Cordyceps Sinensis
Cordyceps Sinensis facts v fiction
Sinensis mushroom: Although there are over 400 different types of Cordyceps Sinensis mushrooms, they all grow the same way. Particularly relevant is the chemical that creates the benefits, Cordycepin.
Cordyceps is a medicinal mushroom due to Cordycepin, the chemical that increases energy. This also stimulates the immune system and acts as an overall tonic.
As a traditional Chinese herb, it has only gained attention in the West over the last few decades and is still largely unknown.
How Cordyceps Sinensis grows
Cordyceps has a unique way of reproducing. It develops inside insects, killing and mummifying the remains because it will pop out of the insects as a mushroom as either militaris or sinensis
These species are known to be found in Tibet. Other Cordyceps species grow worldwide, mainly in humid tropical forests in Asia.
Spores infect different types of insects, including several species of ants. The fruiting body is usually up to 4 inches in proximity, 10 cm and 1-2 cm wide.
Unlike a typical mushroom, they are curved and club-shaped, like a small cane, normally orange or brown.
There are many names for the Cordyceps mushroom.
The English call it caterpillar fungus, and there are other fascinating names. The Latin name Cordyceps means club head, and Sinensis is "from China. Chong"
The Tibetans called them Yartsa Gunbu, and the Chinese Chong Xia Cao means winter worm or summer grass.
Cordyceps Militaris - The Laboratory process
Worried about consuming dead insects? Don't be. There is a vegan/vegetarian process that does not involve using insects.
Cultivating lab spores to develop a similar mushroom is a complicated process. Particularly relevant is the fact the lab version also carries the Cordycepin chemical to provide the same results.
Most noteworthy, the lab-based Cordyceps have much more control over the other elements like heavy metals and airborne microbes that might pollute the mushroom.
The controlled environment guarantees a pure product because of the conditions and stringent testing when harvested.