Family Name: Clavicipitaceae

Introduction

This is a very useful remedy. Firstly, if you are looking for a supplement that will make your mind function on all cylinders, you have found what you are looking for. I have used cordyceps to fire up my mind for years and years and its the best mind mint I can recommend.

Secondly, if you are an athlete and are looking to increase your performance, cordyceps is the remedy for you. It was used by olympic athletes in the communist world to take home more than their share of gold. If you want to power up a work out, get some cordyceps.

Thirdly, its great for mind workers and its really great for people that are getting older. In the case of the aging population, cordyceps freshens the body along with the mind.

Fact Sheet 1
Fact Sheet 2

Fact Sheet 1

Part Used: fungal body

Cordyceps is a parasitic fungus that attacks the silk worm. Once the insect has been fully attacked, a mushroom like structure erupts through its head. It is, how shall we say, a terminal complaint. The sci-fi structure that erupts from the critters head is the drug we call Cordyceps. Long known by the Chinese to powerfully stimulate endurance and stamina, it is used by the Chinese Olympic athletes to increase their performance. Indeed, some years ago I was called by the Olympic Commission to discuss whether or not Cordyceps could be classed as a performance drug. It is.

Long used Chinese to increase stamina and well being, it was once an extremely rare and costly herb. In the modern day contemporary production techniques have brought the price down to the affordable range. Modern day body builders use it to power up a heavy work out session and endurance athletes use it to keep themselves on the track longer. Watch out, with this herb you may have to remind yourself to get off the treadmill.

The drug was traditionally used as a fertility aid in older men. Contemporary research has shown that this was a right on use. It has been shown to increase performance and libido on a number of fronts. In the first instance, the number of erections achieved in a 24 hour period and staying power improve with its use. Beyond that, the quantity of ejaculate produced is increased with Cordyceps’ use. It can be used for a variety of workouts!

Fact Sheet 2

As the global population ages and the elderly demographic increases, there will be a need for drugs that increase stamina and vitality. Indeed, drugs that undermine the signs and symptoms of ageing are postured to become important drugs in the future.

Resistogens may have a role to play in geriatric medicine. (1) Throughout Asia, Africa, and North and South America , tonics were and are used by traditional medical systems to diminish physical and mental senility. Examples of this can be found with Aralia nudicaulis (2), Avena sativa (3), Chondrus crispus (4), Cordyceps sinensis (14), Eleutherococcus senticosus, Guaiacum officinalis (5), Panax ginseng (6), Rhodiola rosea (7), Schizandra chinensis (8), Smilax ssp. (9), Thuja occidentalis (10), Urticaria dioica (11), and Withania somnifera (12).

Moreover, resistogens have been shown to improve many of the physical problems associated with ageing. A closer look at the research findings for one of these drugs, Cordyceps sinensis (CS), makes this clear.

Stress
Cordyceps sinensis (CS) p revented spleen and liver atrophy and thymus hypertrophy in mice given cyclophosphamide. (13)

Cancer
CS acts as a potent inhibitor of cancer growth through immune stimulation. The action is at least in part due to polysaccharides found in the fungal body. Hobbs reports 14 different animal studies describing this effect. (14) The drug was shown to have an anti-lung cancer effect both in mice and in humans. (15, 16)

Heart disease
In vitro, CS has shown positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects. Extracts have been shown to relax the aorta. (17, 18) A 77.2% improvement was achieved in 87 cases of arrhythmia. (19)

In addition, a CS extract inhibited formation of thrombi and platelet aggregation. (20) A human study demonstrated CS reduced cholesterol levels. 273 patients with hyperlipidemia experienced a 17.5% reduction in cholesterol and a 9.9% reduction in triglycerides when treated with the drug. No side effects were reported. (9) Animal studies showed the CS lowered total cholesterol, plasma triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL levels. It also raised HDL levels in normal and hyperlipidemic rats. (22)

Blood deficits
In a mouse study, CS initiated a significant increase in erythroid progenitor cells and erythroid colony forming units in bone marrow. The animals were treated with a cancer drug that normally causes a dramatic depletion of red blood cells. However, when administered with CS, the expected depletion was prevented. (23) CS was shown to increased platelet formation. (26)

A number of studies have demonstrated that CS causes increases in immune activity. Polysaccharides contained within the drug increase phagocytic and macrophage activity. (24) Following treatment with CS, B lymphocytes were strongly stimulated, macrophage levels were restored, and IgM and IgG responses were restored in cyclophosphamide treated lymphoma bearing mice. (25)

Infection
CS has been determined to be antibacterial against Streptococcus, Bacterium mallei, Bacillus anthracis, Pasturella suispetica, and Staphylococcus, Microsporum gyseum, Microsporum lanosum. (14)

In a study involving 33 patients with chronic hepatitis B, CS improved liver function, raised plasma albumin, and normalised protein metabolism. (27) In 45 patients with post hepatic cirrhosis, CS was found to increase Natural Killer cell function, T cell ratios, immunoglobulin levels, serum complement levels, and liver function. (28)

Nervous Abnormalities
In 23 cases of tinnitus, over 60% of patients experience improvement when treated with CS. (29)

Urinary problems and sexual dysfunction
When CS was given to 155 patients experiencing sexual hypo function, 64% showed improvement. Increases in 17-hydroxycorticosteroid and 17-ketosteroid were noted. (30)

CS significantly benefited patients suffering from chronic kidney failure. In a human study involving 51 patients with chronic renal failure, the drug improved renal and immune function. (31)

Conclusion
In all the above mentioned areas, ageing takes its toll. There is significant evidence to show that resistogens have a place in the treatment of geriatric physical senility. Cordyceps is one of the best herbal remedies for the aging population and one that aging people need to know about.