The medicinal mushroom Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) has a long history of therapeutic use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is commonly called “Dong Chong Xia Cao” which translates to “worm in winter and grass in summer”. This insect parasitising fungus lives on a wide range of host insects and is chiefly valued as a tonic herb in TCM. Cordyceps is used to treat a wide range of disorders including respiratory, kidney, liver, and cardiovascular diseases, low libido and impotence, and hyperlipidaemia, as well as being used as a tonic adaptogen to promote energy, reduce fatigue, and strengthen the body after illness. As Cordyceps modulates excessive inflammatory cytokine release and is a potent immunomodulator, it is an excellent herb for regulating immune dysregulation caused by an infection, such as a stealth pathogen or viral infection. Promising research has also been published surrounding its use in cancer treatment and in chronic kidney disease.
