Guest guest Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Never tried it, but I found this: The History of Cordyceps (This article courtesy of R-Garden Internationale) Cordyceps is a fungus, like mushrooms, reishi, shitake, etc., but belongs to a different family, which represents only 2% of all the fungus grown in the world. A mature Cordyceps can measure from 2 to 5 inches in height and up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. According to botanical classification, Cordyceps Sinensis can only be found in some isolated places in the southwestern part of China, such as Quihai and Tibet, 12,000 or more feet above sea level. The ecology of these areas is not found in any other part of the world. Due to the harsh environment and consequently very small production, wild Cordyceps is usually very expensive, selling for up to $1000 for 100 grams in Japan. And yet, the supply can hardly meet the demand. The Medicine and Science Academy of China began an earnest research effort on Cordyceps more than 20 years ago by forming a team of 200 experts from various disciplines. After 10 years of intensive and exhaustive studies, a particular kind of Cordyceps from Quihai providence was selected for pilot production due to its resistance to disease, its fast growth, nutritional content, and easy adaptability to many growing media. A production technology was developed and commercial production began a few years ago. Cordyceps was first mentioned as an anti-aging herb around 1700 BC during the Yin Dynasty. The first Emperor of the Chin Dynasty (259 BC - 210 BC) paid 1 ounce of gold for a few days' portion of Cordyceps. Two books written in the 15th and 18th centuries by Tibetan scholars described Cordyceps in great detail. In 1726, a French missionary sent some Cordyceps from China to Paris. A Mr. Reaumur introduced the product at a scientific gathering and wrote a paper the next year about Cordyceps, which started the research effort in Europe. In 1728, Cordyceps was first imported into Japan. In the classical Chinese medicinal texts such as New Herbs, Herbal Pharmacology, and Herbal Classification, Cordyceps was described in great detail as a very effective herb for treating circulatory, respiratory, immune, sexual dysfunction, as well as a host of other health problems. It was also classified as a general health tonic because of its ability to improve energy, stamina, appetite and sleeping patterns. In the early 1970's the Chinese government researchers began collecting and cultivating more than 200 species of wild Cordyceps Sinensis. After extensive studies, one kind was selected for commercial production. Extensive research and clinical studies have been carried out using scientific procedures and standards that verify the product's safety and health benefits. Laboratory Tests The calmative effect of Cordyceps on the central nervous system is quite noticeable. When 5 grams per Kilogram of weight of Cordyceps is injected into the abdominal cavity of mice, obvious sedative results are produced and it prolongs the sleeping time of the mice. It can also reduce the spasm of the mice due to the toxic effect of nicotine and reduces the death rate of these mice. Cordyceps can increase the spleen weight of laboratory mice suffering from gamma ray radiation. It can also increase the total DNA, RNA, and protein content in the spleen of these mice. Cordyceps can increase the macrophage cell production, possibly due to the increase of DNA, RNA, and protein which increases the new cell growth in the mice's spleens. Cordyceps can slow down the heart beat, increase the blood supply to the coronary arteries and also increase the total blood volume output of the heart of laboratory frogs. It can prolong the survival time of mice under hypo-oxygenated conditions. It also relaxes the blood vessel walls so that the blood flow to the heart is increased and the blood pressure is lowered. Cordyceps can relax the bronchial walls of laboratory mice as well as having sedative, antitussive, and anti-inflammatory properties, thus it can be effective against cough, phlegm, asthma, and other respiratory ailments. Cordyceps also increases the adrenaline production of laboratory mice. Cordyceps acts as a very potent male sex hormone. It increased the testicle weight of laboratory mice. Cordyceps has the ability to increase the ATP production in the mitochondria of human cells and thus increases the energy level of the people taking this product. Three grams per kilogram of weight can increase the SOD content in mice's liver tissue, prevent or decrease the formation of Peroxide lipids, and prevent or decrease the formation of oxidise enzyme in the brain. So its anti-aging effects are obvious. Several in vitro studies indicate that Cordyceps can control the growth of certain kinds of bacteria in the human body. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- > Does anyone have experience with Cordycep mushrooms? My doc told me > they increase sex drive, but he doesn't know which mechanism it works > on. > > If anyone has tried them, and found an increase in LH or T levels or > a decrease in E, please let me know. > > Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Thanks tallen, I did a search on this before and never found any studies relating it to hormones, it would be interesting if someone came across such a study... Thanks!!! > > Does anyone have experience with Cordycep mushrooms? My doc told > me > > they increase sex drive, but he doesn't know which mechanism it > works > > on. > > > > If anyone has tried them, and found an increase in LH or T levels > or > > a decrease in E, please let me know. > > > > Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 How about these? Life Sci. 2004 Jul 16;75(9):1051-62. Related Articles, Links In vivo stimulatory effect of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium and its fractions on reproductive functions in male mouse. Huang YL, Leu SF, Liu BC, Sheu CC, Huang BM. