Cordyceps

Cordyceps Benefits:

• Anti-tumour effect – strengthens the immune system in fighting the growth of tumour cells;
• Immune system booster – stimulates the building of a strong immune system to ensure the body endurance against the infections and viral diseases;
• Cardio-vascular tonic – supports the function of cardiovascular system.
• Digestive tonic – improves the function of the gastro-intestinal system;
• Nervous system tonic -provides a calming effect and strengthens the nervous system;
• Diabetes monitor – regulates blood sugar level;
• Obesity monitor – improves the metabolism thus assisting with weight control;
• Contains anti-oxidant properties.
• Promotes more restful sleep. Cordyceps has a calming effect on the nervous system to help reduce anxiety and nervous stress as well as make sleep more productive.
• Reduces the effects of radiation treatment. Cordyceps increases the effectiveness of the spleen to help it filter out harmful substances in the blood. As well, it increases the DNA, RNA and proteins in the spleen to promote faster healing.
• Lowers blood pressure and increases blood supply. Cordyceps can slow down the heart rate, increase the blood supply to the arteries and also increase the total blood volume of the heart. It relaxes the blood vessel walls so blood flow is increased to the heart and blood pressure is lowered.
• Reduces asthma and respiratory problems. Cordyceps can relax the bronchial walls as well as having anti-inflammatory properties. So it is effective against coughs, phlegm, asthma and other respiratory ailments. Cordyceps also increases adrenaline production.

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• Rejuvenates male sex ability. Cordyceps acts as a very potent male sex hormone to bring back youthful sexual function and stamina.
• Increases energy level. Cordyceps has the ability to increase ATP production in human cells thus increasing your energy level. Delays muscle fatigue. Builds up stamina for better endurance.
• Amazing anti-ager. Cordyceps can prevent the formation of peroxide and lipids and prevent or decrease the formation of oxidase enzymes in the brain. This makes Cordyceps a powerful anti-aging herb. It stimulates the overall vitality and longevity.
• Lowers bad cholesterol. Cordyceps helps regulate your blood sugar. This is good news if you suffer from diabetes.
• Makes other nutrition work better. When you have Cordyceps working for you, the food you eat is more fully absorbed into your body. It also helps your body make more efficient use of nutrients and protein from your food, so you will have all the necessary building blocks for good health.
• Improves memory and concentration. Cordyceps has also proven in clinical studies to help improve memory and mental sharpness.
• Nourishing tonic
• It is very effective in tonifying arrhythmia with an efficacy up to 94%.
• Cordyceps Sinensis is useful in the treatment of Chronic Nephropathy, Chronic Nephritis. Moreover it has a diuretic effect and is good for the prevention of Nephralgia

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Cordyceps is a rare and bizarre fungus growing on the Tibet Mountains at a height of 12000 feet. Cordyceps is generally known as Caterpillar fungus or Winter Worm – Summer Grass. Chinese call it Dong zhong chang cao and Japanese tochukaso. Actually it is a parasitic fungus growing on a worm called Hepialis armoricanus (bat moth). This worm lives underground during winter with hairy cilia over its body. As summer approaches these cilia break the earth and grow into a plant. During the summer season ascospores ejected from the daughter cysts infest the host worm thus beginning its parasitic life

History of Cordyceps:

More than 1500 years ago in the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet, the lush meadows close to the snow line were covered with many flowering plants and grasses. The local herdsmen, who liked this area for herding, gradually noticed that when their cattle and sheep chewed a particular grass, they became very strong. Even old yaks showed signs of being younger, and had increased natural vigor. Little did they suspect that this “grass” actually was a parasitic fungus, which invades the body of caterpillars and eats the soft tissue. The “grass” part is the fruiting body of this mushroom. It is called Cordyceps sinensis.

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Was it possible that small grass contained some mysterious ingredient? Some traditional Chinese doctors started to gather them as medication for their patients. To their surprise, the grasses did wonders for several diseases for which they did not previously have any cure. And so the medicinal powers of Cordyceps sinensis were discovered. Its mysterious health effects were passed from one generation to another.

More than 1000 years later, Ghenghis Khan the infamous warrior and the founder of the largest empire in world history experienced his first defeat against soldiers and horses from this remote region of Southwest China. The local soldiers and horses fought with more resilience than those of the mighty Khan. Spies were then sent into this region and it was discovered that the strength and stamina of the enemy was due to Cordyceps. The emperor’s court physicians studied the Cordyceps formula, and using their own experience and wisdom, improved on their usage

Cordyceps then became a respected TMC (Traditional Chinese Medicine) drug but was available only for the Imperial Palace. The common people had no authorization to use Cordyceps. The Chinese named it Dong Chong Yia Cao, or “winter-worm, summer grass”.

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Composition

Cordycepic acid, amino acids (phenylalanine, proline, histidine, valine, oxyvaline and arginine), saturated fatty acids (Oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic acid and linolic acids), Polyamines( Spermine, spermidine, putrescine, 1,3-diaminopropane), carbohydrates (d-mannitol), vitamin B-12, Galactomannin, Sterols (Ergosterol) and 3′-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin), Protein (22.25%), Amino acid ( 23.58%) minerals such as Zn and Se, Polysaccharide (23 fractions) such as1,3 and 1,6 Beta glucans.

Physiological Actions

Adreno-tonic, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic (broncho-dilating), tranquilizing, soporific, antibacterial, anti-spasmodic; tranquilizing, hypnotic, anti-fungal; anti-hypertensive; anti-cancer (inhibits growth of human naso-pharyngeal tumor cells).

