The Scientific Evidence for the Health Benefits of Cordyceps

A stronger immune system, more energy, improved endurance, and better stamina … one ingredient promises all of that. Whether it’s as an extract, a pill, or powdered into your coffee, the cordyceps fungus is promoted as a one-stop-shop to cure what ails you. Known as Himalayan Gold because it is often farmed in the Himalayan plateaus, cordyceps has long been used in ancient Chinese and Tibetan medicine for curing diarrhea, headache, cough, rheumatism, liver disease, kidney disease, and much more. But is it too good to be true? 

What is Cordyceps?

As we discussed in a previous episode, the cordyceps fungus grows like a parasite out of the brains of insects and spiders. The fungus takes over the bodies and brains of its victims forcing their zombified bodies to permanently relocate to the trees and low-lying jungle plants where the conditions are ideal for the fungus to thrive. 

The cordyceps fungus takes over the bodies and brains of its victims forcing their zombified bodies to permanently relocate to the trees and low-lying jungle plants where the conditions are ideal for the fungus to thrive.

There are around 400 different species of cordyceps and many different biologically active compounds, but those most commonly used in medicine tend to be cordyceps sinesis and cordyceps militaris. A jar of 90 capsules will run you around $20, but if you want your dose straight from the source, a single dried wild Himalyana cordyceps sinsensis can cost $10 or more. 

Cordyceps May Fight Muscle Fatigue

The species cordyceps militaris has been found to have anti-fatigue effects in mice. In one study, mice were given forced swimming and forced running tests. The mice treated with cordyceps had increased ATP levels. (ATP, which stands for adenosine triphosphate, is a chemical that provides energy to our cells for things like muscle contraction.) The treated mice also had lower levels of lactic acid relative to untreated mice. But more research is needed to understand whether humans would see similar results.

Multiple studies...

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