Cordyceps
Cordyceps Militaris
Cordyceps is a particularly weird little mushroom that has inspired more than a few horror films. They are also potent, highly prized, and elusive. A parasitic, entomopathogenic fungus, Cordyceps parasitize and feed on insects. In fact, there are some Cordyceps mushrooms — e.g Cordyceps lloydii — that seemingly come from a science fiction movie, attacking living ants and secreting a chemical that compels the ants to climb to the top of a tree, attach themselves to a leaf, then slowly die as the mushroom erupts from the ant's head/body to disperse its spores into the wind.
But what of Cordyceps militaris, the mushroom used in our dual extracts? For one, it's a bit tamer, preferring the pupa or larva of moths and butterflies and using its mycelium to effectively colonize the living insect and mummify it from within — while keeping it alive — until enough mycelium is generated to produce the club-like, orange mushroom fruit body specific to Cordyceps militaris. Cordyceps militaris can be cultivated commercially without the need for bugs. Our cordyceps militaris mycelium is grown in a nutrified liquid broth, expanded onto nutrified organic rice, and then fruited and harvested from this rice substrate.
Studies are finding that compounds within Cordyceps mushrooms may possess health benefits including:
Anti-viral against Influenza, HIV, Murine Leukemia, and Epstein Barr viruses
Induces apoptosis, i.e. cellular death, and reduces tumor formation and cancer risk in the breast, liver, kidney and gallbladder
Anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and immune system stimulating and modulating
Anti-fatigue by increasing ATP production and reducing lactic acid production
Improve sperm count, libido, and bone health
Promotes nerve growth, suggesting a benefit to cognitive health
The medicinal compound credited for many of Cordyceps’ health benefits is Cordycepin, — 3'-Deoxyadenosine — which has shown the potential to modulate the immune system, inhibit tumor growth, lower blood pressure, and lower blood vessel wall tension. But one of the most highly touted benefits of consuming Cordyceps is that it increases the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which delivers energy to muscles. It’s believed Cordyceps may help the body utilize oxygen more efficiently, especially during exercise, and may delay exercise-induced fatigue. It's for this reason that Cordyceps are often referred to as the "athlete's mushroom." Further, it's worth noting that in China Cordyceps are approved for the treatment of arrhythmia, a condition where the heartbeat is too slow, too fast, or irregular. The presence of adenosine in Cordyceps is attributed for this heart-protective effect. Animal research has also found that Cordyceps can decrease “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, a type of fat found in your blood that’s linked to heart disease.
Cordyceps may also possess anti-aging and anti-inflammation effects, help people navigate heart conditions and symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes, and contains a type of sugar that may help people with Diabetes better control their blood sugar levels by mimicking the action of insulin.
As with any dietary supplement, consult with your physician before incorporating Cordyceps mushrooms into your supplement regimen.
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References:
Bizarro, A., Ferreira, I. C., Soković, M., Van Griensven, L. J., Sousa, D., Vasconcelos, M. H., & Lima, R. T. (2015). Cordyceps militaris (L.) link fruiting body reduces the growth of a non-small cell lung cancer cell line by increasing cellular levels of p53 and p21. Molecules, 20(8), 13927-13940.
Chen, S., Li, Z., Krochmal, R., Abrazado, M., Kim, W., & Cooper, C. B. (2010). Effect of Cs-4®(Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(5), 585-590.
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Hirsch, K. R., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Roelofs, E. J., Trexler, E. T., & Mock, M. G. (2017). Cordyceps militaris improves tolerance to high-intensity exercise after acute and chronic supplementation. Journal of dietary supplements, 14(1), 42-53.
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Lee, H. H., Lee, S., Lee, K., Shin, Y. S., Kang, H., & Cho, H. (2015). Anti-cancer effect of Cordyceps militaris in human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells via cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial apoptosis. DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 23, 1-8.
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Liu, C., Song, J., Teng, M., Zheng, X., Li, X., Tian, Y., ... & Wang, D. (2016). Antidiabetic and antinephritic activities of aqueous extract of Cordyceps militaris fruit body in diet-streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague Dawley rats. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2016.
Liu, W. C., Chuang, W. L., Tsai, M. L., Hong, J. H., McBride, W. H., & Chiang, C. S. (2008). Cordyceps sinensis health supplement enhances recovery from taxol-induced leukopenia. Experimental biology and medicine, 233(4), 447-455.
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Park, S. Y., Jung, S. J., Ha, K. C., Sin, H. S., Jang, S. H., Chae, H. J., & Chae, S. W. (2015). Anti-inflammatory effects of Cordyceps mycelium (Paecilomyces hepiali, CBG-CS-2) in Raw264. 7 murine macrophages. Oriental pharmacy and experimental medicine, 15, 7-12.
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