Ironically, since the introduction of Viagra, the search for a natural alternative for erectile dysfunction has increased significantly. And as it turns out, the Chinese may already have had the answer two millennia ago.
Naturally occurring only at high altitudes in Tibet and China, Cordyceps sinensis has none-the-less been collected as a medicinal mushroom since time immemorial. With our modern-day globalization of trade and information, this minute fungus from remote mountain areas of China is now miraculously becoming popular also in the West.
Since around the dawn of our age, Chinese physicians have prescribed Cordyceps as an aphrodisiac and general vitalizing tonic. The first reference to Cordyceps as a medicinal fungus occurred around 200 A.D. in a book titled, The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman.
There is a reason why the common English name for Cordyceps is Caterpillar fungus. In nature, it grows as a parasite on silk-worm caterpillars, eventually killing them, and finally sprouting out of their dead bodies. Not very appetizing, is it? However, Cordyceps sinensis can now be grown on a rice medium and harvested free from any caterpillar carcasses, heavy metals, or contaminating bacteria and funguses. Cordyceps grown under these controlled conditions has been shown to contain the same therapeutic compounds as its wild counter-parts.
A study out of China, which was released over a decade before the introduction of Viagra, reported a 64% improvement in erectile dysfunction from a daily consumption of 1,000 mg of Cordyceps sinensis. [1]
So what's the mechanism behind Cordyceps' apparent effect as an aphrodisiac and sexual potentiator? The following three factors may help explain:
- At least three studies have demonstrated that Cordyceps sinensis helps improve physical stamina and prowess in general. [2,3,4] In the early 1990's, nine Chinese women broke world records when the Chinese National Games were held. When interviewed about their success, they unanimously gave credit to their use of Cordyceps extract. [5,6]
- Cordyceps sinensis helps dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow [7,8], which is certainly an important factor in erectile function.
- 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: Always consult a licensed health care provider before using any herb for medicinal purposes. This article is solely intended as a source of information and does not prescribe or advice the use of any substance mentioned herein.
Naturally occurring only at high altitudes in Tibet and China, Cordyceps sinensis has none-the-less been collected as a medicinal mushroom since time immemorial. With our modern-day globalization of trade and information, this minute fungus from remote mountain areas of China is now miraculously becoming popular also in the West.
Since around the dawn of our age, Chinese physicians have prescribed Cordyceps as an aphrodisiac and general vitalizing tonic. The first reference to Cordyceps as a medicinal fungus occurred around 200 A.D. in a book titled, The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman.
There is a reason why the common English name for Cordyceps is Caterpillar fungus. In nature, it grows as a parasite on silk-worm caterpillars, eventually killing them, and finally sprouting out of their dead bodies. Not very appetizing, is it? However, Cordyceps sinensis can now be grown on a rice medium and harvested free from any caterpillar carcasses, heavy metals, or contaminating bacteria and funguses. Cordyceps grown under these controlled conditions has been shown to contain the same therapeutic compounds as its wild counter-parts.
A study out of China, which was released over a decade before the introduction of Viagra, reported a 64% improvement in erectile dysfunction from a daily consumption of 1,000 mg of Cordyceps sinensis. [1]
So what's the mechanism behind Cordyceps' apparent effect as an aphrodisiac and sexual potentiator? The following three factors may help explain:
- At least three studies have demonstrated that Cordyceps sinensis helps improve physical stamina and prowess in general. [2,3,4] In the early 1990's, nine Chinese women broke world records when the Chinese National Games were held. When interviewed about their success, they unanimously gave credit to their use of Cordyceps extract. [5,6]
- Cordyceps sinensis helps dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow [7,8], which is certainly an important factor in erectile function.
- 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: Always consult a licensed health care provider before using any herb for medicinal purposes. This article is solely intended as a source of information and does not prescribe or advice the use of any substance mentioned herein.
About the Author:
About the writer: Dr. Rafael has worked with natural health products since the mid-90's, as a researcher and writer specializing in mycomedicinals. Click Cordyceps sinensis extract for medicinal mushrooms and free articles, or to request a unique version of this article for your own web-site or publication. Cordyceps Article References A special thank you to Paul Stamets for reference material!
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