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, #1, Ta-Hsueh Road, Tainan, Taiwan 70101, ROC. Cordyceps sinensis (CS), an Ascomycetes fungus parasitic to Lepidoptera larvae, has been traditionally used as nutritious food for the enhancement on sexual performance and the restitution of impairment in sexual function in Chinese society. We have previously demonstrated the stimulatory effect of CS and its fractions on steroidogenesis both on primary mouse Leydig cells and MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. In the present studies, we determined the in vivo effects of CS and its fractions on steroidogenesis in mouse. Different concentrations of CS and CS fractions (0.02 and 0.2 mg/g body weight) were fed to immature or mature mice from 1 to 7 days. The plasma levels of testosterone were evaluated by radioimmunoassay. The weights of reproductive organs were also determined. Results illustrated that CS significantly induced plasma testosterone levels both in immature and mature mice in 3 and/or 7 days treatment (p < 0.05). F2 and F3 at 0.02 and/or 0.2 mg/g body weight for different feeding duration could also significantly stimulated plasma testosterone levels both in immature and mature mice (p < 0.05). In general, CS, F2 and F3 didn't have considerable effect on the weights of reproductive organs. Taken together, these studies illustrate that CS and its fractions significantly stimulated in vivo mouse testosterone production. PMID: 15207653 [PubMed - in process] : Life Sci. 2003 Sep 5;73(16):2127-36. Related Articles, Links In vivo and in vitro stimulatory effects of Cordyceps sinensis on testosterone production in mouse Leydig cells. Hsu CC, Huang YL, Tsai SJ, Sheu CC, Huang BM. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, 701 Tainan, Taiwan. The in vivo and in vitro effects of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) and its extracted fractions on the secretion of testosterone in mice were studied. CS, F2 (water soluble protein), and F3 (poorly water soluble polysaccharide and protein) significantly stimulated in vitro testosterone production in purified mouse Leydig cells. However, F1 (water soluble polysaccharide) had no effect (p>0.05). F2 and F3 stimulated in vitro testosterone production in dose- and time-dependent relationships with maximal responses at 3 mg/ml for 3 h (p<0.05). An in vivo study illustrated that testosterone levels in plasma were significantly increased by CS, F2, and F3, respectively (p<0.05). Because CS, F2, and F3 stimulated both in vitro and in vivo testosterone secretions in mice, it is possible that CS might contribute to an alternative medicine for the treatment of some reproductive problems caused by insufficient testosterone levels in human males. PMID: 12899935 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] FEBS Lett. 2003 May 22;543(1-3):140-3. Related Articles, Links Regulatory mechanism of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium on mouse Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Hsu CC, Tsai SJ, Huang YL, Huang BM. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, #1 Ta-Hsueh Road, 701, Tainan, Taiwan. We demonstrate the mechanism by which Cordyceps sinensis (CS) mycelium regulates Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Mouse Leydig cells were treated with forskolin, H89, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, staurosporine, or steroidogenic enzyme precursors with or without 3 mg/ml CS; then testosterone production was determined. H89, but not phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or staurosporine, decreased CS- treated Leydig cell steroidogenesis. CS inhibited Leydig cell steroidogenesis by suppressing the activity of P450scc enzyme, but not 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17alpha-hydroxylase, 20alpha- hydroxylase, or 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes. Thus, CS activated the cAMP-protein kinase A signal pathway, but not protein kinase C, and attenuated P45scc enzyme activity to reduce human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis in purified mouse Leydig cells. PMID: 12753921 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] > > > Does anyone have experience with Cordycep mushrooms? My doc told > > me > > > they increase sex drive, but he doesn't know which mechanism it > > works > > > on. > > > > > > If anyone has tried them, and found an increase in LH or T levels > > or > > > a decrease in E, please let me know. > > > > > > Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Hi Tallen, Thanks it looks like it does increase T levels as well!!! > > > > Does anyone have experience with Cordycep mushrooms? My doc > told > > > me > > > > they increase sex drive, but he doesn't know which mechanism > it > > > works > > > > on. > > > > > > > > If anyone has tried them, and found an increase in LH or T > levels > > > or > > > > a decrease in E, please let me know. > > > > > > > > Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.