memory and learning in aged mice.(42)
Diabetes & blood sugar regulation:
Cordyceps was found beneficial in diabetic rats by reducing blood sugar and weight (23) Cordyceps was found to have a hypoglycemic activity in genetic diabetic mice by improving liver metabolism of glucose. (24)(25)(26)
Anti-Inflammatory effects:
Cordyceps was found to have an anti-inflammatory effect and possibly useful in neurodegenerative disorders. (27)
Asthma:
In a mouse model, asthma was induced by sensitization to intraperitoneal injection of (i.p.) of egg protein. The Cordyceps reduced the undesirable immune responses and/or cytokine expression exhibited in asthma. (28)
Auto-Immune and kidney problems:
In a mouse model of adriamycin induced renal toxicity, Cordyceps sinensis reduced the proteinuria, improved renal function, and markedly inhibited glomerular sclerosis in a mouse model of renal failure. (30)(31)(32)(39)(40)(41) In other mouse studies, Cordyceps protected against cyclosporin induce real toxicity, and prevented renal complications in a mouse model of auto-immune lupus nephritis. (64)(65)(67)(68)
Bone Marrow protection from radiation & chemotherapy:
A number of studies have shown that Cordyceps protects patients from the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation with more rapid recovery of WBC (white blood cell) counts in Cordyceps treated patients.(62)(66)
For a full listing of references visit www.jeffreydach.com
Jeffrey Dach MD is founder of TrueMedMD, a clinic in Hollywood, Florida specializing in Bioidentical Hormones and Natural Thyroid. Originally Board Certified in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Dr. Dach is also Board Certified by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Dr Dach is author of the book, Natural Medicine 101, available on Amazon or as a free e-book at www.naturalmedicine101.com.
You can visit his web site at www.drdach.com or blog at www.jeffreydach.com.
His office is located at 4700 Sheridan Suite T, Hollywood Florida 33021. Telephone 954-983-1443.
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Regarding the “Cordyceps”, mushroom. I would like to grow these mushrooms at home, as I really love muchrooms as a food. I have a book on mushroom varieties and live on 5.5 acres, so can easily find an area or grow inside my house. I already have a number of variety mushrooms growing here now and am in the process of determining if they are good or bad, as far as human consumption. Can you share your views regarding my ideas. Good/Bad idea? Dangerous? How much of this type of mushroom can a person ingest; or is there a too much level?
This is fascinating, but although I do not think of myself as a squeamish person, the cordyceps growing out of a caterpillar’s head is a bit like the alien that bloodily burst from the chest of the poor fellow in”Alien”. But I will get over it, as it seems to be a very fine functional food.
Thanks to the doctor for giving such a worder ful uses of CORDYCEPS and how people can make use of the product. I think this has to be taken as a food supplement rather than as MEDICING. THANKS TO HEALTHIER TALK
Then what is the problem with statin drugs then if they come from a natural source? I read a lot of that here. Oh, yeah, it is a PROCESSED drug with no life giving properties!!!
Some mushrooms are bad, some are good. So be careful.
Plus, it did not seem to do any good for the Caterpillar!
Be well and happy!
Steve
My husband and I have been using cordyceps for about 3 years. It’s great for the sex life too!!