“Cordyceps?”Here!cordyceps mushroom
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As a supplement
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A genus of parasitic fungi, historically Cordyceps sinensis harvested from high-altitude caterpillar hosts in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine, though most modern supplements use cultivated Cordyceps militaris or fermented mycelium instead.
Why it’s used
Taken to support energy, exercise performance, and general vitality, drawing on its long history of use in traditional medicine.
What the evidence says
Human trials are few, small, and often short in duration; some report modest improvements in exercise endurance markers, while larger or more rigorous confirmation is lacking. There is no NIH ODS fact sheet on cordyceps, and reviews describe the clinical evidence as preliminary and inconsistent across the different species and preparations studied.
Context
Studied doses and preparations vary considerably between trials, complicating any single dosing summary, and most human studies have used cultivated Cordyceps militaris rather than the wild-harvested traditional form.
Rumors
Cordyceps causes gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort.
Supports — suggestivehealth and safety evidence
Studied in: adults with chronic bronchitis.
Measured as an outcome.
- Efficacy and safety of Cordyceps sinensis (Hirsutella sinensis, Cs-C-Q80) in chronic bronchitis (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by China-Japan Friendship Hospital · No conflicts declared
- A randomized controlled clinical trial examining the effects of Cordyceps militaris beverage on the immune response in healthy adults (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by National Innovation Agency – NIA (government) · No conflicts declared
Who’s saying this
- Masala Monk — a retailer: sells gourmet food products from small producers
How we know who this is
- “Started in 2018 – Masala Monk is a product line by Shashank Aggarwal, who has dedicated larger part of his existence to pursuing his passions for food and travel.” (their page)
- “We at Masala Monk intend to work closely with small producers, growers and farmers to bring out the Gourmet products from farms and homes to your table.” (their page)
Cordyceps improves oxygen utilization, supporting energy without acting as a stimulant.
Unresolvedhealth and safety evidence
Studied in: endurance-trained male cyclists and healthy elderly adults.
Measured as a biomarker.
- Cordyceps Sinensis (CordyMax Cs-4) supplementation does not improve endurance exercise performance (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
- Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial and assessment of fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) in enhancing aerobic capacity and respiratory function of the healthy elderly volunteers (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- Nootropics Depot — a brand: sells supplements
How we know who this is
- “Nootropics Depot is located in Tempe Arizona.” (their page)
- “While we started our journey with nootropics, we now sell many different supplements for all sorts of goals.” (their page)
Cordyceps boosts libido and reduces sexual dysfunction by raising sex hormone levels.
Does not supporthealth and safety evidence
What was measured is not yet noted.
- Cordyceps (Database) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- French Mush — a brand: sells organic functional mushroom supplements made in France
How we know who this is
- “Chez French Mush nous maximisons leur potentiel de façon biologique le tout fabriqué en France.” (their page)
Cordyceps boosts ATP production, increasing energy and delaying fatigue so athletes can perform harder for longer.
Unresolvedhealth and safety evidence
Studied in: healthy recreationally active adults and trained athletes (cyclists, runners, swimmers).
Measured as an outcome.
- Current Evidence of Ergogenic and Post-Exercise Recovery Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Cordyceps militaris in Humans—A Narrative Review (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not clearly stated · No conflicts declared
- Cordyceps Sinensis (CordyMax Cs-4) supplementation does not improve endurance exercise performance (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- fourfive — a brand: sells CBD, hydration and functional mushroom supplements
How we know who this is
- “I trust fourfive supplements completely, they're clean, tested + deliver results.” (their page)
- “We believe everyone deserves to live their own happy and healthy life; we’re on a mission to inspire individuals to take control of their every day and confidently live life to their max through the power of premium CBD, Hydration and Functional Mushroom products .” (their page)
Cordyceps thins the blood and increases bleeding risk.
Supports — suggestivehealth and safety evidence
Measured as an outcome.
- Cordyceps (Database) · Funding not checked
- Antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of cordycepin-enriched WIB-801CE from Cordyceps militaris ex vivo, in vivo, and in vitro (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by National Research Foundation of Korea; Whanin Pharm. Co., Ltd. (industry)
Who’s saying this
- Masala Monk — a retailer: sells gourmet food products from small producers
How we know who this is
- “Started in 2018 – Masala Monk is a product line by Shashank Aggarwal, who has dedicated larger part of his existence to pursuing his passions for food and travel.” (their page)
- “We at Masala Monk intend to work closely with small producers, growers and farmers to bring out the Gourmet products from farms and homes to your table.” (their page)