Cordyceps, also known as caterpillar fungus, is a tonic herb known for its ability to increase vitality, clear the lungs and improve endurance. The best Cordyceps is harvested from Tibet and the surrounding area at high altitudes, typically at 9,000 feet above sea level. Traditionally it is consumed as a tonic food and as medicine. It may be prepared with chicken, duck, or pork, boiled as a tea, or taken in pill form. It is said to nourish the kidney yin and yang and to protect the lungs.
Modern applications include its use for chronic lung problems, heart disease, hepatitis, impotence, kidney failure, and immune disease including cancer, diabetes, and chronic fatigue. It has also been used to help people recover from debilitating illness, and by athletes to boost performance. Chinese and Japanese scientists have found that cordyceps contains L-tryptophan, and other amino acids. Laboratory experiments indicate that it stimulates interferon activity, inhibits bacteria and hepatitis B virus, enhances the function of the adrenal cortex, increases respiratory muscle performance, and improves the integrity of the HPA (Hypothalamus/pituitary) axis, thus calming the nervous system. It also increases the production of ATP, the body’s energy storehouse molecule by as much as 50%.
Cardiovascular benefits include increasing cardiac output and decreasing platelet aggregation. It may also lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Cordyceps is used in Chinese hospitals and clinics for chronic bronchitis, asthma, congestive heart disease, and tuberculosis and other respiratory conditions. In one study at the Jiang Su Provincial Hospital, respiratory disease patients taking cordyceps showed less coughing and had fewer asthmatic symptoms, and caught fewer colds.
In another study, 21 out of 27 patients taking cordyceps for three weeks had fewer coughs, colds, and wheezing. At the Beijing Medical University, 65 asthma patients who had been treated unsuccessfully with western approaches were enrolled in the study. Cordyceps was 81.3% effective. Most patients saw results in five days; tolerance was good. It has been used both as a folk herb and as hospital treatment for various cancers, as an adjunct to western approaches and herbal formulas. Cordyceps can improve patient’s tolerance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Studies at Cornell University in New York found that an extract of cordyceps counteracted the effects of immunosuppressive drugs on helper T-cells. Researchers at Hunan Medical University found activation on Natural Killer (NK) cells and significant anti-tumor activity in laboratory experiments. In a study of patients receiving chemotherapy, TCM formulas and cordyceps, the majority of patients showed improvements in pain and fatigue and some patients were observed to have tumor shrinkage.
In a study, 50 lung cancer patients received chemotherapy and radiotherapy, TCM formulas, and cordyceps for two years, tumor size significantly decreased (by at least 25%) in 23 patients out of 50 patients. An improvement was also seen in quality of life in almost every patient. Cordyceps is traditionally used to treat the kidneys and reduce impotence. In a clinical study of 37 patients with renal failure for thirty days, creatinine clearance (a test of the kidneys filtration system) saw an average of 39% improvement. In addition, there was a 34% decrease in BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen), 63% drop in proteins found in the urine and blood pressure dropped an average of 15%. Subjects were treated with a daily dosage of 5 grams per day.
At the Huashan Hospital in Shanghai, 183 of 286 male patients taking one gram of cordyceps three times per day over forty days showed an improvement in sexual functioning. Although cordyceps can be prepared in a wide variety of ways, impurities have been found in bulk cordyceps. Be especially careful with packets found in Chinatown. Lead has been inserted into the picked fungus before drying, in order to bulk up the weight. Therefore, it’s best to buy dry extract from suppliers specializing in Chinese Medicine. General dosage is 1-3 grams per day of the extract. For maximum absorption, it should be taken on an empty stomach, however if intestinal gas or bloating is observed, take it with meals. General response time is 2-6 weeks. In part II of this article, we will discuss case studies.