- Chinese Name Dong Chong Xia Cao 冬虫夏草
- Latin Name Cordyceps sinensis (Berk) Sacc
- Other Names Chinese Caterpillar Fungus, Cordyceps Cs-4, “Winter worm, summer grass”, Ophiocordyceps sinensis,
- Used Part Fruit Bodies / CS-4
- Specification Powdered Extract; Polysaccharides
Cordyceps Mushroom Extract Powder
Description
Cordyceps is one of the absolute superstars of the Chinese tonic herbal system. It is an extremely effective and powerful life-enhancing agent, ranking right up there with Ginseng, Reishi and Deer Antler. Because it is rare, potent and highly treasured, like Deer Antler, it is very expensive. This rare and precious herb is considered to be a moderately Yang primal essence (Jing) tonic of the highest stature. It is a mushroom that consumes the body of a particular kind of caterpillar in mountainous regions of China, Mongolia and Tibet. It has enormous renown as a supersonic, and is said to build sexual and physical power, mental energy, the immune system and is universally believed in the Orient to prolong life.
Cordyceps is used to strengthen the body and mind at a fundamental level. It is said to be able to increase the “primary motive force for life activities.” Because it contains both Yin and Yang it can be used by anyone safely and over a long period of time. It replenishes Yin Jing, restoring the deep energy expended as a result of excessive exertion, adapting to stress or from aging. Cordyceps is thus one of the primary herbal substances used in tonic herbalism as an anti-aging agent and for the purposes of rejuvenation.
Cordyceps is very widely used for the purposes of strengthening the primal Kidney functions, which include sexual functions, brain power, structural integrity and healing ability. It is a very powerful Yang tonic. As a sexual tonic, Cordyceps is considered to be one of the best. It is not as quick acting as the best of the Yang tonics like Deer Antler, Epimedium and Sea Dragon, but it has a profound long range strengthening capacity. It is commonly used for impotence, sexual malaise, frigidity and infertility.
Consistent use of Cordyceps helps to strengthen the skeletal structure, and specifically benefits the lower back region, the knees and ankles. It is used for backache due to injury, fatigue, stress or simple aging.
Cordyceps is also a major Lung tonic. It can be used to strengthen respiratory power in those who require extra energy in order to perform physical work (e.g. labor, sports or exercise) or it can be used by those who suffer from deficiency of Lung power. It is especially beneficial to those who suffer chronic Lung weakness with cough, wheezing or shortness of breath.
Cordyceps is considered in Asia to be a powerful athlete’s tonic. It has no steroidal constituents, but greatly improves performance and muscle building capability.
Cordyceps is highly regarded in China as a tonic for those who are recovering from an illness or an operation, or after giving birth. In these cases, the Cordyceps helps the patient recover their physical power, to improve their appetite, and to protect the body from infection.
Many studies now indicate that Cordyceps can help the body resist a wide range of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses. Cordyceps is used in Asia to help treat fungus and yeast infections, and intensive research is being conducted at dozens of institutions in China and Japan relating to the potential of Cordyceps to treat certain varieties of cancer.
Why Cordyceps CS-4:
While for all our mushroom extracts we insist on using fruiting bodies, there is an except for Cordyceps.
Wild Cordyceps sinensis is quite rare and thus extremely expensive in China nowadays. It consists of a caterpillar and a blade-like mushroom body growing from one end. Its common Chinese name is “Winter worm, summer grass”. Due to the high cost of this herb, the Chinese developed the mycelium of this mushroom and now grow it in liquid fermentation tanks. This pure mycelium product is known as Cs-4.
A large body of research has demonstrated that Cs-4 has a similar profile of active compounds and activities as wild Cordyceps. And years of compositional analysis as well as clinical trials demonstrated that Cs-4 acted in a manner consistent with the wildcrafted Cordyceps.
The Cultivation Process for Cordyceps CS-4 (liquid culture cultivation):
First, take an enclosed stainless steel tank (also known as a bio-reactor), get it half filled with water and added nutrients, usually a mixture of various grains. This mixture is cooked for a period of time, usually 3-4 hours, until a nutritious broth is created.
This medium is then sterilized and allowed to cool, at which point a piece of living Cordyceps Cs-4 mycelium is added to the tank. As long as the medium is sterile, the broth is stirred or agitated, and the CO 2 is vented out, the mycelium grows through the liquid broth.
It takes 48-72 hours for the mycelium to completely grow through and consume all the nutrients in the tank, at which point the mycelium is filtered out, dried and then extracted, like any other dried and ground up mushroom powder.
Cordyceps CS-4 actually means the 4th strain of Cordyceps mycelium. There were many strains of Cordyceps mycelium were researched, scientists finally found out only the 4th strain of Cordyceps mycelium could be grown using submerged/liquid cultivation methods, and would produce effective levels of all the active compounds found in the wild Cordyceps fruit bodies, including the secondary metabolites.