Benefits of Cordyceps

Stamina

1993 World Games, Stuttgart, Germany and 1993 National Games, Beijing, China six Chinese women broke world records 17 times, utterly smashing nine of them. Reporters wrote, “They (Chinese women) looked as fresh as if they had been sipping jasmine tea, after running races and breaking world records with both speed and stamina that have never coexisted in one female body.” Not one of these women was ranked in the top 10 in any event before these meets. These beginning athletes in track and field events had achieved superhuman results and status almost overnight.

These athletes shattered the 10,000 meters world record by 42 seconds, broke the 3,000 meters world record by 10 seconds, beat the 1,500 meter world record by two seconds and five of these runners broke an “unbeatable” world record in the same race, and one runner was only 17 years old.

This is how Cordyceps attracted the attention of the general public and that of health professionals because Cordyceps was responsible for this quantum leap in human performance in history. Not too long ago Chinese sports teams while working with Chinese scientists came across Cordyceps. They had been looking for performance-enhancing dietary supplements for their teams.

Cordyceps increases the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes), which contain the pigment hemoglobin and transports oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the tissues, thus enhancing physical endurance and resistance. Cordyceps increases vitality and stamina by improving the cellular energy production, enhancing the utilization of oxygen by the body, increasing the blood circulation and making oxygen and nutrients available to all parts of the body. It increases energy levels, and endurance. It has become one of the top selling sports supplements amongst the worlds’ elite competitive athletes.

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Cordyceps can facilitate an increase in ventilation during exercise. The relaxing effect of the extract on the aorta might also prevent blood pressure from increasing. The use of Cordyceps by athletes to increase endurance may owe in part to this relaxing effect on the airways.

Pharmacodynamics: Recent research has confirmed that Cordyceps increase both the cellular ATP level and the oxygen utilization. ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) is the molecule that releases energy in the cell by losing a phosphate and converting from a three-phosphate form of adenosine to a two-phosphate form, called ADP (adenosine di-phosphate). By losing a phosphate, ATP breaks the bond that releases energy that is then available for the cell to use. Therefore, an increase in cellular ATP implies a real increase in actual energy while use of stimulants, e.g. caffeine, would make the patients feel like that they have more energy, in fact, they don’t. That explains the use of stimulants would result in an energy deficiency. The effect of increased ATP and better oxygen utilization are two-fold. It gives more fuel to the body and more oxygen to burn with.

Diuretic properties

Being a source of D-Mannitol, one of the sugar alcohols that is known for a long time as a usable osmotic diuretic agent; it can be effective in relieving brain oedema (excess of watery fluid collected in the cavities or tissues of the body), brain pressure accentuation and ocular accentuation. This helps prevent nephralgia.

Kidney dysfunction

The kidneys regulate fluid balance in the body, which of course affects all the organs and systems of the body. In addition, damage to the kidneys can lead to bone disorders such as osteoporosis and osteosclerosis. Fatigues, impotence, joint and back pain, even ringing in the ears are all symptoms of degenerative kidney health.

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For hundreds of years, Cordyceps has been prescribed as a kidney-strengthening herbal medicine, but until recently few Western doctors knew anything about it. In China, Cordyceps is one of the main ingredients in an herbal formula used for treatment of chronic kidney failure and other kidney diseases. Yet many doctors prescribe Cordyceps alone without other herbs or drugs. Extensive research has been conducted in China, Japan, Korea and U.S. that confirms the effectiveness of Cordyceps in treating kidney diseases. The potential of using Cordyceps for the treatment of kidney diseases comes from its ability to increase 17-hydroxy-corticosteroid and 17-ketosteroid levels.

Chronic renal failure, or CRF, is a progressive kidney disease that can be caused by a number of other diseases. Patients suffering from CRF are not able to eliminate excess salt and water from their bodies. These cause extensive damage to all systems and organs of the body. Most cases result from diabetes, high blood pressure, and obstructions in the urinary tract. Atherosclerosis, cardiac arrest, depression, excess body weight, and a number of other disorders can also cause the disease.

In a clinical study of 37 CRF patients for treatment with a daily dosage of 5 grams of Cordyceps for 30 days, the results demonstrated significant improvements. Compared with the pre-treatment the following was evidence of improvement:

– Red blood cell and hemoglobin counts were greatly increased;

– Improvement of 39% in creatinine clearance test (which measures the kidney-filtration rate in terms of a waste product called serum creatinine);

– 34% decrease in blood urea nitrogen, or BUN. A high level of BUN is a major indicator of kidney disease, heart failure, dehydration, intestinal bleeding, muscle degeneration, diabetic acidosis and an increased breakdown in protein);

– Increased level of SOD. This increase in SOD coupled to a decrease in serum lipoperoxide suggests an increase in the oxygen free radical scavenging capacity, which results in reduced oxidative cellular damage.

– Arterial blood pressure dropped by an average of 15%.

– 63% drop in proteins found in urine.

In another similar clinical studies of CRF patients, researchers noted there was a great improvement in the rate of lymphocyte transformation (A low rate indicates poor immune function and is typically seen in chemotherapy patients and in people suffering from AIDS, lymphoma, burns and malnutrition) and improvement in T-lymphocyte cells (T-lymphocyte helps other immune cells protect the body).

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Acute kidney failure causes rapid deterioration of the kidneys, which impairs the ability to clear toxic substances from the blood. As a result, waste products such as urea accumulate in the blood. If it is treated before it damages the other organs, acute kidney failure has a 90% cure rate. Cordyceps can relieve acute kidney failure brought on by an adverse reaction to antibiotics such as aminoglycosides, gentamicin, and kanamycin. In a controlled study of patients who had developed a condition called gentamicin kidney toxicity, which is the adverse reaction to the adminoglycoside gentamicin, half of the patients were given Cordyceps (4.5 grams per day) while taking gentamicin. By the sixth day, 89% of the Cordyceps group had made a complete clinical recovery from the toxicity of gentamicin. It was also reported that the time-to-recovery was also significantly shorter in the Cordyceps group when compared to the control group.

