Cordyceps has been revered in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 1,400 years with its first noted use dating back to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty in AD 620. In the wild, Cordyceps’ fruiting body grows from the body of insects, usually caterpillars, as a parasitic fungus. Many thought of it as a magical lifeform with the ability to change from an animal to a plant[1]. It is said that Tibetan and Nepalese yak herders in the Himalayas first noted the effects of Cordyceps on their herds as they became more energised after grazing in areas in which it grew.
Cordyceps is a deep energy awakener. Traditionally, Cordyceps was used to restore vigour, prevent illness and promote longevity nourishing both the yin and the yang energies that reside in the kidneys storing the life essence Jing. By nourishing our Jing we help restore the primordial energy Qi that increases our cellular performance, physical resilience and vitality.
Today Cordyceps is coveted to not only restore foundational energy after times of physical exertion and fatigue, but also by athletes and active individuals looking to elevate their performance.
Cordyceps | Athletic Performance
Cordyceps is most notable for its energising effects due to its beta-d-glucans helping support blood flow and deliver oxygen to the body on a cellular level fuelling aerobic capacity and stamina. A 3-week 2016 study on healthy individuals supplementing Cordyceps Militaris showed an improvement in VO2 max, time till exhaustion and ventilatory threshold.[2]
Cordyceps has also been studied for its ability to support the production of the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP)[3]. ATP is our body’s main energy supply source and required to activate our muscles and keep us moving. When our ATP levels lower, our energy levels take a dip as well.
Benefits to anaerobic performance and reduction of muscle fatigue have also been demonstrated as a result of using Cordyceps. In 1998 a double-blind study was carried out at the Beijing Medical University Sports Research Institute finding the group given a formula containing Cordyceps experienced improved lactate clearance. Our bodies produce lactase, a form of lactic acid, during intense activity. Lactase build-up causes those symptoms we don’t want when we’re working out like cramps and muscle weakness.
Cordyceps | Sexual Energy
Used for thousands of years by the women and men of the East to support sexual energy, Cordyceps has been thought to increase libido and support hormonal balance while promoting the cultivation of life-force energy.
Research to support Cordyceps’ use as a libido tonic is still progressing. A 2016 study [4] into the use of Cordyceps for sexual dysfunction reported a 64.5% subjective improvement in the increased libido and sexual performance in men and women. Further in-vitro studies suggest that Cordyceps’ potential libido-enhancing effects may come from its hormone stimulatory and supportive actions in both men and women with a 2004[5] study laying the groundwork for further research in this area.
It takes two to tango, so feel free to share some Cordyceps with the one you love!
Cordyceps | Longevity
Traditionally revered to nourish the foundational energy that resides in our kidneys, Cordyceps has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to support overall body vitality and healthy ageing.
The process of ageing is taking place in our cells moment by moment with the body replacing old cells with new to combat the free radicals that occur as a result of a range of factors like stress, pollution, sun exposure, inflammatory foods and exhaustion. Cordyceps has been studied [6] for its ability to help combat the proliferation of free radicals through supporting the production of potent antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cell turn-over earning its place as an abundant anti-ageing adaptogen.
The Type of Cordyceps We Use
In the wild Cordyceps is not only rare and super expensive to source, it has a significant impact on the environment due to over-harvesting and can prove dangerous to those that seek it navigating wild terrain at high altitudes.
We use the one type of cultivated Cordyceps that produces a fruiting body and is completely vegan and insect free, Cordyceps Militaris. Cordyceps Militaris sees a much higher rate of the all-important beta-d-glucans compared to another popular type of cultivated Cordyceps, Cs-4, which is grown in liquid fermentation tanks.
We are one of the few companies that test our mushies for beta-D-glucans with the Megazyme testing method. As a result, we can guarantee that our Cordyceps extract contains greater than 30% beta-D-glucans so you can be confident your mushies are active and potent.
Inner Atlas Cordyceps
- Highly potent, containing greater than 30% beta-D-glucans.
- Certified USDA & EU Organic.
- Fruiting body only – 100% real mushrooms with no added fillers or mycelium.
- Lab-tested for purity.
[1] Choda, Ugyen. (2017). Medicinal Value of Cordyceps sinensis. Translational Biomedicine. 08. 10.21767/2172-0479.100132.
[2] Cordyceps Militaris improves tolerance to high-intensity exercise after acute and chronic supplementation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5236007/
[3] Enhancement of ATP generation capacity, antioxidant activity and immunomodulatory activities by Chinese Yang and Yin tonifying herbs https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1847515/
[4] Review of Naturopathy of Medical mushroom, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, in sexual Dysfunction http://www.phcogrev.com/article/2016/10/19/1041030973-7847176566
[5] Upregulation of Steroidogenic Enzymes and Ovarian 17β-Estradiol in Human Granulosa-Lutein Cells by Cordyceps sinensis Mycelium https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/article/70/5/1358/2712670
[6] Antiaging effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.2576
