Cordyceps?

chainsaw

Well-known member
There is a supplement company that adds this into their products and is supposed to have a good source or something like that. I have read that it is supposed to raise test, atp, and give all kind of good benefits. I have never seen a study, does anyone care to comment on this herb?
 
b_delgros said:
There is a supplement company that adds this into their products and is supposed to have a good source or something like that. I have read that it is supposed to raise test, atp, and give all kind of good benefits. I have never seen a study, does anyone care to comment on this herb?
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It's a mushroom. It is a good antioxidant. Evidence has shown that it lowers LDL, while elevating HDL.

I think I remember it correlating to energy/ATP.

As for test.... ya got me on that one.
 
I read it was fungus from a certain caterpillar.... and it is a veritable panacea. Needless to say I bought a bunch of bulk Cordyceps when I read that.... ... ding ding ding... here's a write up that I found while posting this.



Description-- Cordyceps is a Chinese mushroom used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for “lung protection” and “reproductive invigoration” as well as to balance the “Qi” – the fundamental “energy of life.” Cordyceps is also known as the Chinese caterpillar fungus (yuck!) because it is a parasitic organism that grows on a rare Tibetan caterpillar until the caterpillar dies and the mushroom sprouts from the caterpillar’s head (double yuck!!). Luckily, the source of cordyceps used in most modern supplements is not pulverized caterpillar heads, but a strain grown on soybeans or other less disgusting nutrient source.
Claims---
Relieves asthma
Increases lung function
Boosts libido and sexual function
Improves athletic performance

Theory--- Cordyceps could be the next Ginseng due to its reported effects on increasing energy levels, sex drive and athletic performance. You may remember mention of cordyceps in the news a few years ago when several Chinese athletes came from out of nowhere to break world records in swimming and running. It turns out that the athletes were following a supplementation regimen that included cordyceps. Although the pharmacologically active components of cordyceps remain unknown, at least two chemical constituents; cordycepin (deoxyadenosine) and cordycepic acid (mannitol) have been identified and suggested as being the active compounds in improving lung function and increasing energy levels and sex drive.

Scientific Support-- Although a number of studies have been conducted on cordyceps in China, relatively little information is available from U.S.-based scientists. A few animal studies have shown cordyceps feeding to increase the ratio of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to inorganic phosphate (Pi) in the liver by 45-55% - an effect that may be viewed as beneficial in terms of energy state and potential for performance enhancement. Furthermore, mice fed cordyceps and subjected to an extreme low oxygen environment, were able to utilize oxygen more efficiently (30-50% increase), better tolerate acidosis and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and live 2-3 times longer than a control group. A number of Chinese clinical studies, primarily in elderly patients with fatigue, cordyceps-treated patients reported significant improvements in their level of fatigue, ability to tolerate cold temperatures, memory and cognitive capacity and sex drive. Patients with respiratory diseases also reported feeling physically stronger. Overall, the efficacy rate for cordyceps in alleviating fatigue in elderly subjects was 80-90%. In addition to its effects on energy levels – possibly due to the adenosine content of cordyceps, the mushroom extract can also induce sex steroid-like effects (in mice) – which may account for the increased libido reported by elderly subjects in several studies. Recently, a small study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting (1999), showed that a cordyceps-based supplement (CordyMax, Pharmanex) significantly increases maximal oxygen uptake and anaerobic threshold, which may lead to improved exercise capacity and resistance to fatigue.

Safety--- Dietary supplements of Cordyceps sinensis are not associated with any significant side effects.
Value At about $25 for a 120 capsule bottle, cordyceps will cost you around a buck a day – not too bad for something that appears effective in alleviating fatigue and giving your libido a little nudge.


Dosage--- 2-4 grams per day of cordyceps sinensis has been associated with increased energy levels, reduced fatigue and an enhanced ability to use oxygen.

