Cordyceps is a fungus that lives on certain caterpillars in the high mountain regions of China. Supplement makers are able to get enough of the product to sell because cordyceps will reproduce in the laboratory.
Cordyceps is used to treat coughs, chronic bronchitis, respiratory disorders, kidney disorders, nighttime urination, male sexual problems, anemia, irregular heartbeat, high cholesterol, liver disorders, dizziness, weakness, ringing in the ears, unwanted weight loss, and opium addiction.
It is also used for strengthening the immune system, improving athletic performance, reducing the effects of aging, promoting longer life, and improving liver function in people with hepatitis B.
Some people use cordyceps as a stimulant, a tonic, and an "adaptogen," which is used to increase energy, enhance stamina, and reduce fatigue.
Cordyceps might improve immunity by stimulating cells and specific chemicals in the immune system. It may also have activity against cancer cells and may shrink tumor size, particularly with lung or skin cancers.
1.Kidney damage caused by the drug amikracin. Early research shows that using cordyceps with the drug amikracin might reduce kidney damage caused by the drug in older people.
2.Asthma. Early research suggests that taking cordyceps alone can reduce asthma symptoms in adults. However, other early research suggests that taking cordyceps along with other herbs for 6 months does not reduce the need for medication or improve asthma symptoms in children.
3.Chemotherapy. Early evidence shows that taking cordyceps by mouth during or after chemotherapy might improve quality of life and improve tolerance to the treatments.
4.Chronic kidney disease (CKD). Early research suggests that taking cordyceps along with standard therapy for chronic kidney disease may improve kidney function. However, most of these studies are low quality and were conducted for only 6 months or less.
5.Kidney damage caused by contrast dyes (Contrast induced nephropathy).Some early research shows that taking cordyceps while undergoing an exam using contrast dye reduces the chance of kidney damage caused by the dye. But other early research shows no benefit.
6.Kidney damage caused by the drug cyclosporine. There is early evidence that taking cordyceps with cyclosporine can reduce kidney damage caused by cyclosporine in people with kidney transplants.
7.Hepatitis B. Early evidence shows that taking cordyceps by mouth might improve liver function in people with hepatitis B. However, cordyceps seems to be less effective than astragalus and polygonum (fo-ti).
8.Sexual desire. Early research suggests that taking a specific cordyceps product (CordyMax Cs-4) daily for 40 days can improve sex drive in people with low sex drive.
9.Kidney transplant. Early research shows that taking cordyceps along with conventional treatments does not improve 1-year survival, prevent transplant rejection, or reduce the risk of infection in people who received a kidney transplant. However, taking cordyceps might reduce the amount of conventional treatment that is needed. It might also reduce the risk of chronic allograft nephropathy, which is the leading cause of kidney transplant failure.
10.Anemia.
11.Breathing disorders.
12.Bronchitis.
13.Cough.
14.Decreasing fatigue.
15.Dizziness.
16.Heart arrhythmias.
17.High cholesterol.
18.Liver disorders.
19.Male sexual dysfunction.
20.Promoting longevity.
21.Ringing in the ears.
22.Weakness.
