Cordyceps – 1 lb (454 g)

Cordyceps, known in Chinese as 冬虫夏草 (Dōngchóngxiàcǎo) and scientifically as Cordyceps, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Cordyceps carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Cordyceps helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Cordyceps provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Cordyceps has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Cordyceps, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Chongcao or Dongchongcao. It is the complex of stromata and larval bodies of the fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc., a member of the Clavicipitaceae family, parasitic on the larvae of insects in the family Hepialidae. It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Qinghai, Tibet, Yunnan, Gansu, and other regions. The stromata are harvested in summer before spores are dispersed, then dried to about 60-70% dryness, with fibrous attachments and impurities removed, and finally sun-dried or low-temperature oven-dried.

[Properties] Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Enters the Lung and Kidney meridians.

[Actions] Tonifies the Kidney and benefits the Lung, stabilizes the exterior and stops sweating.

[Applications]
1. Used for Kidney Yang deficiency and depletion of essence and blood causing impotence, seminal emission, soreness and weakness of the lumbar region and knees. Taken alone soaked in wine or combined with Cuscuta (Tusizi), Tribulus (Tongjili), Morinda (Bajitian), and others.
2. Used for chronic cough with deficiency asthma, consumptive cough with blood-streaked sputum. For Lung and Kidney deficiency with persistent cough and asthma, characterized by prolonged exhalation and short inhalation, often combined with Ginseng and Walnut kernel; for Lung Yin deficiency with consumptive cough and blood-streaked sputum, often combined with Ejiao, Ophiopogon (Maidong), and Fritillaria (Chuanbeimu).
3. Used for spontaneous sweating and night sweating. For Yang deficiency with unremitting spontaneous sweating, can be taken regularly as a food or combined with raw Astragalus, Ginseng, Atractylodes (Baizhu); for Yin deficiency night sweating, combined with Rehmannia (Shengdihuang, Shudihuang), and Astragalus.

[Dosage and Administration] Oral administration: decoct 3–9 g; or used in pills or powders; or stewed with chicken or duck.

[Cautions] Use with caution in cases with exterior pathogenic factors.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical Constituents: Cordyceps contains crude protein, mostly essential amino acids for humans; also contains fats including saturated fatty acids; cordycepic acid; vitamins; niacin; nicotinamide; ergosterol; uracil; adenine; adenosine; and various trace elements.
2. Pharmacological Effects: Cordyceps enhances humoral immune function; exhibits androgen-like effects, regulating sexual dysfunction to normal; water extracts increase NK cell activity in vitro in normal and leukemia patients; aqueous extracts slow heart rate but significantly increase cardiac output and lower blood pressure; stimulate respiratory reflexes; alcohol extracts counteract arrhythmias induced by aconitine and potassium chloride, and those caused by convallatoxin; improve hypoxia tolerance; decoctions of Cordyceps and its fungus have significant bronchodilatory effects, increase tracheal phenol red excretion indicating expectorant effects; also have sedative, antipyretic, and anticonvulsant actions.
3. Clinical Reports:
1) Hepatitis B: Cordyceps capsules (each containing 0.25 g mycelium), oral administration 3 times daily, 5 capsules per day, for 3 months per course. In 33 cases (including 8 with cirrhosis), the effective rate for improving liver function was 78.56%. [Chinese Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 1990,(1):53]
2) Hypertension: Artificial Cordyceps mycelium capsules, 4 capsules (250 mg each) 3 times daily for 30 days, treating 16 cases, total effective rate 62.5%. [Shandong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1990,(5):19]
3) Hyperlipidemia: Artificial Cordyceps capsules 1 g per dose, 3 times daily for 1–2 months, 273 cases treated. Results: total cholesterol reduction effective rate 61.2%, triglycerides reduction 56.7%, HDL cholesterol increase 76.2%. [Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 1985,(11):652]
4) Malignant Tumors: Cordyceps capsules 1.5 g per dose, 3 times daily for 2 months as adjunct therapy in 30 patients; 28 showed clinical symptom improvement. [Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1986,(10):25]
5) Tinnitus: Cordyceps granules, 1 packet (6 g raw herb) 3 times daily for 1 week per course, continuous use for 4 weeks; 23 cases observed with good efficacy. [Fujian Medical Journal, 1985,(6):42]