Cordyceps: A Complete Guide at a Glance
Cordyceps (Inonotus obliquus): The ancient healing mushroom of vitality and longevity
What is Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) ?
Cordyceps are a medicinal fungus that differs from many other mushrooms you may be familiar with due to their unique growth cycle.
Cordyceps proliferate by dispersing their spores, just like other mushrooms do. However, the forest floor is not the optimal habitat for cordyceps, unlike those other mushrooms. Instead, these mushroom spores search for an appropriate host, such as insect larvae.
Cordyceps spores begin to germinate as soon as the ideal circumstances are identified. During its growth cycle, the mushroom devours the host, turning it into an endless supply of nutrients. The life cycle of a cordyceps mushroom ends when the mushrooms sprout, but not before the host suffers the ultimate cost.
The infamous difficulty of locating wild cordyceps has made them sometimes more valuable than gold. As a result, Cordyceps militaris is utilized as a more economical and long-lasting alternative.
Characteristics of Cordyceps
The fruiting body of cordyceps is strange and unattractive. Due to its size and, in many cases, its lackluster coloring, it is easily missed. Because of their striking orange pigmentation, certain species are more straightforward to locate than others. While most cordyceps species are black, brown, or a very pale orange-tan-buff, the most well-known species are bright orange. However, there are ordinary club fungi that are even more colorful, so you might still miss the vibrantly colored ones.
Because of their similar look, cordyceps and club fungus are kept a little more under wraps. You can select the fungus like any other and call it a day, unless you know to look for the insect by digging beneath the soil's surface. It will easily separate from the insect body and fall off the ground like any other mushroom. The bug must be dug up because it is typically well buried.
Cordyceps: Benefits And Uses
Improves Exercise Performance
It is believed that cordyceps enhance the body's synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a chemical necessary for providing energy to the muscles.
Your body's ability to use oxygen may be improved by this, particularly when you exercise.
In one study, researchers utilized stationary bikes to examine their effects on the ability of thirty healthy older people to exercise. For six weeks, participants were given a placebo pill or three grams of a synthetic strain of Cordyceps named CS-4 every day.
Those who took CS-4 experienced a 7% rise in VO2 max by the end of the research, but those who took a placebo pill exhibited no change (3).
One metric used to assess fitness level is VO2 max.
In a related trial, 20 elderly, healthy participants were given a placebo tablet or one gram of CS-4 every 12 weeks (5Reliable Source).
While VO2 max did not alter in either group, participants who received CS-4 showed improvements in other exercise performance metrics, according to the researchers.
Another study examined the impact of a combination of mushrooms containing cordyceps on young adults' ability to exercise (6Trusted Source).
In comparison to a placebo, after three weeks, participants' VO2 max had increased by 11%.
However, according to recent research, cordyceps may not be useful for enhancing trained athletes' exercise performance.
It has been demonstrated that cordyceps enhance exercise performance metrics in both younger and older persons but not in highly trained athletes.
Anti-Aging Support
Cordyceps have long been used by the elderly to increase sex drive and vigor and relieve weariness.
its antioxidant concentration, according to researchers, may account for its putative anti-aging effects.
According to several studies, cordyceps boost antioxidant levels in old mice, which may enhance sexual and memory performance.
Antioxidant molecules neutralize free radicals, which can otherwise cause illness and aging. They prevent cell damage.
According to one study, mice fed Cordyceps lived several months longer than mice given a placebo (16).
A study that found cordyceps can prolong the life of fruit flies provides further evidence of their anti-aging properties.
It's unclear, though, if cordyceps offer the same anti-aging advantages to people.
Mice research indicates that cordyceps may have anti-aging benefits. Although these results are encouraging, it's unclear if they apply to people.
Anti-Tumor Support Repercussions
The ability of cordyceps to suppress tumor growth has attracted a lot of attention lately.
The fungi may have many anti-tumor actions, according to researchers.
Cordyceps has been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of numerous human cancer cell types, including those of the lung, colon, skin, and liver, in test-tube experiments.
Additionally, research on mice has demonstrated that cordyceps can treat lung cancer, melanoma, and lymphoma with anti-tumor properties.
Additionally, cordyceps has the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of numerous cancer treatments. Leukopenia is one of these adverse consequences.
Leukopenia, which should not be confused with malignant leukemia, is a disorder where the body's white blood cell (leukocyte) count falls, reducing immunity and raising the risk of infection.
In one study, mice that acquired leukopenia following radiation therapy and treatments with the conventional chemotherapy medication Taxol were used to evaluate the effects of Cordyceps.
It's interesting to note that Cordyceps stopped the leukemia. These findings imply that the fungi might help lower side effects related to some cancer therapies.
It's crucial to remember that test tubes and animals, not people, were used in these investigations.
Health professionals are unable to make any judgments at this time regarding Cordyceps' impact on leukopenia and tumor growth in humans.
Studies conducted on animals and in test tubes indicate that cordyceps may be able to treat cancer and some of its adverse effects. Further research is necessary because these effects have not been demonstrated in humans.
Potentially Aid in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes
A unique kind of sugar found in cordyceps may be used to treat diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition where the hormone insulin, which typically carries glucose into your cells for energy, is either not produced by the body or does not react to it.
