5 Benefits of Cordyceps For Your Brain and Body

5 Benefits of Cordyceps:

Nature provides an amazing array of resources to improve our health and boost our immunity.  Mushrooms are a type of fungus that is enjoyed by people all over the world and renowned for their nutritional benefits.  In recent years, scientists have studied the medicinal benefits of the cordyceps sinensis mushroom.

Mushrooms have been used as food, medicine, poison, and spiritual mushroom practices in religious rituals across the world since at least 5000 BC.  These have been used in tonics, soups, teas, prepared foods, and herbal formulas to promote health and longevity.  The mushroom fungus Penicillium, was the raw material used to create the antibiotic penicillin which transformed the medical world.

What is Cordyceps?

This oddly shaped mushroom grows native to China and is all around the Tibetan area.  For years it was thought to be a living worm rather than a mushroom and was nicknamed the caterpillar fungus as it is seen growing on the sides of trees.  Cordyceps is actually a fungal spore that kills insects such as caterpillars and moths and feeds off their tissues.

The Cordyceps mushroom has been described in old Chinese medical books from ancient times and is also found in Tibetan medicine. Traditional Tibetan healers have recommended Cordyceps as a tonic for all illnesses.  This is because they continually witness how it improves people’s energy, sleep habits, digestion, stamina, libido, and endurance.

Cordyceps first became popular in the Western world when the coach of the record breaking Chinese female runners credited it with the team’s extraordinary success.  Today, many researchers believe Cordyceps to be one of the most powerful performance and longevity promoting herbs (1).

1. Kidney Health:

Chronic kidney disease is a global health problem that is very hard to treat, costs the healthcare system billions of dollars each year, and has a high fatality rate.  A 2011 study out of Zhejiang University found that Cordyceps has the potential to inhibit renal fibrosis by shutting down inflammatory pathways that destroy the kidney’s normal function and produce fibrous scar tissue (2).

A 2014 study published in the journal Phytomedicine confirmed this earlier 2011 study.  The researchers found that the Ergosterol peroxide (EP), the major sterol produced by Cordyceps was the major component that was able to shut down the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway that promotes the fibrous growth patterns that render the kidney useless (3).

2. Adrenal Health:

The adrenal glands are critical for maintaining healthy energy levels, physical and mental performance, and good sleeping patterns.  Adrenal fatigue is a state where the adrenal glands are overworked and unable to perform their functions effectively.  Individuals with adrenal fatigue suffer from low energy, poor hormonal function, and chronic inflammation.

Adaptogenic substances were originally defined by Russian scientist Dr Nikolai Lazarev in the late 1940’s following research done on the eleuthero root.  Israel Brekham, PhD and Dr. I.V. Dardymov formally defined adaptogens with three major characteristics

1. Adaptogens are non-toxic – this means they don’t have harmful effects on the body and are safe to be taken for long periods of time.
2. They produce a non-specific biological response that improves the body’s ability to resist physical, chemical, emotional, and other biological stressors.
3. They have a strong influence on the body’s homeostatic balance. This means that they move the body in the direction of a normal homeostatic set point.  If stress hormones are too high, they lower and stabilize them and if stress hormones are too low, they raise and stabilize them.

Cordyceps is shown to help the body produce and balance cortisol and other stress hormones (4).  The adaptogenic qualities allow them to influence the body towards homeostatic balance.  This means that they move the body in the direction of a normal homeostatic set point.  If stress hormones are too high, they lower and stabilize them and if stress hormones are too low, they raise and stabilize them (5).

In a 2003 study, Cordyceps extract was shown to improve a group of rat’s physical performance in an endurance swim by over 16%.  The rats also showed signs of reduced stress during the swim compared to the placebo group (6).

A 2014 study showed that Cordyceps markedly reduced exercise induced oxidative stress in a group of rats.  The study showed that the rats using Cordyceps have significantly increased production of intracellular antioxidants superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase in their serum, liver, and muscle.  They had considerably lower oxidative stress markers in their serum, liver, and muscle (7).

3.  Hormonal Health:

Cordyceps has been known for centuries in Asian culture as an aphrodisiac.   It has commonly been used as an aid for lowered libido among other things.

Researchers hypothesized that it has a positive effect on reducing the negative effects of stress and improving sex hormone production.  A 1998 study showed that Cordyceps has a positive effect on steroidogenesis or the production of steroid hormones (8)

4. Diabetes & Blood Sugar Support

Cordyceps has been shown to improve insulin secretion by the pancreas and it inhibits insulin degradation.  It also reduces oxidative stress which is a major culprit in insulin resistance.  It improves the function of glucose-regulating enzymes in the liver and promotes a gradual absorption of glucose from the digestive system into the bloodstream.

A 1999 study in the Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin showed that cordyceps was able to stabilize blood sugar in drug-induced hyperglycemic diabetic rats.  The researchers in this study presume that the benefits were due to an increase in the liver enzymes hepatic glucokinase and glucose transporter isoform-2 (GLUT-2) (9).

5. Brain Health:

We have all experienced how stress fatigues our brain and it is well-understood that chronic stress creates chronic inflammatory states in the brain.  These chronic inflammatory states are observed in studies through various pro-inflammatory markers.  Additionally, chronic stress is often seen with imbalanced neurotransmitter levels and lower levels of brain derived neurotrophic growth factors (BDNF).

Chronic stress impairs memory, cognitive acceleration, or the speed of cognitive processing and judgment or reasoning skills.  Additionally, chronic stress induces mood disorders and depression.  It also accelerates the process of neurodegeneration which can ultimately lead to diseases such as Parkinson’s, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

When scientists are studying the delirious effects of chronic stress on brain health, they look at inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-6, and NF-kb.  They also look at the key neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, and gamma amino butyric acid among others.

A 2014 study published in Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed that Cordyceps supplementation reduced inflammatory markers in the hippocampus of the brain.  It also raised up brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor and 5-HTP (precursor to serotonin and norepinephrine levels).  These results demonstrated that cordyceps has positive benefits on mood and memory levels (10).

Another 2012 study showed that cordyceps lowered inflammatory markers in the brain of D-galactose injected mice and increased key antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione.  The non-treated mice showed signs of early mental decline while the cordyceps treated mice showed great ability to think and function at a high level (11).  The researchers suggested based on study results that cordyceps improves memory and ameliorates the decline of mental function.

How I Use Cordyceps:

You can purchase dried cordyceps mushroom powder here and add it to smoothies or brew it and make it into a tea.  You can also get it in a more instant form here that is easy to add to tea and coffee.

You can also find pure cordyceps supplements or use combination supplements to enhance adrenal health and energy levels.  I personally take this every day along with 7 other organically grown medicinal mushrooms in the Multi-Mushroom complex from Ancient Nutrition.  This extraordinary product is a combination of 8 powerful organic mushroom compounds in a synergistic formulation.

This product contains clinical dosages of cordyceps, reishi, lion’s mane, turkey tail, shitake, maitake, chaga, and white jelly, I use this product to enhance my mental focus, energy, and overall performance.  Here are the benefits of the various adaptogens in the product.

CORDYCEPS: 

This is the “High Performance” adaptogen that is renowned for its ability to increase energy and endurance, stabilize blood sugar, reduce exercise induced oxidative stress, and improve mood and mental clarity under stress.

REISHI MUSHROOM: 

Reduces anxiety, combats fatigue, improves sleep quality, helps individuals overcome insomnia, and stabilizes blood pressure

LION’S MANE:

This is called the “Smart Mushroom,” because it supports nerve regeneration, nerve myelination, and nerve growth factor for improved memory, mental clarity, and mental processing speed.  It also supports a healthy digestive tract.

TURKEY TAIL:

This is the “Longevity and Anti-Aging” mushroom that supports white blood cell development and T-helper cell function to reduce autoimmunity and inflammation to reduce tissue damage within the body.

CHAGA: 

This is super rich in antioxidant compounds that support healthy circulation, oxygen delivery, and enhanced performance.  It also supports healthy cholesterol levels and reduces overall inflammation throughout the body.

SHITAKE: 

This is the “Immune Boosting” mushroom with the most well-studied benefits on strengthening the immune system, combatting abnormal cell development and suppressing tumor growth.  It is also a powerful immune booster in helping to fight off bacterial, viral and parasitic infections.    

Multi-Mushroom is a revolutionary product designed for the high achiever who wants to improve their health and get the most out of life.  This proprietary formula of 8 organic full spectrum mushrooms helps improve your energy, mental clarity, and stamina to do the things you want to do in life!  Use the coupon code Jockers10 at checkout to save 10% off your order here.

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Sources For This Article Include:

1. Panda AK, Swain KC. Traditional uses and medicinal potential of Cordyceps sinensis of Sikkim. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2011;2(1):9-13.

2. Zhu R, Chen Y, Deng Y, et al. Cordyceps cicadae extracts ameliorate renal malfunction in a remnant kidney model . Journal of Zhejiang University Science B. 2011;12(12):1024-1033.

3. Zhu R, Zheng R, Deng Y, Chen Y, Zhang S. Ergosterol peroxide from Cordyceps cicadae ameliorates TGF-β1-induced activation of kidney fibroblasts. Phytomedicine. 2014 Feb 15;21(3):372-8. PMID: 24095053

4. Leu SF, Chien CH, Tseng CY, Kuo YM, Huang BM. The in vivo effect of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium on plasma corticosterone level in male mouse. Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Sep;28(9):1722-5. PMID: 16141547

5. Ng TB, Wang HX. Pharmacological actions of Cordyceps, a prized folk medicine. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2005 Dec;57(12):1509-19. PMID: 16354395

6. Koh JH, Kim KM, Kim JM, Song JC, Suh HJ. Antifatigue and antistress effect of the hot-water fraction from mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis. Biol Pharm Bull. 2003 May;26(5):691-4. PMID: 12736514

7. Yan F, Wang B, Zhang Y. Polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis mycelium ameliorate exhaustive swimming exercise-induced oxidative stress. Pharm Biol. 2014 Feb;52(2):157-61. PMID: 24047103

8. Wang SM, Lee LJ, Lin WW, Chang CM. Effects of a water-soluble extract of Cordyceps sinensis on steroidogenesis and capsular morphology of lipid droplets in cultured rat adrenocortical cells. J Cell Biochem. 1998 Jun 15;69(4):483-9. PMID: 9620174

9. Kiho T, Ookubo K, Usui S, Ukai S, Hirano K. Structural features and hypoglycemic activity of a polysaccharide (CS-F10) from the cultured mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis. Biol Pharm Bull. 1999 Sep;22(9):966-70. PMID: 10513622

10. Tianzhu Z, Shihai Y, Juan D. Antidepressant-like effects of cordycepin in a mice model of chronic unpredictable mild stress. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:438506. PMID: 25587342

11. Li Z, Zhang Z, Zhang J, Jia J, Ding J, Luo R, Liu Z. Cordyceps militaris extract attenuates D-galactose-induced memory impairment in mice. J Med Food. 2012 Dec;15(12):1057-63. PMID: 23216110