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Cordyceps for Adrenal Fatigue

Aug 18, 2011 | By Joel Le Blanc
Cordyceps for Adrenal Fatigue
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If you are suffering from fatigue, exhaustion and poor immune function, you may need to support your adrenal glands with a medicinal mushroom called Cordyceps sinensis. Cordyceps can be included in the diet or taken as a natural supplement, and it benefits the heart and kidneys, reduces stress levels and stimulates immune function. Consult with your doctor and registered Chinese herbalist before taking cordyceps products to make sure that cordyceps mushroom is right for you.

History

Cordyceps, also known as the caterpillar fungus, has been used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for hundreds of years for protecting the lungs, kidneys and reproductive tissues. Originally, people believed the oddly shaped mushroom was a living worm, when it is actually a spore that infects and kills insects such as moths and caterpillars and feeds off their tissues. Cordyceps first became popular in the west in 1993 when the coach of record-breaking Chinese female runners attributed their success to eating cordyceps mushrooms.

Chemistry

According to Drug Information Online, cordyceps mushrooms provide a wide range of active compounds that are responsible for its medicinal and pharmacological effects. Nutrition found in cordyceps includes protein, carbohydrates, sterols, oils, vitamin B-1, B-2, B-12, E and K. In addition, cordyceps provides active chemicals such as adenine, adenosine, inosine, thymine, cordycepin, cordyheptapeptide, mannitol and ergosterol. Levels of these chemicals and nutrients may vary depending on where cordyceps is grown, and whether it is cultured or wild. Cordyceps that is harvested from the wild is considered to be a superior product.

Antifatigue

Cordceps has a specific effect on energy, stress and physical performance. In a study published in "Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin" in 2003, researchers from Dongduk Women's University in Korea studied the effects of cordyceps mushroom on fatigue and stress in rats. When animals were given extracts of cordyceps, they experienced less fatigue, had better immune function and reduced stress levels. Researchers concluded cordyceps had a similar function on fatigue and stress as the herbal medicine ginseng, though more research is required to understand just how cordyceps works in the body.

Adrenal Weight

In a study published in "Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin" in 2005, National Cheng Kung University researchers wanted to study the specific effects of cordyceps on the adrenal tissues. Extracts of cordyceps mushroom were fed to both immature and adult rats, and the body weight and adrenal gland weight of the rats were tested. Cordyceps had a significant effect on increasing corticosterone, a chemical that regulates immune function and stress responses, but had no constant effect on body weight or adrenal weight. In some cases, cordyceps stimulated an increase in body and adrenal weight, while in other cases the cordyceps extract had a reducing effect. More research is required to confirm the effects of cordyceps mushrooms on adrenal gland function.

Safety and toxicity

Cordyceps is an edible mushroom that is considered safe and well-tolerated by the majority of the population, with few adverse reactions. Cases of lead poisoning from eating cordyceps mushrooms have been reported, and one case of an allergic reaction to cordyceps is known. If you are currently on prescription medications, consult with your doctor before taking cordyceps mushrooms.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Aug 18, 2011

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