Benefits

Studies have demonstrated the many benefits of cordyceps for athletic performance, antifatigue effects and improving respiratory and cardiovascular functions. Furthermore, cordyceps acts as a natural antihistamine, reduces inflammation and helps manage blood pressure.

Cordyceps’ beneficial properties stem from its polysaccharides, such as D-mannitol. D-mannitol is an innovative compound that has been shown to help lower blood glucose levels and prevent diabetes, while other polysaccharides act as antioxidants within the body – all essential carbohydrates which provide energy, improve immune system functionality and promote overall wellbeing.

Cordyceps’ anti-tumor properties are well documented through test tube experiments. Cordyceps has been found to slow cancer cell growth and spread; further research may help shed more light on how this effect occurs; some speculate cordyceps might work by helping regulate immune responses within the body to suppress tumor cells.

Multiple CLL patients have reported taking cordyceps as part of their therapy for lower absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC). While more clinical data are still required, Dr. Glenn Sabin has established a Facebook group where many CLL patients can share their success stories with one another and other hematologists on Cancer Commons Medical Advisory Board are open to exploring this option with them.

Cordyceps has proven itself an effective renoprotectant in patients suffering from renal failure. Studies of Bailing capsule, an oral preparation created from mycelia from Cordyceps sinensis wild species or cultured strain cordyceps militaris strain has proven that ingestion can mitigate renal rejection, improve liver and kidney function, increase hemopoietic activity, decrease serum urea/creatinine concentrations in renal transplant recipients as well as ameliorate rejection episodes.

Cordyceps was shown to have significant antitumor effects against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells, meth-A fibrosarcoma cells, B16 melanomas and EL-4 lymphomas while also reversing Taxol-induced leukopenia in mice.

Cordyceps can improve physical performance by increasing oxygen uptake and blood flow to muscles, helping them absorb more oxygen than before, while simultaneously relieving fatigue by providing steady energy release, thereby decreasing buildup of lactic acid in the body – an invaluable benefit for athletes, who must continue performing at higher levels for extended periods. This supplement’s effects are especially noticeable during athletic competition.

Preparation

Cordyceps mushrooms can be enjoyed traditionally and safely by making tea. Mushroom textures range from gelly and spongy (Wood Ear) to woody (Cordyceps militaris). Different species require specific boiling times in order to release their water-soluble compounds for extraction.

To create the tea, add six to eight dried mushroom fruit bodies per 200-250 ml water and boil for one minute before reducing heat and simmering for 14-15 minutes before letting it cool before straining it and drinking twice daily – morning and evening.

This method of preparation of Cordyceps will extract maximum levels of immuno-modulatory components into water. As such, beta-glucans, cordycepin, adenosine and ergosterol found within its fruit body will begin their immune-enhancing actions immediately.

If you prefer, Cordyceps tincture in water or ginger tea is also a convenient way to take the herb each morning and evening for best results. A tincture contains both water- and alcohol-soluble compounds for maximum effectiveness; typically produced at 60% alcohol and stored for one month.

Storage

One of the easiest and tastiest ways to consume mushrooms is in tea form, as its infusion in hot water breaks down their cell walls to release their water-soluble medicinal properties. This extraction method can also be used in making tinctures; however, this may prove both costly and time consuming to do.

Drinking tea made from raw or dried medicinal mushrooms is the easiest and most cost-effective way to use them. Tea is an age-old way of enjoying powerful medicinal fungi like lion’s mane, turkey tail, reishi, cordyceps etc. To create your own blend, cut up desired mushrooms into pieces before boiling/simmering in water for several hours until ready.

The length and temperature of the boiling process affect how much is extracted out of mushrooms, with different mushrooms producing various compounds at varying temperatures and duration. Adenosine, cordycepin and other polysaccharides extracted from mushrooms have various immuno-modulatory effects; Cordyceps militaris species contain more beta-glucans than any other wild species and the extract can be mixed with water and stored for later consumption as desired or already water extracted cordyceps can be purchased and added into drinks such as tea, smoothie or smoothie.