Berger’s Disease is one of the most common form of a kidney disease called glomerulonephritis, which damages the basic filtering units of the kidneys. Berger’s disease is featured with constant deposits in the kidneys of a class of antibodies known as immunoglobilin (IgA). The deposits cause a constant cycle of deposits, inflammations and lesions. In about one-third of cases, it can take up to twenty-five years to develop. Signs associated with the disease include high blood pressure, a decrease in kidney function, and the presence of blood and high amounts of protein in the urine. It is estimated that about 10 to 40% of Berger’s disease will eventually develop end-stage kidney disease, which requires a kidney transplant in order to survive.

A specialist in Taiwan Veterans General Hospital pioneered in using extracts from Cordyceps in treatment of Berger’s disease. It appears that Cordyceps extracts can alleviate the symptoms of Berger’s disease and prevent the disease from progressing to a more severe stage.

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Research indicated that Cordyceps produces definite beneficial effects on the kidney. Cordyceps promote DNA synthesis in kidney cells, which indicates enhanced regeneration of damaged cells. The protection of kidney may be associated with an increase in a protein known as epidermal growth factor (EGF) as several groups of researchers have found that in acute kidney failure in animals, the administration of EGF speeded up the rate of recovery.

In kidney transplant patients, Cordyceps was shown to return levels of infection-fighting T cells to normal

Natural Antibiotic

Very dilute solutions of Cordyceps Sinensis (Dong Chong Xia Cao) have an inhibitory effect against some of the tuberculosis bacilli. Preliminary studies also show an inhibitory effect in vitro on Streptococcus pneumoniae. Cordyceps also has inhibitory effects on pneumococcus, staphylococcus and subtilis bacilli.

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Anti-tumor

It is well accepted by researchers that fungal derived polysaccharides exerts a significant potentiation of immune function. Among the multiple polysaccharides produced by Cordyceps, beta-d-glucans are one class of polymers that have been seen to increase both innate and cell-mediated immune response. These polysaccharides increase the production of such cytokines as TNF-a, interleukins, and interferons, NO, and antibodies by the activated immune cells.

Another mechanism of anti-tumor is related to the altered nucleosides found in Cordyceps – Cordycepin [3’ deoxyadenosine]. This is a molecule almost identical to normal adenosine, with the exception that it is lacking an oxygen atom on the ribose portion of the molecule at the 3’ position. The structure of DNA depends on the oxygen to create the bond between adjacent nucleosides. This bond is between the 3’ and 5’ positions on the ribose portion of the nucleosides, effectively forming the ‘ladder structure’ that holds the DNA together. The replication of the new DNA molecule stops when a 3’ deoxyadenosine (Cordycepin) molecule is pulled in as no oxygen present at the vital position to form the 3’ and 5’ bond. Eventually, the DNA synthesis stops, the cell cannot continue to divide and no new cell is formed. The termination of DNA synthesis is of little value to healthy cells as healthy cells have an inherent DNA repair mechanism where as cancer cells have lost the DNA repair mechanism. (If cells can correct their DNA errors, they would not be cancer cells). Most bacteria and all viruses (including the HIV virus) lack this DNA repair mechanism. It is astounding to see the rate cancer cells replicate.

For example, normal healthy breast tissue cells have an average life span of about 10 days, after that a new cell is replicated and formed. However, breast cancer cells multiply on average of 20 minutes that means breast cancer cells are replicating about 750 times faster than the surrounding healthy issues. Since Cordycepin does not interfere with the healthy cell replication, it interrupts the DNA synthesis of the cancer cells, and thus kill the tumor-cell. (Extracted from “On the Trail of the Yak: Ancient Cordyceps in the Modern World” Writer by John C. Holliday)

When tumor cells are exposed to these inhibitors, there is significant decrease in the growth rates of different cancer cells: (1) a type of red blood leukemia cell, (2) kidney tumor cell, (3) lung cancer cells, (4) skin tumor cells. Cordyceps acts by inhibiting the production of DNA in the tumor cells, which effectively stops the cells from growing.

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Preventive Effects from Chemo and Radiation Therapy

It is a well-known fact that many more patients die of opportunistic infections during chemotherapy than ever die of the cancer itself. In the last twenty years, there are many human clinical trials for the effectiveness of Cordyceps on preventive effect from chemo and radiation therapy on a double blind placebo-controlled basis with encouraging results. Nowadays, vast majority of cancer patients in

Japan, Korea and China are taking Cordyceps while taking conventional treatment. Research has showed that polysaccharide immunomodulators derived from Cordyceps reduces the severity and duration of side effects associated with Chemo and Radiation therapy. It helps strengthen the immune system of cancer patients who have received radiotherapy, Chemotherapy or operation. It is remarkable for stabilizing the hemogram, increasing the blood cells and protein for producing blood plasma, and for eliminating the ill effects after various therapies. Furthermore, the product is a synergist for reinforcing the efficacy of radiotherapy. Also its leucocytosis promoting effect may help patients to be more tolerable to chemo-radiotherapy. Significant improvements have been seen in patients with lung cancer who were treated with a combination of Cordyceps and chemotherapy. It helps alleviate weakness and fatigue after chemo-radiotherapy. It is regarded in China as an ideal conservative treatment for benign brain tumors.

