Cordyceps: Herbal fungi
Photo from:http://www.chinese-herbs.org/cordyceps/
Cordyceps sinensis, or Dong Chong Xia Cao is yet another fantastic herb frequently used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas. It is known for strengthening the immune system, and can assist in controlling symptoms of allergic asthma. It also nourishes the Kidneys and Lungs, making it the ideal asthma supplement in a constitutional formula (which I have definitely found to be true). It can also enhance stamina and improve energy, and even help with sexual dysfunction for both men and women.
Did I mention that it’s something of a parasite? Or that it’s also called the Chinese caterpillar fungus?
It’s somewhat disturbing, but if you really want to see how it grows (out in nature- not in the controlled environments that are now used for our consumption), you can check out the Planet Earth cordyceps video. But keep in mind what an amazing herb this is while the ant is dying!
Here in Portland, ITM and Peoples Herbs have more information about how to buy this fantastic fungus. I’ve tried a few different capsules of the single herb, theirs is the best.
For more cordyceps and other medicinal fungi information, check out chineseherbs.org or pharmaceutical mushrooms.
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Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi (sac fungi) that includes about 400 described species. All Cordyceps species are endoparasitoids, mainly on insects and other arthropods (they are thus entomopathogenic fungi); a few are parasitic on other fungi. The best known species of the genus is Cordyceps sinensis, first recorded as yartsa gunbu in Tibet in the 15th Century . The Latin etymology describes cord as club, ceps as head, and sinensis as Chinese. Cordyceps sinensis, known in English commonly as caterpillar fungus is considered a medicinal mushroom in oriental medicines, such as Traditional Chinese Medicines and Traditional Tibetan medicine.