“The most elusive and expensive aphrodisiac on the planet!” – BBC Newsnight – 19/07/05

Cordyceps is an unusual parasitic fungus that grows from caterpillars, and is found at high altitudes in China and Nepal. Its medicinal properties were discovered over 1500 years ago when Chinese herdsmen found that their cattle became more energetic, resilient and vibrant after eating this. This remarkable fungus found worldwide fame after its use as a performance-enhancing supplement by the Chinese female athletic team in 1993. At the World Games in Stuttgart and the National Games in Beijing this fairly amateur team smashed 17 world records! These unknown athletes became heroes overnight.

Since the Cordyceps fungus is extremely rare and takes about 6 years to complete its life cycle, Fruiting Bodies have developed a technique to cultivate the mycelium of a superior strain. This extract has been shown to be as potent as products made from wild Cordyceps, and as it has not been grown on caterpillars can be guaranteed to be vegetarian and organic.

Libido Enhancement, Stamina and Vitality Tonic

CORDYCEPS FURTHER READING & SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES

LIBIDO ENHANCEMENT

Cordyceps extract has been demonstrated to have sexually enhancing effects.

Studies have shown that Cordyceps acts by directly affecting the sexual centre of the brain. In clinical studies conducted on animals, it increased the weight of the testes and produced a threefold higher sperm count relative to the control group. In trials conducted on humans, Cordyceps resulted in an increase in libido for 86% of women: increased libido for 67% of men; and decreased impotence for 66& of men. Further investigations have confirmed Cordyceps' ability to increase sperm count (by 33%), decrease impotence, heighten libido, increase the survival rate of spermatozoa and reduce the incidence of malformed spermatozoa>

Stamina and Endurance Tonic

In 1993 the Cordyceps mushroom made international headlines when a team of mediocre Chinese runners proceeded to break NINE world records at “The World Outdoor Track And Field Championships”, held in Germany. The coach gave credit to the use of the Cordyceps mushroom.

The benefits of Cordyceps spring from an assortment of myco-nutrients, which are currently the subject of numerous clinical studies. One of these compounds, Cordycepin, is adenosine based. Adenosine (otherwise known as ATP) has been referred to as the “energy molecule”.

Heightened ATP levels have been shown to radically increase cellular energy. Clinical investigation has demonstrated Cordyceps ability to increase cellular bio-energy as much as 55% (Reported XU C.F et al in ZHU J-S, Halpern GM, Jones K. The Scientific rediscovery of a precious ancient Chinese herbal regimen: Cordyceps sinensis: Part I. J Alt Comp Med 1998;4(3):289-303.)

Cordyceps has also been shown to increase cellular oxygen absorption by up to 40% (Lou Y, Liao X, Lu Y. Cardiovascular pharmacological studies of ethanol extracts of Cordyceps mycelia and Cordyceps fermentation solution. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs 1986;17(5):17-21,209-213)

Another study took place using "in vivo" mouse model induced acute Pulmonary Edema (Pneumonia) which causes a lack of oxygen in the body, leading to an acidic system and eventually death. Results showed that animals taking Cordyceps had a much greater survival rate of 20% mortality vs. 80% mortality in 30 minutes. This is a startling 400% improvement. (From Wan F, Zhang S. Clinical observations of fermented Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) in antitussive, expectorant, and anathematic effects. Collection on the Basic Medicinal and Clinical Studies of Submerged Culture Cordyceps sinensis. Beijing, Nanchang, China:Jiangxi TCM/IMM, 1985:35-39)

These results suggest that Cordyceps may improve the stamina and endurance of animals and probably in humans. This would happen because Cordyceps improves the internal balance mechanism, thus making the utilization of oxygen more efficient. These properties may account for the general added endurance, physical enhancement and stamina increasing effects, which are seen in our customers that use the Cordyceps extract

CORDYCEPS CLINICAL STUDIES

à       Zhu, J., Halpern, G., Jones, K. The scientific rediscovery of an ancient Chinese herbal medicine: Cordyceps sinensis Part I. The Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine 1998;4(3):289-303.

à        Bensky, D., Gamble, A. Chinese Herbal Medicine, Materia Medica. Seattle: Eastland Press; 1986:486-7.

à        Manabe, N. et.al. Effects of the mycelial extract of cultured Cordyceps sinensis on in vivo hepatic energy metabolism in the mouse. Jap J Pharmacol 1996;70(1):85-88.

à        Lou, Y, Liao, X., Lu, Y. Cardiovascular pharmacological studies of ethanol extracts of Cordyceps mycelia and Cordyceps fermentation solution. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs 1986;17(5):17-21, 209-13.

à        Feng, M., et. al. Vascular dilation by fermented mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis in anesthetized dogs. J Chinese Materia Medica 1987;12(12):745-49.

à        Cao, Z., Wen, Y. Therapeutic effect analysis of JinShuiBao capsule in treatment of 33 elderly senescent XuZheng patients. J Applied Traditional Chinese Med 1993;1:32-33.

à       Chen, G. Effects of JingShuiBao capsule on quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure. J Administration Traditional Chinese Medicine 1995;5(suppl):40-43.

à       Tang, L. Jiang, X. Clinical observation of fermented Cordyceps (JinShui Bao capsule) in treating 38 elderly patients with intractable arhythmia. Practical J Integrating Chinese with Western Medicine 1994;7(B8-9):532.

à        Han, S. Experiences in treating patients of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary diseases with Cs-4 capsule (JinShuiBao). J Administration Traditional Chinese Medicine 1995;5(suppl):33-34.

à        Jiang, J., Gao, Y. Summary of treatment of 37 chronic renal dysfunction patients with JinShuiBao. J Administration Traditional Chinese Medicine 1995;5(suppl):23-24.

à        Bi, J., Ma, S., Liu, X. Therapeutic effects of JinShuiBao capsule on gentamycin nephrotoxic damage. J Applied Med 1994;10(5):466-467.

à        Yang, Y. et. al. Short-term observation of treating chronic hepatitis B and post-hepatitis cirrhosis with XinGanBao. Res. Chinese Materia Medica 1994;1:19-20.

à       Zhu, J., Halpern, G., Jones, K. The scientific rediscovery of a precious ancient Chinese herbal regimen: Cordyceps sinensis Part II. The Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine 1998;4(4):429-457.

à        Zhang, et. al. Clinical and laboratory studies of JinShuiBao in scavenging oxygen free radicals in elderly senescent XuZheng patients. J Administration Traditional Chinese Medicine 1995;5(suppl):14-18.

à        Yamaguchi, Y. et. al. Antioxidant activity of the extracts from fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps sinensis. Phytotherapy Res 2000;14(8):647-49.

à       Yamaguchi, Y. et. al. Inhibitory effects of water extracts from fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps sinensis on raised lipid peroxide levels and aortic cholesterol deposition in atherosclerotic mice. Phytotherapy Res 2000;14(8):650-52.

à       Zhu, J., Halpern, G., Jones, K. The scientific rediscovery of a precious ancient Chinese herbal regimen: Cordyceps sinensis Part II. The Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine 1998;4(4):429-457.

à        Zhu, J., Halpern, G., Jones, K. The scientific rediscovery of a precious ancient Chinese herbal regimen: Cordyceps sinensis Part II. The Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine 1998;4(4):429-457.

Additional Information: The mushroom extract is in an alcohol base, which can be steamed off by putting the extract into hot water (and then allowing to cool) before taking.

There is 1g of mushroom extract for each ml, 100ml per bottle.

The suggested daily dose is 2ml twice daily as maintenance or doubled to 4ml twice daily if treating a specific condition.