The major concern of chemotherapy treatment for cancer is its toxic destruction of the patient’s immune system. That is the reason why the white blood cell count of the cancer patient is to be carefully monitored during chemotherapy. Dosage and schedule of treatment have to be adjusted to ensure sufficient time is given for patients to recover from the toxic destruction of the immune system. The basic idea of chemotherapy is to introduce a toxic compound into the body in order to kill off the tumor cells faster than it kills off the healthy cells. However, it is very likely that the white cells die off much faster than other healthy tissue cells leading to an immune-deficient state. The reduction in chemotherapy and radiation side effect through administration of Cordyceps (in order to maintain of a stronger immune function) indirectly increases the effectiveness of the chemotherapy by increasing the dosage and frequency of treatment.

Cancer is a complex immune-associated disease that can affect any organ or system of the body. It is caused by uncontrolled cell growth resulting from a genetic defect or cellular damage due to radiation or toxins in the environment. Unfortunately, treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy can be as debilitating to the patient as the cancer itself.

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Several cases of lung carcinoma treated with Cordyceps were reported to have shown significant improvements. In one study of 50 patients with lung cancer who took Cordyceps at 6 grams per day in conjunction with chemotherapy, size of tumors were reduced by 46% at end of the study. Another clinical study of patients with several different types of tumors, the symptoms in the majority of patients improved after two months administration of 6 grams of Cordyceps per day. It was reported that white blood cell counts were kept high while tumor size was significantly reduced in approximately half of the patients.

Laboratory tests have shown that Cordyceps has anti-immunosuppressive and immunopotentiating influences. This means that Cordyceps seems to have increased the responsiveness of the immune system and counteracted the immune system-suppressing effects of cancer. Furthermore, Cordyceps has shown bone marrow-protective and antileukemic activities. Other tests have demonstrated that Cordyceps can inhibit the growth of a wide range of tumors such as lymphomas, melanomas, and sarcomas. Cordyceps can also counteract the immunosuppressing effects of agents such as cortisone, prednisolone, and others.

Immune system / Immune modulator

Cordyceps appears to be one of the most adaptive immunomodulators. Its regulatory effects are twofold. It is an immunepotentiator in immune deficient cases, but has appropriate suppressive effects in an overactive immune system. There are extensive researches on the bi-directional regulation of immune function in relation to Cordyceps, which is either up regulated or down regulated.

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Immune potentiator: It is amazing to note that when Cordyceps is given to patients suffering from an immune-deficient state, e.g. HIV and AIDS, Rheumatism, respiratory illnesses including Coughs Colds and Flu – and even some forms of Cancer, the number and activity of white cells increase. Cordyceps helps build resistance against diseases and strengthen the immune system. Compounds found in Cordyceps are classified as HDP “Host Defense Potentiators”. These compounds include: hemicelluloses, polysaccharides, polysaccharide-peptides, nucleosides, triterpeniods, complex starches, and other metabolites. Combinations of these compounds are now believed to target the human immune system as well as aid in neuron transmission, metabolism, hormonal balance and nutrient and oxygen transport. They help your body regulate the development of lymphoid stem cells and other important body defense responses.

Research shows that the greater the amount of Cordyceps taken, the more one can fight off bacterial and viral diseases. Cordyceps also enhances the natural antioxidant systems in the body. 

Cordyceps exhibits one or more of those inhibitory and stimulatory functions in immune systems under different experimental conditions. Some of the immune effects observed, including the following
* It increase populations of helper T-cells, leukocytes and large lymphocytes
* It improves immune cell functions in chronic kidney failure patients
* It improves immune cell functions in chronic hepatitis B patients.
* It augments activity of human natural killer (NK) cells
* It stimulates immunoglobulins G and M
* It stimulates macrophage activity
* It enhances Gamma-interferon activity
* It increases interleukin-1 activity
* It stimulates NK cell activity
* It activates T-cells activity
* It activates T-cells and B-cells
* It has anti-tumor activity
* It increases in the production of IFN

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Immune suppressor: On the other hand, when Cordyceps is given to patients suffering from a hyper-immune state, e.g. Lupus, Lymphoma or Rheumatoid arthritis, the number and activity of white blood cells drop while the red blood cells increase in number.

 Kanazawa Medical University reported in experiment with mice that Cordyceps caused a dramatic increase in survival time with tumors. Dr. N. Yamaguchi at Kanazawa Medical University reported that Cordyceps stimulated two types of anti-body forming cells: immunoglobulines M and G. Deficiencies of immunoglobulin M are seen in people with extreme bacterial infections or with autoimmune diseases. Immunoglobulin G deficiencies are found in people who have autoimmune diseases or recurrent infections of the upper respiratory tract.

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The Department of Immunology at Shanghai Medical University reported the in vitro activation of T-cells and B-cells by Cordyceps. A high level of interleukin-1 activity and of Gamma-interferon activity enhancement, which activate the major cells of the immune system, was reported. Researchers at the Sichuan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine successfully isolated a polysaccharide from Cordyceps that had the effect of activating immune cells known as macrophages. Macrophages protect the body by “eating” foreign cells such as bacteria and virus. Macrophages are even capable of killing tumor cells. The polysaccharides can also stimulate lymphocytes, a vital group of infection-fighting white blood cells produced in lymphoid tissue. They can provide protection against damage caused by radiation and demonstrate anti-tumor activity. Cordyceps also augmented the activity of human natural killer (NK) cells and prevented NK cells decrease as well as reduced the formation of lung tumors. Researchers at Hunan Medical University concluded in their researches that Cordyceps could be used as an “immunopotentiating agent”, both in the treatment of cancer and in patients with deficient immune systems.

