This is our BULK DISCOUNTED 25 lb plastic-lined cardboard bulk pack. We also have this herb in our 10 lb bulk pack, and in 1 lb bottles and capsules. To find the other pack sizes, just copy and paste the herb name into our Search.

We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. We offer both bulk powder and capsules. Obviously our bulk bottles are bulk powder, not capsules, but the capsule weight is included to give you a way of judging the recommended dosage.

Cordyceps Mushroom - Standardized Extract -- Approximately 600 mg. each capsule. 1/2 teaspoon of powder is about equal to one capsule. Powder can be consumed by sprinkling it over your food or mixing it with a syrup such as maple or chocolate. You could also mix it with orange juice. The citric acid in the orange juice will help to mask any unpleasant powder tastes.

Other common names: Deer Fungus, Caterpillar Fungus, Dong Chong Xia Cao (Summer Grass/Winter Worm or Summer herb/Winter bug), Vegetable Caterpillar, Semitake

Used exclusively in the Emperor's palace of ancient China, Cordyceps Mushroom has been employed as an aphrodisiac and therapy for impotence. Ancient records claimed that it was beneficial for the heart, circulatory system, liver, kidneys, respiratory system and sex organs, and modern research claims that it can be used to strengthen the immune system of those who are debilitated or have undergone surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Athletes are said to particularly favor its energy-boosting and endurance-enhancing properties, and its many qualities have earned Cordyceps a reputation as a "Cure-All."

History:
Cordyceps Mushroom is a plant that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to restore energy, promote longevity, stimulate the immune system and to improve quality of life. Cordyceps literally means "winter worm, summer grass," when translated from the Chinese Dong Chong Xia Cao. It is an antlered fungus that grows in insect larvae, usually before the insect's cocoon is formed, thereby earning one of its common names, Deer Fungus.

The mushroom has a short, sticklike appearance with a fat, round, yellow-white cross section and is gathered in the early summer for use in herbal medicine. It is naturally found in mountainous areas of China, Tibet and Nepal at very high elevations where there is good drainage.

Cordyceps Mushroom is said to be a native of China, and may also be found in Japan and the Atlantic seaboard of the United States, but it is very difficult to collect from the wild and is, therefore, usually grown in laboratories in tissue cultures. In ancient China, the scarcity of Cordyceps kept it in the exclusive domain of the Emperor, and it has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat kidney problems, cancer, high cholesterol and ringing in the ears. It has also been called an aphrodisiac and therapy for impotence.

In 1957, the chemical constituent of Cordyceps was determined, and a crystalline substance was isolated and named Cordyceps acid, which was later identified to be D-mannitol by Sprecher and Sprinson. Further studies were performed to determine additional constituents, but no new structures with significant pharmacological effects were found. Chemical substances in Cordyceps include protein, amino acids, D-mannitol, galactomannin, mycose, ergosterol, uracil, adrenine, adenosine, cholesterol palmitate and Fatty acids: oleic, linoleic and stearic acid.

Beneficial Uses:
Cordyceps Mushroom may be very helpful in boosting the body's defenses against infection. The herb appears to delay the diffusion and division of infected cells. It is also thought to prolong the survival of lymphocytes (white blood cells that help the body fight infection), enhance TNF-alpha and Interleukin-1 production, and increase the activity of the immune system's crucial T-cells and macrophages, the immune cells that surround, digest and destroy foreign materials and invaders that cause serious malignant disease. Other reported effects have included the inhibition of production of DNA and RNA synthesis in cancer cells ( Plageman and Erabe, 1971).

Further supporting the immune system, Cordyceps Mushroom is said to strengthen the immune systems of those who have undergone surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. It is also believed to help people convalescing from long-term illnesses or suffering from exhaustion and debilitation.

Cordyceps Mushroom is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to restore balance between the lungs and the kidneys. It is said to contain inhibitor substances that attack damaged lung cells and may slow down the degeneration of the lungs and open up the bronchioles to produce greater oxygenization. It is often used to slow the progress of lung degeneration in ailments such as bronchitis and emphysema.

Athletes favor Cordyceps and claim it enhances energy levels and increases endurance and stamina. Interestingly, at the 1993 Chinese National Games, the women’s team broke world running records, and it was discovered that the team had been given a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) cocktail that included Cordyceps Mushroom. Several studies have since been done to provide evidence for the effects of the fungi on human performance, and one study, published in the Sports & Exercise Journal, concluded that a compound in the fungus supports normal fat mobilization and beta-oxidation, thereby preserving glycogen usage during prolonged exercise.

In another study, led by Morrissey in Beijing University, blood samples taken before, during and after exercise from human males, those that were given the highest levels of a formula containing Cordyceps improved lactate clearance due to improved lactate energy metabolism within the cell. The author concluded that the Cordyceps herbal formulation would enhance lactate clearance and allow athletes greater anaerobic performance.

With respect to good heart health, Cordyceps is said to promote the heart's strength, while slowing the pulse. It is also thought that the adenosine and other related nucleosides raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol) levels, while lowering total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) levels. This action is believed to inhibit cholesterol plaques in the arteries (clotting), which helps to promote overall circulation and may reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis, stroke or heart attack. Adenosine also acts to dilate the coronary arteries, further leading to improved coronary function.

Cordyceps Mushroom has been considered helpful in relieving tinnitus that is caused by fluid accumulation in the inner ear, but not tinnitus associated with auditory nerve disorder.