References-- 1. Bao TT, Wang GF, Yang JL. Pharmacological actions of Cordyceps sinensis. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih. 1988 Jun;8(6):352-4, 325-6. 2. Bok JW, Lermer L, Chilton J, Klingeman HG, Towers GH. Antitumor sterols from the mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis. Phytochemistry. 1999 Aug;51(7):891-8. 3. Bucci LR. Selected herbals and human exercise performance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Aug;72(2 Suppl):624S-36S. 4. Chiou WF, Chang PC, Chou CJ, Chen CF. Protein constituent contributes to the hypotensive and vasorelaxant activities of Cordyceps sinensis. Life Sci. 2000 Feb 25;66(14):1369-76. 5. Kaczka EA, Trenner NR, Arison B, Walker RW, Folkers K. Identification of cordycepin, a metabolite of Cordyceps militaris, as 3'-deoxyadenosine. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1964;14:456-7. 6. Kuo YC, Tsai WJ, Shiao MS, Chen CF, Lin CY. Cordyceps sinensis as an immunomodulatory agent. Am J Chin Med. 1996;24(2):111-25. 7. Manabe N, Azuma Y, Sugimoto M, Uchio K, Miyamoto M, Taketomo N, Tsuchita H, Miyamoto H. Effects of the mycelial extract of cultured Cordyceps sinensis on in vivo hepatic energy metabolism and blood flow in dietary hypoferric anaemic mice. Br J Nutr. 2000 Feb;83(2):197-204. 8. Manabe N, Sugimoto M, Azuma Y, Taketomo N, Yama****a A, Tsuboi H, Tsunoo A, Kinjo N, Nian-Lai H, Miyamoto H. Effects of the mycelial extract of cultured Cordyceps sinensis on in vivo hepatic energy metabolism in the mouse. Jpn J Pharmacol. 1996 Jan;70(1):85-8. 9. Wang SM, Lee LJ, Lin WW, Chang CM. Effects of a water-soluble extract of Cordyceps sinensis on steroidogenesis and capsular morphology of lipid droplets in cultured rat adrenocortical cells. J Cell Biochem. 1998 Jun 15;69(4):483-9. 10. Xu WH. Water-soluble constituents of Cordyceps sinenses (Berk.) Sacc.--the nucleosides. Chung Yao Tung Pao. 1988 Apr;13(4):34-6, 63. 11. Zhang SS, Zhang DS, Zhu TJ, Chen XY. A pharmacological analysis of the amino acid components of Cordyceps sinensis Sacc. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao. 1991;26(5):326-30. 12. Zhao-Long W, Xiao-Xia W, Wei-Ying C. Inhibitory effect of Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris on human glomerular mesangial cell proliferation induced by native LDL. Cell Biochem Funct. 2000 Jun;18(2):93-7. 13. Zhu JS, Halpern GM, Jones K. The scientific rediscovery of a precious ancient Chinese herbal regimen: Cordyceps sinensis: part II. J Altern Complement Med. 1998 Winter;4(4):429-57. 14. Zhu JS, Halpern GM, Jones K. The scientific rediscovery of an ancient Chinese herbal medicine: Cordycep
 
There are some millenium sports products with that in it. They seem to have some good stuff. I tested their citruvol and kreaceps. Both good products with cordyceps in it
 
Many years ago Muscle Media 2000 did a article on cordyceps.I think they were looking at it's stimulating effects as a pre workout supplement.Can't recall anything about it's ability to raise test levels though?
 
Here is the article I was reffering to about Cordyceps raising test levels, I got if from BN.

Cordyceps sinensis is an herb that has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine. A fungus that grows on caterpillar larvae, cordyceps is traditionally used to improve reproductive function, prevent fatigue, and prevent aging [1, 2]. Studies indicate that it modulates immune response, inhibits tumor growth, decreases blood pressure, improves the bioenergy status of the liver, and enhances reproductive function [3]. It has a variety of active ingredients, including some unique polysaccharides, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, nonhormonal sterols, trace elements, flavones, 2'-deoxyadenosine, and cordycepin [2-3]. Cordyceps is an adaptogen that may be useful in increasing endurance, improving general health, and increasing testosterone levels. This article will examine some of the more well known pharmacological activities of cordyceps.

