Cordyceps - Cordyceps militaris
Cordyceps is a genus of fungi long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Cordyceps militaris is the one most people use as medicine. It is an adaptogen, a substance which helps the body in a more general way than a very narrow way. It can help with general well-being, exercise recovery, support the functioning of the body’s systems, and promote healing.
It is antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antifatigue, hepatoprotective, renal protective, antitumor, antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and good for sexual functioning.1 Some studies have shown that it results in faster recovery from mild to moderate Covid-19 infections, but more data is needed.2
Dosing: Tincture 1 ml once or twice per day. About 25 drops per ml.
Possible side effects: This fungus is generally considered safe. Gastrointestinal upset or allergy are possible so start slowly.
Contraindications: Persons taking blood thinners or who are diabetic should consult their physician.
Disclaimer: I am not a physician and cannot diagnose or treat diseases. This information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes.
This1 cited paper provides information on the uses of cordyceps and contains many links to other relevant studies.
1 Lin B, Li S. Cordyceps as an Herbal Drug. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 5. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92758/
2 Dubhashi S, Sinha S, Dwivedi S, Ghanekar J, Kadam S, Samant P, Datta V, Singh S, Chaudry IH, Gurmet P, Kelkar H, Mishra R, Galwankar S, Agrawal A. Early Trends to Show the Efficacy of Cordyceps militaris in Mild to Moderate COVID Inflammation. Cureus. 2023 Aug 18;15(8):e43731. doi: 10.7759/cureus.43731. PMID: 37727187; PMCID: PMC10505833.