For centuries mushrooms have been used as food, poison, and most notably as medicine.
With an approximate 14,000 species globally, the Cordyceps mushroom species have stood out due to their therapeutic properties.
With about 400 Cordyceps species, the Cordyceps militaris vs. Cordyceps Sinensis has been widely used to cure several ailments by traditional medical practitioners, thus prompting scientific research to prove whether or not these fungal plants have therapeutic potential.
What Is Cordyceps Sinensis?
Known as Yarsa gumba (meaning winter summer herb) or the Keera jhar (meaning insect herb) in the local dialect of the Tibetan people.
This annual plant is a parasitic fungus since its base originates from an insect larva known as the Hepialis armoricanus.
Harvested from April to August, this medicinal plant thrives in the North Sikkim region of the Himalayan plateau.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Cordyceps Sinensis?
Scientific research and evidence have supported the claims that this mushroom can cure several ailments and improve one’s general health.
Below are some of the uses of Cordyceps Sinensis
Aphrodisiac
It’s also known as the Himalayan Viagra due to its aphrodisiac properties.
An aphrodisiac is a substance that is used to stimulate sexual desires, increase sexual arousal or improve sexual performance or sexual pleasure.
It may be used as a tincture or as an extract to increase one’s libido levels.
How to use cordycep sinesis
- Take the aerial parts of the mushroom and dry them in the sun properly.
- Crush the dried-up pieces into powder.
- Take a cup full of the Cordyceps Sinensis powder with a cup of milk.
- You can also use alcohol to make a tincture out of this mushroom species (leave the mushroom in the alcohol for one hour before drinking the tincture).
Treatment of respiratory infection
During this corona pandemic, everyone is trying as much as possible to suppress any respiratory infection that may predispose one to immunosuppression.
Supplementing your diet with cordyceps mushroom is not only a smart move but also a therapeutically proven method of curing respiratory ailments.
Such ailments include
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Bronchiolitis
- Cough and colds
Pro-tip: You can make protein shakes or brew a cup of cordyceps mushroom tea with the mushrooms if you don’t like eating cooked cordyceps.
Anti-cancer
The bioactive compounds (nucleosides, cyclosporine-like metabolites) present in this mushroom species have anti-cancer properties.
These bioactive compounds inhibit cell proliferation, which causes cancerous cells in your body.
PS: this does not mean that you should stop using your chemotherapy drugs.
Note: these mushrooms are not pharmacological drugs but only supplements to a balanced diet.
Possible Mild Side Effects when Using Cordyceps Sinensis
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhea
What Is Cordyceps Militaris?
This is a parasitic fungus that originates from the Lepidoptera larva. It thrives well in altitudes of 3800m-4500m above sea levels.
It contains polysaccharides, glycoproteins, peptides, and ergosterol derivatives, making it a therapeutically important mushroom.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Cordyceps Militaris?
The bioactive compounds found in this parasitic fungus make it have many health benefits when consumed regularly.
Advantages of Using Cordyceps Militaris
Below are some of the significant importance of supplementing your diet with these medicinal mushrooms:
Infertility enhancer
Studies conducted on male rats showed that consumption of the Cordyceps militaris significantly increased the production of testosterone hormones in these test rats.
Testosterone is a hormone responsible for the production of sperms in males.
Supplementing your diet with this medicinal mushroom improves the quality of your sperm and its quantity.
Cordycepin and estradiol-17 compounds found in this mushroom species also enhance the motility of sperms, thus enhancing fertility in infertile males.
Anticholesterol agent
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in your liver. It’s essential for body functioning, but when in high amounts, it’s considered unhealthy as it promotes the accumulation of low-density lipids(LDL).
LDL accumulates in the walls of your arteries, a process known as atherosclerosis.
This, in turn, leads to the development of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, which are life-threatening diseases.
Consumption of Cordyceps militaris inhibits atherosclerosis by promoting high-density lipids (HDL) production. HDL regulates and gets rid of excess cholesterol in your body.
Antidiabetic agent
About 400 million people in the world have diabetes Mellitus.
This is a metabolic disorder in which there are defects in the cells that secrete insulin in your body (Type 1), or your cells are nonreceptive or resistant to insulin (Type 2).
This mushroom species contains a bioactive compound that helps regulate your blood glucose levels by promoting glucose metabolism in your body.
Possible Mild Side Effects of Using Cordyceps Militaris
- Increased risk of bleeding tendencies;
- May cause delayed blood clotting processes.
Final Thoughts on Cordyceps Militaris vs Cordyceps Sinensis
Both Cordyceps Sinensis and Cordyceps Militaris offer beneficial health properties when consumed regularly.
Note that these mushrooms are not medications but supplements.
Thus, you should not substitute either your medications or a balanced diet with them.
Before using Cordyceps as your choice of supplement, ensure that you first consult your doctor.
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