Like other adaptogens, cordyceps may both decrease fatigue and increase physical endurance. When administered to mice, cordyceps increases swimming endurance capacity from 75 minutes to 90 minutes, and when given to rats, cordyceps prevents the weight changes of various glands during a period of chronic stress as well as preventing other biochemical stress markers [4]. In double-blind, placebo controlled trials in humans, cordyceps has significantly improved aerobic capacity in healthy elderly volunteers in cycling ergometer tests and significantly increased maximal oxygen intake and total ventilation capacity during incremental work-rate cycling [2, 5]. In another 6 week trial, cordyceps decreased basal glucose, blood lactic acid, and respiratory exchange ratio during prolonged submaximal exercise in healthy volunteers, indicating improved glucose metabolism and increased lipid oxidation during exercise [2, 5]. Cordyceps also facilitates the adaption to hypoxic (low-oxygen) environments in mice [2].

Cordyceps may also increase testosterone levels, and this effect has been seen in multiple in vitro studies [1, 3, 6]. This effect was also recently seen in vivo in mice with low testosterone production, in which cordyceps increased plasma testosterone levels by approximately 170% [1]. It is hypothesized that the testosterone increase is due to polysaccharides and/or glycoproteins in cordyceps that are similar to LH in structure and bind to LH receptors, stimulating testosterone production [1].

There is a wide body of evidence showing that cordyceps both acts as an antioxidant and directly modulates the immune system [7]. Administration of cordyceps to humans has been reported to increase superoxide dismutase activity by 54% [2]. In animal studies, cordyceps decreases lipid peroxides and inhibits the development of atherosclerosis caused by oxidative stress [8, 9] and decreases levels of LDL cholesterol [8, 10]. In addition to these cardiovascular benefits, coryceps decreases blood pressure by increasing levels of nitric oxide, and for this reason it may be helpful both for those with hypertension and for those with erectile dysfunction [11, 12].

Improved insulin sensitivity due to cordyceps has been demonstrated in both normal rats and humans [2, 5]. These effects are presumably mediated by the polysaccharide fraction of cordyceps, and multiple polysaccharides from cordyceps which reduce blood sugar in diabetic mice have been identified [13-15]. It should be noted that cordyceps should be used with caution by those with low blood sugar.

There are a number of other uses for cordyceps, such as cancer prevention, increasing liver and kidney health, and treatment of airway inflammation and autoimmune diseases. A number of sterols that inhibit tumor growth have been identified in cordyceps [16]. According to the results of an open trial with 36 patients with advanced cancer, cordyceps offered some benefits such as improved immunological function and quality of life [17], but this effect has yet to be guaged in a controlled trial. However, cordyceps inhibits the proliferation of both leukemia and and lung cancer in vitro [18, 19]. In addition to improving the bioenergy status of the liver [2], cordyceps has shown promise in treating hepatitis B in humans [20] and inhibiting hepatic fibrosis in rats [21]. Finally, cordyceps can be used to treat lung and bronchial inflammation and asthma due to immunomodulatory effects [22].

1 gram daily is an effective dose, although 1-3 grams daily is commonly used and some sources recommend using as much as 10 grams daily (especially for the treatment of specific conditions).
 
CHAPS said:
Ubi you notice any effects? And what dosage are you running?
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I used it a while back at about 2g's. I was mixing it in with drinks.. needless to say it turned me off as it's quite disgusting. I had purchased a nice amount of it in bulk powder right around the time I got burnt on capping my supps. I keep telling myself I'll make all these megablends for UbiBrands Supps... but It is just too damn tedious.

I do remember feeling more virile using it, if that means anything. I'm pretty sure I used it for a shorty post cycle therapy once too.
 
Ya i can't imagine dried powdered mushrooms tasting nice, the only mushrooms i used to eat tasted like old feet, but we won't go there, lol
 
I usually post over a bb dot com, but visit this forum frequently. I wanted to state that I ran a log over there on a cordyceps product and had great results with it. It is made by millinieum sports - Kreaceps/citruvol, The guy who runs it is always sending out free samples so check in the company promotion section.
 
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