In a 130-patient, double-blind, randomized clinical trial, patients between 40 and 70-years old were given either an extract of cordyceps mushroom (dong chong xia cao) or a placebo for 12 weeks. Using sports physiology methods, the study measured exercise capacity, endurance performance, and exercise related metabolic alterations before, during, and after the trial period. Patients in the cordyceps group showed peak volume of oxygen consumption increased to 5.5% (compared to 2.2% in the control group), the time taken to reach peak volume increased by 4.1% (compared to 0%), and the time taken to walk one mile reduced by 29 seconds (compared to a slight increase in the control group). The cordyceps group also showed greater improvements in exercise work output and respiratory exchange ratio, and a greater decrease in body weight (0.78%) and diastolic blood pressure (3.2%). Cordyceps strengthens the kidneys and tonifies yang. It is considered a very safe substance which can be taken over a prolonged period (The Journal of Chinese Medicine, June 2004: 75:62). Health Concerns’ Cordyceps PS™ is helpful in improving lung function and conditions such as asthma, wheezing, chronic cough, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cordyceps PS also strengthens resistance to disease, boosts the immune system and enhances athletic performance. Cordyceps is also found in Health Concerns’ CordySeng™ along with ganoderma reishi (ling zhi), astragalus root (huang qi), American Ginseng (xi yang shen), licorice root (gan cao), and ginger rhizome (gan jiang).
