When in throes of an asthma attack, you can find it extremely difficult to draw a breath of air. Asthma is a chronic condition causing lung inflammation, which severely restricts your ability to breathe freely. Asthma has a number of different causes and triggers, including allergies, and affects over 20 million women, men and children in the United States, according to 2009 information from the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cordyceps is an ancient herb, long used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of ailments, including bronchitis, tuberculosis, kidney failure and asthma. Cordyceps is an herbal remedy sold as a dietary supplement; therefore, the FDA has not determined its safety, efficacy, or exact dosage.
About Cordyceps
Although it's usually classified as an herb, Cordyceps is actually derived from a parasitic fungus that grows along the back of a caterpillar native to parts of China. The caterpillar, which is the larval stage of the Hepialus armoricanus moth, is attacked by the fungus and destroyed. Together, the caterpillar and fungus are harvested and dried for use as an herbal remedy. Cordyceps is often used as an overall body-strengthening tonic following illness, but it is also used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, viral infections, cancer, sexual dysfunction and respiratory illness, such as bronchitis and asthma. At the time of publication, scientific research on cordyceps is limited. More clinical studies are needed to determine its role as a treatment for these conditions.
Cordyceps for Asthma
A study published in September 2010 in the "International Journal of Molecular Medicine" found extract of cordyceps effective in reducing some of the effects of asthma in mice. Additional studies to determine its efficacy for humans are necessary. According to Drugs.com, in the lab, cordyceps appear to work by improving the oxygenation of lung tissue, which may also account for it use in treating altitude sickness.
Cordyceps Dosage Considerations
Due to insufficient evidence supporting its use for asthma, there is no definitive recommended dosage for treating this respiratory ailment. Consult your health care provider for advice on how much cordyceps to take. According to The National Standard, the typical recommended dosage of cordyceps is 3 to 9 g for 4 to 6 weeks. However, the many different herbal preparations containing cordyceps have varying amounts of the herb, so only take it exactly as recommended by your physician.
Precautions
Taking cordyceps in any dosage can produce some side effects, including dizziness, dry mouth, loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhea. Never give cordyceps to children or take it while pregnant or nursing, unless advised to do so by your doctor. Don't use it in combination with asthma inhalers, blood thinners, oral contraceptives, immunosuppressant and diabetic medications. Do not take cordyceps if you have a heart arrhythmia, kidney disease, prostate problems or a hormone-sensitive cancer, such as breast cancer.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Asthma; Steven D. Ehrlich, NM; Sept. 20, 2009
- National Standard: Cordyceps; 2010
- Drugs.com: Cordyceps
- AltMD: Cordyceps; 2008
- "International Journal Of Molecular Medicine"; Anti-Asthmatic Activities in Mycelial Extract and Culture Filtrate of Cordyceps sphecocephala J201; J.C. Heo et al.; September 2010
