Cordyceps: How the Caterpillar fungus works as a proven cancer-shield

What is cordyceps?

The caterpillar fungus or the caterpillar mushroom or the Viagra of the Himalayas, commonly known as Cordyceps, has its habitat on caterpillars in the Himalayan regions of Tibet and China. Cordyceps are a rare combination of a fungus and a caterpillar whose medical use dates back to ancient Chinese medicine. Cordyceps found its way into the medical world through old Chinese and Tibetan medical books.

Owing to its phenomenal contribution Cordyceps was used in various healing methodology. The name Cordyceps is derived from a Latin word Cordyceps Sinensis, meaning “club” and “head”.

The locals call it Yarsa Gumba, which means a grass which grows in summer and a worm that grows in winter; it is called as “Dong Chong Xia Cao” in China and “Tocheikasa” in Japan. The mycological (branch of biology related to the study of fungi) features of Cordyceps are:

The popularity of Cordyceps

Cordyceps’ usefulness came into existence when several locals observed the features of animals that routinely grazed the areas populated by Cordyceps and inadvertently consumed these organisms. As a result of Cordyceps consumptions, the animals became stronger and healthier. This marvelous discovery was brought to light and its hidden therapeutic value was unfurled for the betterment of mankind. The presence and use of Cordyceps can be found in traditional Asian medicine.

After this discovery, the locals also made use of the same to increase the productivity of their cattle. This aroused the interest of people and they started making use of it to enhance fertility and libido. The popularity of Cordyceps’ medical value began to spread across the globe as people propagated the culture of gifting this to their friends or relatives.

Currently, people consume Cordyceps with several other combinations to cure varied ailments and diseases. The major use of Cordyceps around the world is to enhance sexual potential and desire. People use it as a tonic to satisfy their sexual needs, while some use it for diabetes and other wasting diseases (a disease which causes fat and muscle tissues to “waste”).

Understanding the biology of Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a parasitic fungus that lives typically on insects and arthropods. The spores or reproductive unit, from the Cordyceps lands on an insect. This reproductive unit begins to germinate and grows inside the insect. The spore or the reproductive unit continues to grow inside the insect and produces mycelium, which is vegetative parts of the fungus and constituents a network of white filaments.

The most renowned and common species of Cordyceps is Cordyceps Sinensis, which in recent times is termed as Ophiocordyceps Sinensis. Its normal harvesting period begins in April and ends in August. It is parasitic in nature and is conditioned to grow only in mountain regions ranging 3800 meters above sea level. With such being the specifications it is evident that it can be found only in Himalayan plateaus, which by nature are 3000 to 5000 meters above sea level.

How is Cordyceps used today?

Owing to years of research poured into it, Cordyceps attained its medical accreditation through a number of proven studies. In order to prove its therapeutic needs certain clinical trials were performed on volunteered athletes, these clinical trials proved that certain curative action did exist for hepatic, renal, and cardiovascular diseases. Not only did it help in curing hepatic, renal and cardiovascular disease, it also contributed to anti-cancer ventures by causing a reverse effect on cancer affected cell.

• The combination of Cordyceps with several cancer drugs has helped in reducing tumors of varied origins. Cordyceps helps reduce the growth in tumor cells and inhibits the growth of cancer cells which originate in the lung, colon, skin, and liver. The effects of Cordyceps on cancer cells were discovered when Cordyceps was shown to reverse the effect of cancer cells in the case of leukopenia (decrease in white blood cells or leukocytes).
• It is used to treat kidney disorders, opium addiction, respiratory disorders, male sexual problems, night-time urination, irregular heartbeat, high cholesterol, anemia, dizziness, and liver disorders. Cordyceps along with cyclosporine help treat kidney damage caused by the drug cyclosporine.
• Helps in boosting the immunity system and contributes to keeping skin healthy with its most beneficial anti-aging properties.
• It is used in the form of a tonic to increase stamina and reduce fatigue.

• Treats asthma and chronic bronchitis.
• Regulates body lipids by lowering blood cholesterol and triglycerides levels significantly.
• Helps generate platelets and increase red and white blood cell counts.
• The intake of the product CordyMax Cs-4 on a daily basis for a stipulated period of time can increase sex drive for people diagnosed with lower sex drive.
• Helps treat sexual dysfunctions in males.

What is the right dosage?

• 3 grams of Cordyceps supplements per day fermented in tea
• 1050 milligram extract of Cordyceps, two or three times a day.
• Standardized to 0.14% adenosine.

It is proved that Cordyceps Sinensis is not available commercially in most of the food supplements. The reason behind this depressing fact of its availability is accounted to its limited growth making it expensive and difficult to avail it. Being scarcely available it has found a high market value and has been credited as the most expensive mushroom in the world. It is sold at a price of $20,000 per kilogram.

As the production of Cordyceps was limited, it was decided by a number of scientists that, certain reproductive parts of the Cordyceps which were acquired from the mycelium (white filaments) cultures would help produce Cordyceps.

The collected cultures were processed in a liquid fermentation which helped produce an enormous amount of pure mycelium. This process of producing pure mycelium is termed as liquid culture mycelium or liquid fermentation. The mycelium (white filaments) was grown in a liquid solution loaded with nutrients, which was later removed after it forms pure mycelium.

Are there any side-effects?

It is advisable to avoid the consumption of Cordyceps or CordyMax if found allergic to the same. It is largely prohibited for women who are pregnant and lactating. Though there aren’t any supporting theories for the same, it is better to avoid the use of it during pregnancy and lactation, just to remain on safer sides and to avoid any complications.

If you are affected by an autoimmune disease such as multiple sclerosis (MT), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions it is best to avoid Cordyceps as it can result in overworking the immune system. This can cause the symptoms for the specific auto-immune diseases to increase enormously causing more damage to the body.

People diagnosed with bleeding disorders should avoid the use of Cordyceps. Cordyceps helps in slowing blood clotting and can result in increasing the risk of bleeding. And it is safer to avoid Cordyceps two weeks before surgery to prevent the risk of bleeding. Though major side effects are not being reported it is evident that side effects like nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, and diarrhea do persist when Cordyceps are consumed.

References

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