Imagine being a caterpillar living underground in the dirt, high up in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and India. You’re minding your own business eating roots and shed your skin in late summer. You meet a fungus that decides to hitch a ride on your back. As autumn roles around you feel an itch on your back. That innocent little fungus on your back starts to grow into you... invading your guts. As winter progresses, this fungus takes over your body, feeding on your insides. Next thing you know it, you realize that most of your body is made up of this invading fungus.... just before you die. As the snows melt in the spring. Your body bursts open, and the fruiting body of this fungus emerges from what used to be your head...rising up through the soil to reach the surface...to see the mountain sunlight for the first time.
While this sounds like something from a horror movie, this is the growth cycle of the Cordyceps mushroom. Somewhere in ancient history, a local in the region thought it would be a good idea to pop one of these little horror shows in their mouths. As time went on, people began to recognize the amazing health benefits of Cordyceps. Like several other mushroom including Turkey Tail, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Maitake, the Cordyceps mushroom contains a wide range of benefits including boosting the immune system, decreasing inflammation, suppressing cancer growth, regulating blood sugar and helping with Type 2 Diabetes.
Cordyceps has some unique benefits as well. Research suggest that it can improve sports performance by improving endurance. Studies show possible increases in VO2 max and higher levels of ATP in patients taking daily doses of Cordyceps-CS4. (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefits…)
Whether you are an athlete, weekend warrior, or couch potato, the multiple benefits of cordyceps can play a vital role in improving your quality of life. We carry a regular supply of Cordyceps-CS4 in our clinic at Hidden Rhythm Acupuncture