 As Cordyceps effectively augmented natural killer cell activity without toxicity to normal cells, it could be applied in the treatment of leukemia. Many studies now indicate that Cordyceps can help the body resist a wide range of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses. Cordyceps is used in Asia to help treat fungus and yeast infections, and intensive research is being conducted at dozens of institutions in Japan and China relating to the potential of Cordyceps to treat cancer and HIV infection. Maintaining the immune system is one of the mechanisms that can slow down aging and prevent both degenerative and acquired diseases.

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Blood Cholesterol / Arterio-sclerosis: Clinical studies have shown that Cordyceps can reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol, and increase the amount HDL cholesterol in people of all ages. Cordyceps enhances blood flow and lowers cholesterol. In a study in which 9 hospitals participated with a total of 273 patients, a two months daily treatment with three grams Cordyceps lowered total cholesterol by 17%. Beneficial cholesterol (HDL) was elevated by 27%, while triglyceride concentration was lowered by 9% on average. Cordyceps is known as a totally safe nutraceutical supplement

Cordyceps is also used for the treatment of a type of hyperlipidemia (high level of fat in the blood) that resists treatment by other agents. In a clinical trials with two placebo-controlled groups, Cordyceps reduced age-related oxidation of fats in patients aged 60 and 84. After taking Cordyceps, the patients’ red blood cells had shown significantly higher levels of one of the body’s natural antioxidants, an enzyme called superoxide dismutase, or SOD. It is amazing to note that the SOD levels of the patients after taking Cordyceps increased to a level comparable to a group of young people aged 17 to 20.

Cordyceps helps prevent atherosclerosis by decreasing the number of platelets that can get caught in the plaques. It reduces the viscosity, or stickiness, of the blood. In a clinical study relating to coronar heart disease patients who was administrated with 3 grams of Cordyceps a day for three months showed a significantly decrease in blood viscosity and a drop in total cholesterol of 21%. In combination with changes in diet and exercise, Cordyceps has proven to be a highly effective agent in lowering cholesterol. We now realize that atherosclerosis can be prevented and, perhaps more importantly, it can be reversed.

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Heart

Arrhythmia: It is very effective in tonifying arrhythmia with an efficacy up to 94%. Cordyceps is an excellent choice for heart arrhythmias because it contains a substantial amount of adenosine, deoxyadenosine and related adenosine type nucleotides and nucleosides present. According to the research these compounds have a widespread effect on coronary and cerebral circulation. It is very unusual that a patient’s arrhythmia does not benefit from the treatment with Cordyceps. It becomes a must in China today to prescribe Cordyceps by Chinese physician for controlling arrhythmias because of its ability to stabilize the heart and correct heart arrhythmias.

A clinical study conducted by the Department of Internal Medicine at Hunan Medical University in 1990 about using Cordyceps in the treatment of 37 arrhythmia patients. The results were encouraging with 19 patients were cured after 1 to 3 weeks treatment and the remaining patients showed positive improvement. Another study of 200 patients with arrhythmia was conducted by Guangzhou Medical College in China. Patients took 1.5g of Cordyceps per day for a period of 2 weeks. An amazing result was reported showing 74.5 % of patients indicated improvements after treatment with Cordyceps.

In 1994, another clinical study involving 38 elderly patients with treatment of 3 grams of Cordyceps every day for three months. Proved by electrocardiograms or ECGs, showed the following results:

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Various forms of heart disease have been treated with Cordyceps with good results. In one study, over 84 % of patients with cardiac arrhythmia improved following treatment with Cordyceps. Cordyceps dilates blood vessels to a moderate degree thus increasing the blood supply to the heart. Such slow and sustained enhancement of coronary blood flow may prevent thrombosis. Cordyceps has a relaxing effect on the aorta, thus helps reduce blood pressure.

A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 1994 to determine the effectiveness of Cordyceps in treating ventricular arrhythmia. An incredible result of more than 80% of patients in Cordyceps group partially or completely recovered, whereas only 10% of patients in the placebo group showed similar improvement.

Chronic heart failure represents dysfunctional in the pumping action of the heart usually because the heart has been damaged in some way. So far we have yet to know the real causes of it. Because of its dysfunction, water and salt are retained in the body, which causes a reduction in cardiac performance. Consequently, fluid leaks into the lungs and or the lower part of the body, which causes edema, fatigue and difficulty in breathing. To compensate for these changes, the body retains fluids to help maintain pressure in the tissues. Eventually, the arteries become constricted, and this puts more of a burden on the heart, which then becomes arrhythmic.

For patients who have chronic heart failure and had at least one heart attack have a two to four times greater risk of dying from another heart attack. About one-third of patients die from circulatory failure, and approximately another one-third die suddenly.

In studies of the long-term administration of Cordyceps in combination with conventional treatments including digoxin, hydrochlorothiaside, depomine, and dobutamine for patients suffering from chronic heart failure, it is proven that the addition of Cordyceps with conventional medicine promoted an increase in the overall quality of life. Compared to control group, this treatment would improve general physical condition, mental health, sexual drive, and cardiac function.

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Pulmonary heart disease is a result of problems in the respiratory tract where healthy heart becomes impaired because of a persistent disorder of the lungs, bronchi or other respiratory organs.

It is not uncommon that we can find this disease in elderly patients who have repeatedly suffered from emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or bronchial asthma. When it reaches an acute stage where patients develop a bacterial infection in the respiratory tract as the result of catching a cold, the airways of the patients would be obstructed with phlegm for a long time. This leads to chronic deficiency of oxygen and increases the workload of the heart.

