A doctors guide to Cordyceps Mushroom: Fact or Fiction? - Part 1
Mushrooms such as Reishi, Chaga and Lions Mane are making their debuts in ultra trendy coffee shops, as powder supplements and in herbals extracts for face creams & shower gels.
Mar 7 Written By Dr Adam Sayedi
Is Cordyceps really a tonic to improve energy, appetite and stamina?
Read on for a specialist insight into Cordyceps mushroom, a Fungi with medicinal properties which are thought by some, to be beyond magic.
Mushrooms are a movement.
People have been popping Portobellos andshaking it off with Shiitake since 2018, when functional mushrooms were a top food trend (1). And this new clique don’t hang around the produce isle in Waitrose.
Mycology (the study of fungi) has recently attracted serious attention from western nations although mushrooms have been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with first texts dating back to 100 BCE
Medicinal Mushrooms - Background
Egyptian hieroglyphs carved 4600 years ago forbid men from touching mushrooms because they were strictly the sustenance of high-borns, given the name ‘sons of the gods’ and depicted in artwork.
Greek and Roman Philosophers: Seneca, Pliny and Dioscorides all argued both for and against the medicinal effects of eating mushrooms. In Mesoamerican cultures, Mayans, Incans, Aztecs and Olmecs used mushrooms for medicinal purposes and in spiritual ceremonies by Shaymans.
Alexander Fleming was the first modern scientist to extract the beneficial properties from fungus in 1928 when he discovered Penicillin.
'“You need only look to the psychoactive effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms and the toxicity of poisonous varieties to understand that mushrooms can have potent biochemical effects”
Professor Dave Hibbett PhD, Mycologist and Professor of Biology, Clark University, Massachusetts
Cordyceps - Himalayan Viagra
Cordyceps is a genus of fungi that grows on the larvae of insects such as caterpillar. Some call it gross but the fungi attack the larvae, replace its tissue and grow long, slender stems outside the hosts body. The fungus occurs naturally and is found at 14,000 feet in the Himalayan plateau in regions of China, Nepal, Tibet and India.
Due to its therapeutic value and a tough harvesting conditions, Cordyceps commands a hefty price, up to $20,000 USD per kilogram (2). Naturally this elevated price has led to exploitation of the mushroom and efforts have been made to artificially cultivate the mushroom by surface and submerged fermentation techniques. Due to the scarcity of natural Cordyceps Sinensis, synthetically grown derivatives such as Cordyceps Militaris, have been cultivated for their therapeutic properties. Both Sinensis & Militaris show medicinal benefits.
Cordyceps is a highly valued mushroom due to its abundant natural bioactive components, potent biological activity and of nutraceutical importance (3). The herb is nicknamed, Himalayan Viagra or Himalayan Gold due to its broad clinical and commercial value.
We delve into its constituents and significance below.
Cordyceps Preparations - Synthetic (Militaris) vs Natural (Sinensis)
There is a key difference in laboratory grown Cordyceps (Militaris) compared to natural Cordyceps (Sinensis) but both types exhibit cellular benefit.
Cordycepin is the pharmacological active component of in lab grown Militaris preparations. It has a wide range of therapeutic effects.
Adenosine is the pharmacological active component in natural Sinensis preparations, a key compound in energy production.
Cordyceps have been reported to contain various bioactive components such as proteins, fat, carbohydrates, cordycepin, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, cordycepin acid, adenosine, proteoglycans, terpenoids, sterols and lectins.
A detailed list of Cordyceps bio-active components, their biological activity and evidence is summarised in the table below.
Cordyceps List of Bio-active Constituents
Cordyceps Intermission
Phew. Take a Breather.
Take a look at some mountains.
The table above demonstrates the vast range of biological activity seen in components of Cordyceps mushrooms. With profound evidence at cellular level, no wonder many companies are eager to jump on the functional mushroom bandwagon.
Hippocrates was one quotes as stating ‘Let food be they medicine and medicine be thy food’ - presumably describing the importance of nutrition in the prevention and management of diseases. This week we have established that consuming functional fungi can improve many components of cellular function. This could help prevent disease.
Join us next week for Cordyceps Fact or Fiction: Part 2 as we analyse Cordyceps to improve energy levels. Does it make us fitter, faster and stronger? Does Cordyceps have a use in Western Medical practice in treating disease?
Until next week,
Stay Rumour Bustin’.
Dr Adam Sayedi
great little read. well done adam.
great little read. well done adam.