Aphrodisiacs and sexual potentiators have been all the rage since Viagra was introduced in 1998, and believers in natural remedies have been looking for herbal alternatives. The traditional Chinese 'herb' of choice for this purpose is called Cordyceps sinensis.
Cordyceps is a minute fungus found at high altitudes of the Tibetan plateau. Its hard to imagine that it ever got noticed and discovered, let alone that its now become one of the most sought after medicinal mushrooms in the world.
For nearly two millennia, Chinese doctors have dispensed Cordyceps extract for physical stamina and sexual prowess. Preserved written records date back as far 200 A.D., when it was described in the book "The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman.
The normal life cycle of the "Caterpillar fungus" (Cordyceps sinensis) consists of parasitizing on non-vital tissue of the silk-worm caterpillar. In the end, it overwhelms its host (the caterpillar), kills it, and sprouts out of the dead carcass. That doesn't sound like anything you would want to put in your mouth, does it? Well, have no fear. With modern technology, Cordyceps sinensis mycelium can now be grown on a bed of rice medium. The extract of the fungus grown in this way contains the same compounds as wild harvested specimens. An additional perk is that it is much less likely to contain any traces of other types of fungi, bacteria, or heavy metals.
A Chinese paper published in 1985, thirteen years before the release of Viagra, found a statistically significant improvement in erectile dysfunction (64%) when the subjects were administered 1,000 mg of Cordyceps sinensis per day. [1]
Three possible factors may help explain why Cordyceps could have an effect on erectile dysfunction:
- Cordyceps sinensis has been shown to improve physical vitality and stamina in general. [2,3,4] In 1993, a group of nine Chinese women set world records at the Chinese National Games. When asked about the secret to their success, they attributed it to their use of Cordyceps. [5,6]
- Increasing blood flow appears to be another function of Cordyceps sinensis, which could help explain its effect on erectile dysfunction. Two studies have indicated that it does so by diluting blood vessels, thus increasing blood perfusion. [7,8]
- Thirdly and perhaps most important of all is that two studies have shown Cordyceps sinensis to "significantly increase" the production of testosterone in males. [9,10]
Note: This article is for scientific and informational purposes only. It is very important to always consult with a licensed medical doctor before using an herb to treat any medical condition.
Cordyceps is a minute fungus found at high altitudes of the Tibetan plateau. Its hard to imagine that it ever got noticed and discovered, let alone that its now become one of the most sought after medicinal mushrooms in the world.
For nearly two millennia, Chinese doctors have dispensed Cordyceps extract for physical stamina and sexual prowess. Preserved written records date back as far 200 A.D., when it was described in the book "The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman.
The normal life cycle of the "Caterpillar fungus" (Cordyceps sinensis) consists of parasitizing on non-vital tissue of the silk-worm caterpillar. In the end, it overwhelms its host (the caterpillar), kills it, and sprouts out of the dead carcass. That doesn't sound like anything you would want to put in your mouth, does it? Well, have no fear. With modern technology, Cordyceps sinensis mycelium can now be grown on a bed of rice medium. The extract of the fungus grown in this way contains the same compounds as wild harvested specimens. An additional perk is that it is much less likely to contain any traces of other types of fungi, bacteria, or heavy metals.
A Chinese paper published in 1985, thirteen years before the release of Viagra, found a statistically significant improvement in erectile dysfunction (64%) when the subjects were administered 1,000 mg of Cordyceps sinensis per day. [1]
Three possible factors may help explain why Cordyceps could have an effect on erectile dysfunction:
- Cordyceps sinensis has been shown to improve physical vitality and stamina in general. [2,3,4] In 1993, a group of nine Chinese women set world records at the Chinese National Games. When asked about the secret to their success, they attributed it to their use of Cordyceps. [5,6]
- Increasing blood flow appears to be another function of Cordyceps sinensis, which could help explain its effect on erectile dysfunction. Two studies have indicated that it does so by diluting blood vessels, thus increasing blood perfusion. [7,8]
- Thirdly and perhaps most important of all is that two studies have shown Cordyceps sinensis to "significantly increase" the production of testosterone in males. [9,10]
Note: This article is for scientific and informational purposes only. It is very important to always consult with a licensed medical doctor before using an herb to treat any medical condition.
About the Author:
About the author: Dr. Markho Rafael works in the natural health field since the mid-90's, as a researcher and author specializing in medicinal mushrooms. Click Cordyceps sinensis extract for mycomedicinals and more free articles, or to request a unique version of this article for your own web-site or magazine. Cordyceps Bibliographical References A special thank you to Paul Stamets for reference material!
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