A study was recently conducted by the Department of Medicine at Shandong Provincial Hospital in China for the treatment of acute pulmonary heart disease in 50 patients. It seems that poor nutrition is one of the major reasons behind pulmonary heart disease. It is estimated that 90% of pulmonary heart disease patients are malnourished in one way or another. Malnutrition deceases patients’ immunity and exacerbates their heart condition because it weakens the respiratory muscles. Consequently, asthmatic symptoms, coughing, sleep disturbance, and an already poor mental state become more severe. In this study, the patients were randomly divided into two groups. One administrated with oxygen by way of a nasal tube and intravenous antibiotics for thirty days. Another group received the same treatments plus 1 gram of Cordyceps three times a day for 30 days. The researcher in the study concluded that Cordyceps group indicated much better than the control group with positive changes in patients’ heart and respiratory functions, productive cough, shortness of breath, mental state, and sleep.

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 Respiratory tract

Cordyceps has the effect of lessening resistance to relaxing and opening of the respiratory tract. This can help to explain the traditional use of this medicinal plant in treating various diseases of the upper respiratory tract, such as pneumonia, asthma, pulmonary and congestive heart diseases, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, and tuberculosis. It can help to stop continual coughing, reduce phlegm, and cure illness of the diaphragm. It also uses to relieve bronchial inflammation and acts as an expectorant. The effectiveness of Cordyceps on lung protection comes from its ability to promote enhanced oxygen utilization efficacy. Cordyceps is regarded in Chinese medicine as an anti-asthmatic, an expectorant and as a cough suppressant; it could become an important ingredient in herbal cough drops and cough syrups.

Research in China has shown that it can be very useful in treating shortness of breath, asthma and bronchitis. A preliminary study found that middle-aged and elderly patients who took Cordyceps for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed notable improvements.

Researchers in animal trial experiments showed that mice treated with Cordyceps were able to survive up to 3 times longer than untreated under a limited oxygen environment.

Chronic Bronchitis: About 25% of adults are affected by chronic bronchitis. The incidence of chronic bronchitis is particularly high if people work in dusty environments and they are over 40 years old. The chronic coughing in bronchitis is the result of an accumulation of lung secretions. Cordyceps works on an immunological level in treating bronchitis by calming the hyper-responses of the respiratory immune system, which lead to inflammation and reduced airflow.

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 In a study for comparing the effectiveness for treating chronic bronchitis by using Cordyceps and Oleum viticis negundo (which is commonly used in China to treat coughs, colds, wheezing, and bronchitis. The result concluded that 21 patients from the Cordyceps found relief from their symptoms, and only 8 patients in the control group felt any improvement. In a one month trial conducted by Jiangxi Medical College, it was reported that 90% of patients shown a significant increase in pulmonary function, experienced fewer bronchial spasms, coughing spells, and incidences of airway resistance. There were also significant increases in maximum breathing capacity and forced expiratory volume, or FEV1, tests (the test measures the amount of air that a patient can expel in one second).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease features obstruction of the air passages caused by disorders such as emphysema and bronchitis. For patients with hyperactive airways, exposure to irritants can cause smooth-muscle constriction and excess production of mucus and swelling of the bronchial walls. When these spasms become recurrent, the condition becomes asthmatic bronchitis. Patients with asthmatic bronchitis cough all the time and suffer from airway obstruction. In one study for patients suffering from COPD with treatment of Cordyceps, all 35 patients had been hospitalized after acute symptoms of emphysema with persistent cough, excessive production of phlegm, pulmonary infections, grasping and hypoxia. After 21 days’ treatment, the level of antioxidant SOD increased by 35.7%, which indicated that tissue repair and protective mechanisms had gone into higher gear. By the end of the study, all the patients showed a marked improvement in pulmonary signs of COPD, appetite and general physical problems including coughing, gasping and the production of phlegm.

Asthma refers to a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways, which results in their narrowing. An allergic reaction to dust and pollen, smoke, pollutants and other stimuli may cause the narrowing. The inflammatory nature of asthma is seen in recurring spells of wheezing, cough, tightness in the chest, and breathlessness. The disorder is brought about by various cells of the immune system that appear to have gone into overdrive and remain in a chronically activated state. Certain commonly used drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can also exacerbate the symptoms of asthma.

In one clinical study of Cordyceps conducted by Beijing Medical University, Cordyceps provided to be beneficial to asthma patients. All patients under this study had been treated unsuccessfully with antibiotics and other Western medications. It was reported that the total effective rate for the Cordyceps group was 81.3% measured by FEV1 scores within an average of 5 days’ treatment.

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 Researchers at Meiji Institute of Health Science in Japan in 1995 found that Cordyceps can inhibit tracheal muscle contractions and relax the airways of mice. This is particularly important to asthma patients as it allows for increased airflow to the lungs. Moreover, Cordyceps’ anti-inflammatory properties bring further relief to asthma patients whose airways become obstructed, due to an allergic reaction resulting in swelling of the bronchial pathways.

Cordyceps increases respiratory secretions to facilitate expectoration, while calming cough. Several clinical studies have confirmed its beneficial effects in patients with chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and cor pulmonale, with improvement of pulmonary function. In patients with a cough as an equivalent of asthma, Cordyceps provided better, faster relief.

Liver protection

Cordyceps prevents the formation of fibroid liver tissues and reduces the ascites (accumulation of liquid in abdominal area) caused by liver cirrhosis. It helps normalizes the biochemical status of the liver (GOT and GPT liver function tests). Studies have shown that Cordyceps can help treat some liver diseases. In one clinical trial, cirrhosis of the liver following hepatitis was treated with Cordyceps, which was found to improve symptoms and liver-cell structures dramatically.

Cirrhosis is a degenerative disease of the liver in which healthy cells that are damaged by other problems such as hepatitis or excessive alcohol consumption are replaced by scar tissue. Even the cirrhosis cannot be cued or reversed, but its process can be slowed or even stopped. Cirrhosis patients have 100 times the normal risk of developing liver cancer, and about 30% eventually die from liver complications such as liver cancer or chronic active hepatitis.

