Cordyceps sinensis

More than 1500 years ago in the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet, the local herdsmen gradually noticed that when their cattle and sheep chewed a particular grass, they became very strong. That "grass" actually was a parasitic fungus called Cordyceps sinensis.
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.

More than 1000 years later, in the Ming Dynasty, 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.

Nowadays, most of the research about Cordyceps was conducted by Dr. Georges Halpern, a physician and professor emeritus with the University of Hong Kong.

So far, it has been documented that Cordyceps might help:

• protecting against the damages caused by free radicals, and as such it has powerful antioxidant properties
• increasing the cellular energy production and oxygen supply, and as such it helps reducing fatigue
• improving the flow of blood in the body by relaxing the smooth muscles of the blood vessels allowing them to expand; so that, it helps discomforts from tired legs
• increasing the cellular energy production and oxygen uptake, and as such it improves stamina and athletic performance
• with sexual dysfunctions
• alleviating the symptoms of several respiratory illnesses including chronic bronchitis and asthma
• on heart rhythm disturbances, such as cardiac arrhythmias and chronic heart failure
• maintaining heatlthy level of chlesterol
• enhancing the general reactivity of the immune system in individuals with cancer.

References:
Mizuno T. (1999): Medicinal effects and utilization of Cordyceps (Fr.) Link (Ascomycetes) and Isaria Fr. (Mitosporic Fungi) Chinese Caterpillar Fungi, “Tochukaso” (Review). International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 1 (3), pp 251-261.
Xiao Y., Huang X.Z., Chen G.,Wang M.B., Zhu J.S., Cooper C.B.: Increased Aerobic Capacity in Healthy Elderly Humans given fermented Cordyceps Cs-4: a Placebo controlled Trial. Ann. Meeting American College of Sports Medicine, Seattle, WA, June 3-5, 1999.
Zhu, J.S., Halpern, G.M., and Jones, K. (1998): The Scientific Rediscovery of a Precious Ancient Chinese Herbal Regimen: Cordyceps sinensis. Part II. Journal of Alternative and complementary Medicine 4(4), pp 429-457.











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