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All About Cordyceps

What is Cordyceps

If an award were given to the strangest medicinal substance in the world, the winner would, no doubt, be Cordyceps sinensis (otherwise known as dong chong xia cao, winter worm, or summer grass). After all, a fungus that grows out of the head of a subterranean caterpillar sounds like a science fiction story!  

First written about in the Tang Dynasty, but likely used for a much longer period of time, this mushroom occupies a significant position in Chinese herbal medicine and Chinese cuisine—so much so that wild-harvested Cordyceps is, gram-for-gram, worth much more than gold! 

Entire communities in Nepal, Tibet, and parts of China depend on the income from the sale of wild-harvested Cordyceps. 

As one can imagine with that much money at stake, overharvesting in remote regions is a tremendous problem and threatens the long-term survival of the fungus in the wild. 

The Development of CS-4

In 1972, Chinese scientists successfully isolated and were able to grow out four strains of Cordyceps. They were not “true” Cordyceps, but rather anamorphs—a related species. The fourth of these strains, called CS-4, proved commercially viable. 

Over a period of years, the Chinese government sponsored many clinical trials with this fungus, and finally in 1988, it was approved as an official medicine. They called it Jin Shui Bao. 

Many of the Chinese studies conducted in this period and afterwards can be found in a book by an Australian MD, Georges M. Halpern, Cordyceps, China’s Healing Mushroom

Cordyceps safety

It is important to note how safe Cordyceps is to consume. It is best thought of as a food; in fact, fine Chinese restaurants often have various Cordyceps soups on their menu. 

Lab and clinical studies utilizing enormous doses for extended periods yield no adverse effects. And its long history of traditional use also supports its safety profile.

Growing Cordyceps

Growers are now able to grow a hybrid Cordyceps sinensis that is superior to the wild-harvested Cordyceps when measured on multiple parameters. 

People’s Herbs Empowered Cordyceps includes a hybrid Cordyceps sinensis strain grown organically in the U.S. In fact, this unique hybrid strain is patented! It must be stressed that this is normal hybridization, NOT genetic modification.

People’s Herbs Formula Offers Maximum Benefit

We are often asked the question as to why we put more than one Cordyceps strain in our capsules. The CS-4 strain was first identified and successfully grown in 1972 and the science of Cordyceps cultivation has advanced enormously since then. 

The differences between CS-4 and this hybrid strain are enormous. Of course, we know from published Chinese research that the CS-4 alone is a helpful product in itself, but it is already widely available from dozens of companies worldwide. 

And the hybrid strain has been shown to have significant health benefits. They are both tried and true performers, so we sought to combine these two in our one product, in order to offer maximum benefit to our customers. 

The result is truly the best of East and West—the best hybrid Cordyceps sinensis developed here in the U.S. and the well-researched CS-4 strain developed in China, but now grown in the U.S. with superior certified organic methods. 

There is simply no better, no wider spectrum of Cordyceps product on the market, and all the ingredients are certified organic!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Ready to try it? 

Purchase People's Herbs Empowered Cordyceps here

People's Herbs Cordyceps

Article source: Blue Poppy Product Information Sheet
Photo: by Andreas Kunze licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

 

All About Cordyceps
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