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A study by Japanese and Chinese researchers concluded that one of the main effects of taking Cordyceps on a repeated basis might be a higher metabolic state of the liver. Cordyceps helps the liver regenerate by activating the cells of the liver. This in turn boosts concentrations of an essential enzyme.

In 1986, Cordyceps was tested in 22 patients with post hepatitis cirrhosis. Patients took 6 to 9 grams of Cordyceps every day for 3 months, and by end of the study, their symptoms had improved dramatically. Cirrhotic cells had disappeared in fifteen patients, and had decreased significantly in another six patients.

Hepatitis B: According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that there are more than 350 million people in the world infected with hepatitis B this number will soon reach 400 million. In most cases, hepatitis B is contracted from sexual contact and exposure to infected blood or needles. It is a major cause of liver cancer, cirrhosis, and chronic hepatitis. It is estimated that over 8% of the population in the world are chronic carriers of the virus, and over 50% of the population will become infected during their lifetime. In the United States, about 1.25 millions people are suffering from hepatitis B.

One of the biggest problem with hepatitis B is that even if the immune system is able to destroy infected cells and stop the virus from replicating, certain immune cells, known as cytotoxic T lymphocytes, may act against the virus without destroying infected cells in the liver. The main treatment for hepatitis B is an immunostimulating drug alpha-interferon. However, it is only effective in about 30% of cases, and it is very expensive.

In one study by using Cordyceps in helping treatment of hepatitis B, 83 patients, who were carriers of the hepatitis B virus, but without symptoms of the infection, were treated with Cordyceps for 3 months. A complete conversion of antibodies to the virus were found in 33 of the test subjects, which indicates that the infection had been completely resolved and the virus was no longer contagious. In another study with 32 patients with hepatitis B, with 3 months administration of 3.75 grams of Cordyceps a day, positive antibodies to the virus changed to negative in 21 patients, and tests showed liver function had improved or recovered completely in as many as 23 patients out of the 32 patients.

Another study was conducted in China in 1994 for comparing the effectiveness of treating hepatitis B and post hepatic cirrhosis between Cordyceps and Ganoderma applanatum (a type of Reishi). In this study a significant clinical response was seen in 68% of the Cordyceps patients and in 57% of the Ganoderma patients

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Diabetes

Research in China and Japan reported Cordyceps as a significant sugar-lowering or hypoglycemic effect from sugars isolated from Cordyceps, known as polysaccharides. In 1995, a group of researchers in China arranged a clinical trial with 42 diabetics by using Cordyceps (3 grams a day) under a controlled group environment. An incredible result of 95% patients indicated improvement for proteinuria test (test for the urinary excretion of proteins) with only half of the patients in the Cordyceps group showed any proteinuria after treatment.

Researcher has showed in animal trial experiments where Cordyceps can improve blood glucose metabolism by increasing livers’ output of the glucose regulating enzymes glucokinase and hexokinase, and increase insulin sensitivity.

Cordyceps can improve blood glucose metabolism by increasing livers’ output of the glucose regulating enzymes glucokinase and hexokinase, and increase insulin sensitivity.

Research in China and Japan reported Cordyceps as a significant sugar-lowing or hypoglycemic effect from sugars isolated from Cordyceps, known as polysaccharides. In 1995, a group of researchers in China arranged a clinical trial with 42 diabetics by using Cordyceps (3 grams a day) under a controlled group environment. An incredible result of 95% patients indicated improvement for proteinuria test (test for the urinary excretion of proteins) with only half of the patients in the Cordyceps group showed any proteinuria after treatment.

Anti-aging Medicine / Anti oxidant properties

One of the reasons for aging is due to the insufficient secretion of sexual hormones. Cordyceps Sinensis is, in this regard, a hormone stimulator.

Moreover, the aging effect is to a large extent attributed to the rise of active monoamine oxidize enzyme inside the body and Cordyceps Sinensis can effectively inhibit the rising of such enzyme. Thus, it is an anti-aging product, which helps regenerate the organic functioning of humans. I

Cordyceps assists in delaying the aging process by preventing the formation of peroxide lipids. This improves memory and concentration

It helps stimulate the immune system of the elderly and strengthen their resistance to illness. Frequent dosage can prevent senile disorders. In elderly patients with asthenia had significant improvements in fatigue, dizziness, and intolerance to cold, tinnitus, frequent nocturia, hyposexuality and amnesia at a dose of 3 grams

It provides remarkable benefits for various per/post menopausal problems.

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 Chronic fatigue

One good indicator of the effectiveness of Cordyceps in curing chronic fatigue is its use by Chinese athletes as a sport supplement for post-exercise recovery purpose. In fact, it is a common sport supplement for athletes in the United States. It is also a common herb for people living in the high mountains as it gives them energy and cure the symptoms of altitude sickness. Most high altitude mountain climbers also use Cordyceps on a regular basis.

In a placebo-controlled clinical study of elderly patients with chronic fatigue, the result indicated that patients experienced significant clinical improvement in the areas of fatigue, cold intolerance, dizziness, frequent nocturia, tinnitus, hyposexualtiy, and amnesia. Another similar study showed Cordyceps had a significant increase in energy output and oxygen capacity after 6 weeks on Cordyceps.

Research indicated that patients with chronic fatigue have an unusual form of adrenal insufficiency and high levels of male hormones. Adrenal insufficiency could lead to neuropsychological abnormalities and muscle dysfunction. Cordyceps in fact can help to enhance the function of the adrenal cortex and moderate dysfunction in respiratory muscle performance.

Other research reported that the key effect of Cordyceps on fatigue is to help patients in increasing oxygen utilization and ATP production as well as stabilizing of blood sugar metabolism.

