CORDYCEPS Mushroom Powder | Cordyceps militaris

Prized for their natural ability to fight free radicals, infections and inflammation, these are impressive disease-fighting mushrooms that have been used for centuries to reduce symptoms of respiratory disorders, coughs, colds, liver damage and much more. As a true ‘superfood’, Cordyceps mushroom can slow the effects of aging and stress, help keep the body free from disease and boost energy levels to keep you going all day long.

 

Cordyceps is sometimes called the Caterpillar Fungus. It’s parasitic in nature because it grows on a type of caterpillar and then eats its own host.

 

The base of the mushroom forms from the insect’s larva and is dark brown to black, attaching itself to the organism and growing about 15cm long. Once it fully matures, it has consumes more than 90% of the host insect. These then swell up and enlarge to become about 300mg - 500mg in weight.

 

The first people to discover the many benefits of Vordyceps initially observed animals eating the wild fungus and growing strong in the process. Farmers and herders began to use the mushroom in powder form to make tonics and teas.

 

Some of the first uses for these tonics were increasing milk production and improving reproductive capacity of livestock. Later on, people began drying Cordyceps in sunlight to preserve their potent benefits.

 

It’s believed that the many anti-inflammatory benefits of Cordyceps stem from their ability to positively affect the immune system, fighting oxidative stress and stimulating protective cells that keep the body free from mutations and infections. Cordyceps enhance immunity and optimise health. They can also help control autoimmune disorders, minimise excessive inflammation and prevent tissue damage while speeding up healing time.

 

Cordyceps can also act as mild stimulants or 'adaptogenic herbs' fighting stress and fatigue while also naturally increasing energy levels.

For many decades, Cordyceps mushrooms were difficult to obtain, expensive and not widely used. Today, wild Cordyceps are still not easy to come by, but luckily Mycologists have figured out how to produce them in the lab, making them much more widely available. Another advantage of growing controlled species of Cordyceps is being able to control contamination, such as harmful bacteria and heavy metals.

 

Cordyceps  powder are most often added to beverages like tea, coffee, smoothies and shakes, but with a little creativity, the potential Cordyceps uses are limitless.

 

Cordyceps dosage depends on the reason they are being used, but most studies in humans have used 1g - 3g  per day, which doesn’t seem to be associated with any common side effects.

 

You don’t necessarily need to take them every day if you’re only trying to prevent future illnesses and boost your immune system. In that case, once or twice a week with a lower dose works well.

 

You can make your own Cordyceps Cinnamon Vanilla Latte at home with just 7 ingredients.

 

Ingredients

 

90ml hot water

150ml steamed Coconut milk

1 tablespoon Coconut oil

1 teaspoon Cordyceps mushroom powder

1/4 tsp teaspoon Cinnamon powder, plus more for topping

1 teaspoon Collagen powder

1/2 teaspoon Ashwagandha powder

 

You’re probably wondering why Vanilla is missing from the ingredients list. That’s because this recipe doesn’t call for any added vanilla. It naturally has a great Vanilla taste to it. 

 

You can garnish your mushroom latte. Freshly grated nutmeg, a slice of ginger or  ground cardamom pods are great flavor boosters.

 

Cordyceps are considered a time honored superfood that first originated in Traditional Chinese Medicine at least 5,000 years ago. Their medicinal uses were described in old Chinese medical books, and traditional holistic healers have been using them to treat dozens of diseases without the use of chemical medications for generations.

 

Local folk healers were said to use Cordyceps either alone or in combination with other herbal treatments to fight more than 20 different ailments, ranging from bronchitis to heart disease.

 

Cordyceps and other medicinal plants have long been used in Chinese, Christian and Hindu religious ceremonies and are believed to be linked to longevity and immortality. In Ayurvedic medicine, for example, mushrooms are said to be beneficial for enhancing vigor and vitality.

 

Traditional healers in Sikkim recommended medicinal mushrooms ‘for all illnesses as a tonic, because they claimed that it improved energy, appetite, stamina, libido, endurance, and sleeping patterns.’

 

Medicinal mushrooms have been used for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of ailments. Cordyceps mushrooms, in particular, have an extensive history in some parts of Asia and have long been used medicinally in these areas.

 

The name ‘Cordyceps’ comes from the Latin words ‘cord’ meaning ‘club’ and ‘ceps’ meaning ‘head’. Cordyceps is the name of a genus of fungi, but there are an estimated 400 species within the genus.

 

Some of the most notable species include Cordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps ophioglossoides.

 

Although they have long been known for its healing effects in many forms of traditional medicine, recent research has begun to confirm the health promoting properties of these powerful mushrooms.

 

The Cordyceps mushroom is loaded with a wide array of anti-oxidants, enzymes and vitamins that contribute to its healing effects. Some of the compounds that have been identified in the Cordyceps nutrition profile include:

 

Cordycepin

Cordycepic Acid

N-Acetylgalactosamine

Adenosine

Ergosterol and Ergosteryl Esters

Bioxanthracenes

Hypoxanthine

Acid Deoxyribonuclease

Superoxide Dismutase

Protease

Dipicolinic Acid

Lectin

 

Cordyceps are considered safe for most people, but there are some potential  side effects and interactions to be aware of, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking certain medications.

 

If you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, it’s best to steer clear of taking Cordyceps or check with your Doctor before using.

 

For anyone with a known autoimmune disease, such as Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis or Multiple Sclerosis, some Doctors warn that Cordyceps might worsen the problem. Because they stimulate the immune system, Cordyceps may interfere with medications for these diseases or over-activate certain immune cells, so talk to your Doctor before taking them.

 

The same warning goes for anyone with a known bleeding or blood clot disorder since medical mushrooms can sometimes interfere with proper blood clotting. You also should not take Cordyceps two weeks before any scheduled surgery, due to the influence on blood clotting.