For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have used Cordyceps to naturally boost men’s vitality. This is one reason why it’s so popular in coffee blends today. Men are once again turning to medicinal mushrooms like Cordyceps to enhance their sex drive, energy, and exercise performance.
Ang Wang, a Chinese author from the 1600s, brought Cordyceps to the world’s attention. He wrote about its uses in his 1694 book, “The Classic of Herbal Medicine,” which records all known Chinese medicinal herbs.
What Is Cordyceps?
Cordyceps, often mistaken for a mushroom, is actually a mushroom-like fungus. It thrives in the high-altitude prairies of the Himalayan mountains, particularly in the Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Gansu provinces of China.
Beyond its popularity in mushroom coffee, Cordyceps is available in various supplement forms, including powder, liquid extract, and capsules.
There are two main species found in supplements: Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris. Cordyceps sinensis spores land on a caterpillar and consume it, resulting in fruiting bodies that resemble the caterpillar host. These are not vegan and cannot be cultivated without insects. Due to overharvesting, they have become rare and expensive.
Cordyceps militaris, on the other hand, has orange-red club-shaped fruiting bodies that grow out of pupa in the ground. Most supplements are farm-grown without insects, making them vegan. These cultivated varieties typically grow on grains like brown rice.
Your supplement may contain mycelium, the branching “hyphae” of a fungus that usually grows underground, the fruiting body, and some starch from the food source. Together, these components contain alpha and beta-glucans, cordycepin, and other beneficial nutrients.
How Cordyceps Can Boost Your Health
Enhances Sex Drive
In Asian cultures, Cordyceps is often referred to as “Himalayan Viagra.” Historically, people have used Cordyceps to boost sexual energy. It not only enhances libido but also helps maintain proper reproductive system function. Long-term use of cordycepin, the active ingredient, may promote normal testicular function, countering the effects of middle age decline. Thanks to the testosterone boost, Cordyceps could be the best natural product for low sex drive, eliminating unnecessary chemicals and their side effects.
Boosts Your Energy
Cordyceps is used in Asia to combat fatigue due to its adaptogen properties, which help the body adapt to stress. Stress often leads to exhaustion, so Cordyceps can boost energy, performance, and reduce fatigue. It’s especially helpful if you are frequently sleepy or recovering from something. Regularly taking Cordyceps promotes healthy energy levels, allowing you to be more productive when you aren’t appropriately tired.
May Improve Exercise Performance
Cordyceps may enhance your exercise performance by helping muscles use oxygen more efficiently during exercise and supporting enhanced blood flow. Studies have shown that Cordyceps acts as an antioxidant, countering the harm from free radicals. These combined effects can lead to a noticeable increase in athletic performance, higher aerobic exercise capacity, and more power during high-intensity interval training (HIIT), with less muscle stress and fatigue.
Promotes Healthy Aging
Traditional healers in the Sikkim region of India and Tibet observed that yaks, goats, and sheep consuming Cordyceps sinensis stayed youthful longer. This led to its use in supporting increased longevity in people and its widespread use in traditional Chinese medicine. Today, due to overharvesting, most people use farm-cultivated Cordyceps militaris, which has similar health benefits. Cordyceps positively affects brain health and performance, helping you avoid forgetfulness.
Supports Gut Health
The microbiome in your belly is essential for proper gut health and digestion, with about 80 percent of your immune system located in your gut. Taking Cordyceps helps modulate the gut and immune system, maintaining a healthy, balanced digestive system. It deters harmful bacteria while supporting good bacteria, allowing your microbiome to flourish.
Promotes Kidney & Liver Health
Cordyceps supports improved kidney function and liver health, helping these organs naturally detoxify your body. It promotes a normal response to inflammation and protects these organs at a cellular level. By protecting renal function, Cordyceps helps prevent chronic kidney disease and keeps chemical processes in these vital organs balanced.
Boosts Your Immune System
Your immune system has three parts: physical barriers like nostrils, the innate immune system that immediately reacts to intruders, and the adaptive immune system that responds specifically to each pathogen. Research shows that Cordyceps influences both the innate and adaptive immune systems, supporting your body at a cellular level.
Best Ways to Use Cordyceps
Reputable supplement manufacturers use mycelia and sometimes the fruiting bodies of Cordyceps, generally mixed into another product. Here are some common ways to find this supplement:
Mushroom Coffee
Mushroom coffees are very popular and often include Cordyceps along with Chaga, lion’s mane, maitake, and reishi, plus coffee grounds.
Capsules
For the healthiest option, choose vegan capsules filled with Cordyceps militaris, with or without other herbs.
Liquid Supplements
Liquid supplements, taken with a dropper, often mix Cordyceps with other herbs. For example, Global Healing’s Androtrex? Raw Herbal Extract is a male vitality supplement that includes Cordyceps militaris along with ashwagandha, Panax ginseng, Maca, and other herbs that boost stamina, libido, and energy.
Look for certified organic labels, plant-based products, thorough ingredient lists, and complete, easy-to-read directions. For all supplements, choose certified-organic, plant-based products.
Points to Remember
Cordyceps is a mushroom-like fungus used as a traditional herbal medicine for hundreds of years. It enhances sex drive, counters the effects of aging, and boosts gut, kidney, liver, and immune health. Cordyceps also increases energy and improves athletic performance. When taking Cordyceps, it will likely be mixed with other ingredients, such as in Global Healing’s Androtrex, an all-natural vitality booster for men.
