Cordyceps

What it is

"Cordyceps" covers two different fungi that get sold under the same name.

• Wild caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis, formerly Cordyceps sinensis) infects moth larvae in the high-altitude grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas. It's collected by hand and is extremely expensive.
• Cordyceps militaris produces bright orange, club-shaped fruiting bodies and can be grown on grain or rice. It's what US growers cultivate and what most cordyceps products use.

Labels don't always make the difference clear, and some products contain mycelium grown on grain rather than fruiting bodies. Ask the seller exactly which species and which part you're buying.

Traditional use

Cordyceps has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine. Memorial Sloan Kettering's integrative medicine service lists traditional and modern uses that include boosting the immune system, supporting kidney function and improving strength and stamina, as well as fatigue, coughs and sexual dysfunction. Supplement makers also market it to athletes for endurance.

How it's grown

Growers cultivate Cordyceps militaris in jars or trays of grain or rice-based media, usually under light, where the orange clubs grow upward over several weeks. The harvest is dried whole, powdered or extracted. Wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis can't be farmed this way, which is one reason it costs so much.

Storing it

Store dried cordyceps sealed, cool and dry. Discard it if it shows mold or a musty smell. Follow the label for capsules and extracts.

Where to buy cordyceps

1 grower in our directory lists cordyceps by name@if ($ohio->isNotEmpty()), 0 of them in Ohio. Availability changes with the season and the harvest, so check with the farm before you go.

Does the science say…?

Human research on cordyceps is small and mixed. Much of the interesting work is in lab or animal studies.

• Exercise. In a University of North Carolina trial, 28 young adults took a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris or a placebo. After one week there were no significant differences in the main exercise measures. A subgroup of ten continued for three weeks, and in that group the researchers reported improved maximal oxygen uptake and time to exhaustion (Hirsch et al., 2017). The product was a blend, not cordyceps alone, and the three-week group was very small.
• Other uses. MSK summarizes clinical studies of cordyceps in kidney disease as promising but notes that the evidence for it as an add-on treatment in kidney transplant and dialysis patients is insufficient, and that exercise studies in healthy people have mixed results.
• Safety notes. MSK warns that cordyceps may increase bleeding risk in people taking warfarin or other blood thinners, can lower blood sugar in people taking insulin or diabetes medication, and should not be used by people with myelogenous types of cancer.

Cordyceps hasn't been shown to treat any disease. Talk with a clinician before trying it, especially if you take prescription medication. NIH's guide to using supplements wisely is a good starting point.