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Male and female sexual dysfunction

Impotence is a serious health concern in many parts of the world. In the U.S. alone, there are more than 30 million men with moderate or severe impotence. U.S. National Institute of Health reported that more than 25% of men aged 50 and above in the U.S. suffer from sexual impotency or erectile dysfunction of various degrees. The causes of impotence vary. Some are due to the administration of drugs such as tranquilizers, antidepressants, antihypertensives, hypogylcemics and antihistamines. Others are related to diseases such as atherosclerosis and glandular disorders. Health problems such as prostrate problems, diabetes, neurological disorders and environmental factors, which trigger depression, anger, anxiety and stress, may also result in various degrees of sexual dysfunctions.
Recent research conducted by Professor Akinobu Tsunoo and his colleagues at the Meiji Institute of Health in Japan has shown a contracting and relaxing effect on the corpus cavernosum of the penis. This permits blood to enter and create hard and big erections in men.

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A clinical trial in China conducted at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Medical College on a total of 756 patients at 3 grams of Cordyceps per day for 40 days shown 64% success rate among men suffering from sexual dysfunction, vs 24% in the placebo group. In another study on both elderly men and women suffering from decreased libido, impotence and other sexual malfunctions, 3 grams of Cordyceps per day was prescribed for 40 days. There was was a significant improvement in sperm survival time, increased sperm count and decreased number of malformed sperm in the majority of the male patients The majority of women patients noted significant improvement in hypoleukorrhagia, menoxenia and sex drive.
According to recent clinical researches, treatments with Cordyceps were associated with an increase in libido in males and females, increased synthesis of 17-OH corticosteroids and 17-ketosteroids.
As to what might have caused sexual activity to be restored by Cordyceps, a recent animal study in Japan has shown that Cordyceps causes the smooth muscles of the corpus cavernosum of the penis to relax, allowing blood to enter to create an erection as the blood becomes trapped. Studies also reported a potentiating action on hormone functions in males and females. There was also a massive reduction in the number of abnormal spermatozoa.
Today, women who have been unable to conceive also take Cordyceps. Doctors in China prescribe Cordyceps for women with menopausal syndrome and have reported good results.
Detoxification

Cordyceps improves the cytodynamics of visceral organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs and the overall metabolism of the body.

Adaptogen

 Cordyceps has adaptogenic qualities. Adaptogens are natural substances found in a few rare herbs. The word adaptogen was coined back as far back as 1947, by Russian scientist and used to describe the unique effect certain herbs have in increasing the human body’s natural resistance to physical and emotional stress, fatigue, depression and illness. Adaptogens help balance the body when it is under the influence of stress, and they do it in a restorative rather than a curative.

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Sedatives Effects

Cordyceps is traditionally used as a calming agent. Professor S. S. Zhang of Wenzhou Medical College in China found that amino acid, particularly a high amount of L-tryptophan normally occurs in Cordyceps was caused a sedating effect. Similarly researchers in Japan found that various nucleic acids caused a sedating effect, especially adenosine. Since adenosine is a neuroprotective substance that protects cerebral nerves from damage caused by a lack of oxygen or of blood. Therefore, it affected some impairment of the central nervous system.

Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease for which effective treatments are still lacking and the cause is unknown. This immune disorder mostly affects Asian women during their childbearing years and also appears among blacks in the Caribbean. The symptoms includes combination of fatigue, rashes, persistent proteinuria, inflammation of the fluid membrane surrounding the lungs, arthritis, anemia, seizures, oral ulcers, and low white blood cell counts.

Under a mice laboratory experiment conducted by researchers at the Kaohsiung Medical College in Taiwan, Cordyceps had significantly lengthened the life span and significantly inhibited the production of antibodies to their own DNA or dsDNA. After treatment by Cordyceps for six months, 87.5% of the Cordyceps group tested negative for dsDNA

Cordyeps Today: 100g of Cordyceps costs about $1000. Owing to the scarcity of Cordyceps in the wilds and increasing domestic medical demands in China, during the 1980’s methods of cultivating the mycelial were developed. Today wild strains of Cordyceps sinensis, are grown on organic brown rice.

Applications: Excess tiredness, chronic cough and asthma, insomnia, hypertension, pneumonia, emphysema, tuberculosis, bronchitis, asthma, anemia, night sweats, impotence, debility, allergies, infertility, to build the bone marrow and reduce excess phlegm, nephralgia, kidney dysfunction, aging, cancer, hepatitis, cirrhosis, bronchitis, HIV/AIDS, Cough, high cholesterol, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, impotence, frigidity, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, strength and stamina, dizziness, and intolerance to cold, tinnitus, frequent nocturia, and amnesia, coronary heart disease, various Climatic Age Illness, , Neurasthenia, Cirrhosis, flabby waist and knee, anxiety, stress, diabetes, infection, edema.

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Dosage

It is a norm to prescribe about 3 to 4.5 grams of Cordyceps per day, except in cases of severe liver disease and cancer disease, when dosage administrated can be higher in the range of 6 to 9 grams per day. Some Chinese practitioners even prescribed as much as 30 to 50 grams of Cordyceps per day for cancer patients. It was reported that the extraordinary dosage gave no Cordyceps related toxicity and generated excellent results.

Below is a table setting out general suggestions on the dosages of specific disorders and general health maintenance extracted from scientific studies. Final prescription is subjective to individual differences. If you are on medication, please make sure you consult your medical practitioner before taking any supplement, including Cordyceps.

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Recent research and clinical findings on the effect of Cordyceps on major illnesses are summaried by Yoshirhiro Takahashi in his book “Kiseki Wo Yobu Tochukaso” as follows: