Products Featuring This Herb:
Super Yang Jing Drops (2 oz)
8 Immortals Adaptogenic Elixir
Supreme Protector
Super Essence Restorative
Imperial Garden
Profound Essence
Four Kings (100 Caps) $36.00
Cordyceps

More Information:

Other Common Names
Chinese Caterpillar Fungus and Winterworm

Page Number In Radiant Health
129

Pharmaceutical Latin
Cordyceps

Pinyin
Dong Chong Xia Cao

Treasures
Yin and Yang Jing and Qi.

Treasure Rating
*****

Atmospheric Energy
Yin and Yang Jing and Qi.

Organ Meridian Systems
Kidney and Lungs

Part Used and Form
Natural, wild Cordyceps includes the complete fungus (mushroom) which is attached to the forehead of the carcass of a caterpillar. Occasionally, insects form the growth substrate instead of the more common caterpillar. Modern fermentation type of growth includes just the fungus, and does not include the caterpillar. The "caterpillar" has actually been totally transformed into fungal mycelial mass by the time the herb is collected. There is no animal matter left and therefor the herb is vegetarian.

Primary Functions
To nourish Jing (both Yin and Yang), to strengthen the Kidneys and Lungs and to tonify Qi. To relieve depression of Liver Qi.

Qualities
Cordyceps is one of the absolute superstars of the Chinese tonic herbal system. It is an extremely effective and powerful life enhancing agent, ranking right up there with Ginseng, Ganoderma and Deer Antler. Because it is rare, potent and highly treasured, like Deer Antler, it is very expensive. It is the main ingredient in a number of expensive elixirs and tonic formulations.

Cordyceps is used to strengthen the body and mind at a fundamental level. It is said to be able to increase the "primary motive force for life activities." Because it contains both Yin and Yang it can be used by anyone safely and over a long period of time. It replenishes Yin Essence (Yin Jing), restoring the deep energy expended as a result of excessive exertion, adapting to stress or from aging. Cordyceps is thus one of the primary herbal substances used in tonic herbalism as an anti-aging agent and for the purposes of rejuvenation.

Cordyceps is very widely used for the purposes of strengthening the primal Kidney functions, which include sexual functions, brain power, structural integrity and healing ability. It is a very powerful Yang tonic. As a sexual tonic, Cordyceps is considered to be one of the best. It is not as quick acting as the best of the Yang tonics like Deer Antler, Epimedium and Sea Dragon, but it has a profound long range strengthening capacity. It is commonly used for impotence, sexual neurasthenia, frigidity and infertility.

Consistent use of Cordyceps helps to strengthen the skeletal structure, and specifically benefits the lower back region, the knees and ankles. It is used for backache due to injury, fatigue, stress or simple aging.

Cordyceps is also a major Lung tonic. It can be used to strengthen respiratory power in those who require extra energy in order to perform physical work (e.g. labor, sports or exercise) or it can be used by those who suffer from deficiency of Lung power. It is especially beneficial to those who suffer chronic Lung weakness with cough, wheezing or shortness of breath.

Because of Cordyceps' powerful deep tonifying action, it is used for a wide range of problems due to weakness. Cordyceps has always been used to fortify the defensive system of the body and large amounts of recent data indicate that Cordyceps is a very potent immune system potentiator. Many studies now indicate that Cordyceps can help the body resist a wide range of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses. Cordyceps is used in Asia to help treat fungus and yeast infections, and intensive research is being conducted at dozens of institutions in China and Japan relating to the potential of Cordyceps to treat cancer and HIV infection. Researchers in Japan and China have isolated a number of polysaccharides in Cordyceps which strengthen the immune system, and at least one, CO-1, has been shown to have strong anti-tumor activity. Maintaining the immune system is one of the mechanisms that can slow down aging and prevent both degenerative and acquired diseases.

Other studies have shown that Cordyceps can have a benefit in the vascular system as well. Cordyceps improves the function of the micro-circulation and improves efficiency at the capillary level. Cordyceps has been shown to help regulate blood pressure and to strengthen heart muscle.

A Cordyceps compound (70% Cordyceps, 15% Lentinus, 10% Gyrophora, etc.) was tested by the Medical Research Institute of the China National Physical Culture and Sports Commission. They reported that:

"the formulation (known as LCOL)...can increase stamina in exercising, stimulate heart and lung functions, relieve fatigue from excessive exercise and mental work, improve the capacity of brain and body cells to resist toxins from entering the cells, improve appetite, improve sleep and ultimately prolong life. In addition, LCOL boasts another remarkable function, the ability to arrest cancer cells miraculously, which has been proven by the Basic Medical Science Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science.
LCOL is one of the best tonics to relieve uneasiness of body and mind, promote the function of lung and kidney, make one strong and healthy and recover from illnesses promptly. It is suitable for all ages and persons, old or young, men or women, especially for daily health care of the middle-aged and the old. If middle-aged couples use it, they will enjoy romance fully. If the examinee uses it, it will make them energetic and calm close to the examination. LCOL is suitable for any season and any state of the human body, without any side effect."

This quotation fully reflects how the Asian world perceives Cordyceps.

As described above, Cordyceps is considered in Asia to be a robust and virtually miraculous athlete's tonic. Cordyceps has attained even greater fame in the last few years since the quintessentially successful track coach, Ma Jia Jun, created a secret formula, based on Cordyceps and Tortoise Shell, which he gave to his China National Women's track team. Subsequent to their taking this formula, which was made with Cordyceps as the dominant ingredient, the women of this team came to dominate the world track scene for more than two years. The members of the team broke many world records, most of which they still hold.

During their reign, they were accused of taking steroids or other illegal drugs, since their rise to dominance was so quick. But all drug testing proved negative. No trace of any illegal substances have been detected in their blood. None of Ma's track women were ever found to be consuming anything other than his secret Chinese tonic herbal formula. Due to a number of reasons, mostly associated with personality conflicts between Ma and his track stars (he refused to let them grow their hair, to keep much of their prize money or to keep the luxury cars they won as prizes on the world track circuit, for example), virtually all the women refused to stay in Ma's camp and they all went independent. No longer having access to his secret Cordyceps recipe, all of the stars have lost their dominating athlete prowess. In 1995, a year after leaving Ma, only one of the former superstars qualified for the National Team which represented China at the World Championships.

Ma's recipe is still secret, although the whole world knows of its existence. We only know that the two dominant ingredients are Cordyceps and Tortoise Shell, a major Yin Jing tonic.

Cordyceps is highly regarded in China as a tonic for those who are recovering from an illness or an operation, or after giving birth. In these cases, the Cordyceps helps the patient recover their physical power, to improve their appetite, and to protect the body from infection. When blended with other tonics such as Ginseng, Ganoderma, Lycium or Astragalus, Cordyceps' power is just increased as the synergy of the various herbs results in an even more powerful tonic.

Primary Combinations
Can be used by itself, but almost always combined with other tonic herbs. Combine with:

1. Ginseng Root to build qi, yin and yang
2. Dang Gui to build blood and yin
3. Gecko and Morinda to tonify Kidney yang and yin
4. Lycium, Polygonum and Rehmannia (steamed) to tonify blood and Kidney and Liver yin
5. Glehnia, Donkey skin glue and Fritillary bulb for chronic cough and asthma due to lung deficiency

Varieties and Grading
Cordyceps is one of the most rare and expensive herbs in Chinese tonic herbalism. It is primarily collected wild in the high mountainous regions of Tibet, and on the high peaks of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Gansu Provinces of China. It can also be grown in a semi-wild manner, but this Cordyceps will be of lower quality (it is still very good). A rule of thumb---low cost Cordyceps is not wild. The wild Cordyceps will always be the most expensive. Generally, the larger the whole Cordyceps (caterpillar and mushroom), the more expensive---but not always. There are occasional species of caterpillar which are larger but not of high quality. In buying Cordyceps you have to trust your herbalist. Fortunately, all Cordyceps is good---it's just that some is better than others. High grade Cordyceps is light brown in color and neat. The caterpillar should have eight pairs of legs, the four middle ones being predominant. The mushroom, or stroma, should be slightly longer than the larva's body and will be slightly twisted. In good quality Cordyceps, most of these stroma will be intact. Cordyceps possesses a rich and not unpleasant flavor.

Cordyceps grows in Tibet, and in Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces of China. Tibetan Cordyceps is considered to be the best. It is highly sought after and is more expensive than that from other sources. Wild Cordyceps from Tibet is the best Cordyceps in the world. The very best Cordyceps, the kind the emperor would want, is called "King Cordyceps." It is graded according to size, the larger the better. Large ones command a hefty price, in the same league with premium Ginseng and Deer Antler.

However, the difference between Tibetan Cordyceps and wild Yunnan or Sichuan Cordyceps is actually not that significant so you should worry about it. However, there is a big difference between wild and cultivated Cordyceps. They look alike, but studies have shown that wild Cordyceps is richer in certain components and that the proportions of components is different, which probably makes a difference in the activity. However, cultivated Cordyceps is still a premium tonic herb, and if this is what you can find, its still great (««««). The Cordyceps most commonly found in Chinese herb stores is cultivated. It comes in neat packages. But wild Cordyceps from Sichuan and Yunnan are readily available if you ask for it. Tibetan, however, is rare and precious.

In the last several years, it has become possible to grow a number of fungi by "fermentation" technology. The fungus is literally grown in large tanks, and in just a matter of days a large quantity can be produced. The technology has now become highly advanced and is making previously rare herbs like Cordyceps and Ganoderma much more accessible. Many studies indicate that the chemical nature of this biotechnology Cordyceps is almost identical to that of the wild variety and pharmacological and clinical studies seems to farther confirm this. The Cordyceps contained in most commercial products is produced by this technology.

Personally, I am a firm believer that there is something special in the wild variety that may not be testable in a laboratory. The same holds true for wild Ginseng, wild Ganoderma, wild Astragalus, or the antler of wild deer, etc., when compared to their cultivated cousins. It may be the stress the wild plant or fungus or animal had to endure which creates some of the micro-chemistry that ultimately has subtle but profound effects on the body and mind of the one who consumes the final herbal substance. Though each batch may be slightly different, this is the way nature meant herbalism to be. The advantage of the wild variety lies precisely in this attribute---its slight variability and subtle wildness. This subtle advantage is important to the true tonic herbalist, who expects variation both in life and in his or her herbs.

However, the new biotechnological approach to growing Cordyceps possesses two truly great advantages. The greatest advantage of the new technology is that the herbal substance, in this case Cordyceps, can be highly controlled by scientific means during its growth and "standardized" so that every batch is virtually identical---and in a sense, "perfect." This is very important in pharmaceutical terms because without standardization, it is difficult or impossible to develop drug-type standards for substances like Cordyceps. Once an herb can be standardized, all kinds of studies can be conducted that will be accepted by the scientific community, including our FDA. However, standardization itself does not make a product effective, or great or anything else. What makes a product great are its benefits and safety, and both wild Cordyceps and cultured Cordyceps alike possess both these qualities.

The second benefit of growing Cordyceps by fermentation technology is that it is far less expensive to grow a ton of Cordyceps in a tank in just a matter of days than it is to collect of ton of wild Cordyceps off the dangerous cliffs of a Tibetan and Sichuan peak. Collecting wild Cordyceps is dangerous work, resulting in deaths every year as collectors fall off cliffs trying to collect this valuable treasure. True, high quality wild Cordyceps now sells for well over a thousand dollars a pound in cities like Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York or London. The culture-grown Cordyceps is available at a third of the cost, with approximately the same benefits. Fermentation technology makes this substance available to anybody who wants it, and this is great news for the world. Until now, few people have even heard of Cordyceps because of its rarity. In the next decade, as a result of the new fermentation technology, Cordyceps will become known throughout the world.

There is one more advantage, at least by some people's standard, to the new fermentation Cordyceps. There's no worm! Wild Cordyceps, by weight, is mostly caterpillar. Americans generally don't eat caterpillars. Certainly, even if wild Cordyceps was readily available, most Americans would be turned off by the sight of what is obviously a caterpillar (most people call it a "worm") or even just the thought of it. Frankly, it doesn't matter at all. The caterpillar is clean and healthful (it's full of protein and special nutrients). But for vegetarians and those who simply don't want to consume caterpillars, the new technology provides the solution. The fermentation technology does not include the caterpillar in the growing process. The fungus is grown without the use of animal nutrients and the result is a 100% pure "vegetarian" health product.

Contraindications
Not to be used when experiencing a fever.