Glucose cannot enter cells when the body does not create enough insulin or react to it appropriately; therefore, it remains in circulation. Excess blood glucose levels can lead to significant health issues over time.
Consequently, it's critical that diabetics maintain proper control over their blood sugar levels.
Interestingly, cordyceps may help maintain blood sugar levels within a healthy range by imitating the effects of insulin.
Cordyceps has been demonstrated to lower blood sugar levels in a number of experiments conducted on diabetic mice.
Based on specific findings, they might potentially offer protection against renal disease, which is a frequent consequence of diabetes.
An analysis of 22 trials, including 1,746 patients with chronic renal disease, found that supplementing with cordyceps enhanced kidney function.
These findings, however, are not definitive. According to the review's authors, many of the studies were of poor quality. Therefore, it was not possible to draw any conclusions about how Cordyceps affected renal function in people with chronic kidney disease.
People with uncontrolled diabetes frequently have persistently high blood sugar levels, which can have detrimental health repercussions. According to studies conducted on animals, cordyceps may one day be used to treat diabetes.
Potential Advantages for Cardiovascular Health
The advantages of the fungus are becoming more transparent as studies on Cordyceps' impact on heart health surface.
In fact, China has authorized the use of cordyceps in the management of arrhythmia, a disorder characterized by an irregular, fast, or too-slow heartbeat.
A study found that cordyceps drastically decreased heart damage in rats with chronic kidney illness. Reducing these injuries may help prevent heart failure, as cardiac damage resulting from chronic renal illness is believed to increase the risk of heart failure (33Trusted Source).
The researchers attributed these results to Cordyceps's adenosine concentration. Adenosine is a naturally occurring substance with heart-protective properties.
Additionally, cordyceps might be suitable for cholesterol levels.
Cordyceps reduce "bad" LDL cholesterol, according to a study on animals.
LDL causes a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, which increases your risk of heart disease.
In a similar vein, Cordyceps has been demonstrated to lower mice's triglyceride levels.
Your blood contains a form of fat called triglycerides. Elevated levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiac problems.
Regretfully, there is not enough data to say whether cordyceps are suitable for human heart health.
Cordyceps may be beneficial for heart health. They lower triglyceride and "bad" LDL cholesterol levels and can help avoid arrhythmias.
Possibility of Reducing Inflammation
Cordyceps is believed to aid in the body's battle against inflammation.
While some inflammation is beneficial, excessive amounts can cause conditions like cancer and heart disease.
Studies reveal that specific proteins that cause the body to become more inflammatory are reduced when human cells are exposed to Cordyceps.
Because of these possible benefits, scientists think cordyceps could be a helpful anti-inflammatory medication or supplement.
Indeed, cordyceps have been demonstrated to lessen inflammation in mice's airways, suggesting that they may be used as asthma treatments. However, compared to regularly prescribed medications, which are meant to relieve inflammatory regions of the body, the fungus seems less effective (43Trusted Source).
Moreover, cordyceps may be applied topically. Its anti-inflammatory qualities were further demonstrated by a study that indicated that applying it topically to rats decreased skin inflammation (44Trusted Source).
We have not yet seen any evidence of Cordyceps' possible ability to reduce inflammation in humans.
Other Benefits
Triterpenoids
Triterpenoids are abundant in Chaga, as they are in other polypores like reishi. Numerous health benefits of these chemicals have been demonstrated, especially for immunological function. In Chaga, these are primarily betulinic acid, gametogenic acid, and inotodiol. The most significant is iotodiol, which has been demonstrated to strengthen immunity and act as an antioxidant.
Although betulinic acid and its precursor betulin are found in Chaga, the Birch tree is the actual producer of these compounds. These substances are potent antioxidants that support the immune system and aid with digestive problems.
Sterols
These are a different class of triterpenoids with intriguing bioactivity that are frequently present in fungus. Ergosterol is a sterol that has been shown to be very significant since it has anticancer and immune-supporting qualities. Precursor of vitamin D, as well. Chaga contains lanosterol as well, which is a precursor molecule used in the production of several steroids.
Chaga's Phenols and Antioxidant Properties
Chaga is widely recognized for its potent antioxidant qualities and is sometimes referred to as possessing over 1000 times the antioxidant content of blueberries. Although many studies have demonstrated that chaga has a high antioxidant content, new research indicates that these results may not fully capture the antioxidative potential of this fungus. The phenols found in the fungus are primarily responsible for this high antioxidant concentration.
Significant amounts of melanin, a polyphenol-rich substance, are present in Chaga. It creates this color on the canker's outside, probably to shield it from the long summer days in northern latitudes. It has been demonstrated that melanin has potent antioxidant qualities and is usually good for your health.
Beta-Glucans
Beta-glucans are also present in chaga, as they are in many other prevalent therapeutic mushrooms. They are recognized to have immune-boosting and anticancer qualities. As may be expected, given that chaga is primarily composed of woody plant elements, it has a substantially lower beta-glucan content than other "mushrooms."
References
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92758/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8854946/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4371127/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8874668/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12831777/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12413710/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4371127/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4371127/