Aphrodisiacs and sexual potentiators have been all the rage since Viagra was introduced in 1998, and believers in natural remedies have been looking for herbal alternatives. The traditional Chinese 'herb' of choice for this purpose is called Cordyceps sinensis.
Naturally occurring only at high altitudes in Tibet and China, Cordyceps sinensis has none-the-less been collected as a medicinal mushroom since time immemorial. With our modern-day globalization of trade and information, this minute fungus from remote mountain areas of China is now miraculously becoming popular also in the West.
Since around the dawn of our age, Chinese physicians have prescribed Cordyceps as an aphrodisiac and general vitalizing tonic. The first reference to Cordyceps as a medicinal fungus occurred around 200 A.D. in a book titled, The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman.
The normal life cycle of the "Caterpillar fungus" (Cordyceps sinensis) consists of parasitizing on non-vital tissue of the silk-worm caterpillar. In the end, it overwhelms its host (the caterpillar), kills it, and sprouts out of the dead carcass. That doesn't sound like anything you would want to put in your mouth, does it? Well, have no fear. With modern technology, Cordyceps sinensis mycelium can now be grown on a bed of rice medium. The extract of the fungus grown in this way contains the same compounds as wild harvested specimens. An additional perk is that it is much less likely to contain any traces of other types of fungi, bacteria, or heavy metals.
A Chinese study on Cordyceps sinensis, predating the 1998 release of Viagra by 13 years, found a 64% improvement in men with sexual dysfunction when they consumed 1 g of Cordyceps per day. (1)
There are three likely contributing factors why Cordyceps sinensis appears to have an effect on sexual dysfunction:
- Cordyceps sinensis has been shown to improve physical vitality and stamina in general. (2,3,4) In 1993, a group of nine Chinese women set world records at the Chinese National Games. When asked about the secret to their success, they attributed it to their use of Cordyceps. (5,6)
- Cordyceps sinensis helps dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow (7,8), which is certainly an important factor in erectile function.
- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there have been two research papers published that concluded that Cordyceps extract "significantly increased" testosterone levels in males. (9,10)
Note: Never use an herb for medicinal purposes without talking to your licensed health care provider. This article is intended to provide information only. It is not intended to prescribe or advice the use of any substance. - 14130
Naturally occurring only at high altitudes in Tibet and China, Cordyceps sinensis has none-the-less been collected as a medicinal mushroom since time immemorial. With our modern-day globalization of trade and information, this minute fungus from remote mountain areas of China is now miraculously becoming popular also in the West.
Since around the dawn of our age, Chinese physicians have prescribed Cordyceps as an aphrodisiac and general vitalizing tonic. The first reference to Cordyceps as a medicinal fungus occurred around 200 A.D. in a book titled, The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman.
The normal life cycle of the "Caterpillar fungus" (Cordyceps sinensis) consists of parasitizing on non-vital tissue of the silk-worm caterpillar. In the end, it overwhelms its host (the caterpillar), kills it, and sprouts out of the dead carcass. That doesn't sound like anything you would want to put in your mouth, does it? Well, have no fear. With modern technology, Cordyceps sinensis mycelium can now be grown on a bed of rice medium. The extract of the fungus grown in this way contains the same compounds as wild harvested specimens. An additional perk is that it is much less likely to contain any traces of other types of fungi, bacteria, or heavy metals.
A Chinese study on Cordyceps sinensis, predating the 1998 release of Viagra by 13 years, found a 64% improvement in men with sexual dysfunction when they consumed 1 g of Cordyceps per day. (1)
There are three likely contributing factors why Cordyceps sinensis appears to have an effect on sexual dysfunction:
- Cordyceps sinensis has been shown to improve physical vitality and stamina in general. (2,3,4) In 1993, a group of nine Chinese women set world records at the Chinese National Games. When asked about the secret to their success, they attributed it to their use of Cordyceps. (5,6)
- Cordyceps sinensis helps dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow (7,8), which is certainly an important factor in erectile function.
- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there have been two research papers published that concluded that Cordyceps extract "significantly increased" testosterone levels in males. (9,10)
Note: Never use an herb for medicinal purposes without talking to your licensed health care provider. This article is intended to provide information only. It is not intended to prescribe or advice the use of any substance. - 14130
About the Author:
About the writer: Dr. Markho Rafael has worked with natural health products since 1995, as a researcher and writer specializing in mycomedicinals. Click Cordyceps sinensis extract for mycomedicinals and free articles, or to request a unique version of this article for your own web-site or magazine. Cordyceps Article References A special thank you to Paul Stamets for reference material!
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