by Dr. Markho Rafael

Since Viagra became available on the market in 1998, the interest in natural alternatives has also peaked in terms of sexual potentiators. And maybe we don’t have to look very far. Traditional Chinese Medicine has an herbal product they’ve been using for that purpose for 2000 years called Cordyceps sinensis.

The mushroom Cordyceps sinensis does have a common name in English, Caterpillar fungus, although many more people know it by its Latin name as just “Cordyceps.” In its natural environment, it can be found only at high altitudes in the mountains of China and Tibet. Considering its minute size, it is a ‘small’ (pun intended) miracle that anyone ever discovered it and thought to use it as a medicinal mushroom.

Since around the dawn of our age, Chinese physicians have prescribed Cordyceps as an aphrodisiac and general vitalizing tonic. The first reference to Cordyceps as a medicinal fungus occurred around 200 A.D. in a book titled, The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman.

In its natural environment, Cordyceps sinensis infects caterpillars and then sprouts out of their dead carcasses. While that certainly doesn’t sound very appetizing, modern advances allow potent strains of Cordyceps sinensis to be grown on a rice medium. Cordyceps extract produced in this way has been shown to contain the same medicinal compounds as the wild harvested fungi, with the added advantage of being free from contamination by other species of fungi or bacteria.

A Chinese study on Cordyceps sinensis, predating the 1998 release of Viagra by 13 years, found a 64% improvement in men with sexual dysfunction when they consumed 1 g of Cordyceps per day. [1]

So what’s the mechanism behind Cordyceps’ apparent effect as an aphrodisiac and sexual potentiator? The following three factors may help explain:

- Three modern scientific studies have concluded that Cordyceps helps improve physical stamina, vitality and endurance. [2,3,4] At the Chinese National Games of 1993, nine world records were set by female athletes. When questioned about the secret behind their success, they said it was due to their use of Cordyceps. [5,6]

- Cordyceps sinensis helps dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow [7,8], which is certainly an important factor in erectile function.

- Last but not least, Cordyceps extract was shown in two studies to cause a significant increase in the testosterone production in male subjects. [9,10]

Note: This article is for scientific and informational purposes only. It is very important to always consult with a licensed medical doctor before using an herb to treat any medical condition.

About the Author:
About the writer: Dr. Markho Rafael works in the natural health field since 1995, as a researcher and writer specializing in mycomedicinals. Click Cordyceps sinensis extract for mycomedicinals and free articles, or to request a unique version of this article for your own web-site or publication. Cordyceps Article References A special thank you to Paul Stamets for reference material!

Related posts:

  1. Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) and Nerve Regeneration
    With a unique flavor alternately described as lobster or shrimp,...
  2. How Green Tea Extract Can Help Your Health
    People in China have been utilizing green tea extract for...
  3. Books on Traditional Chinese Medicine Are a Great Resource
    Chinese medicine can be better understood by reading one of...
  4. Resveratrol Pills The Ultimate Anti Oxidant
    Resveratrol is the best red wine extract as it also...
  5. Cat’s Claw Extract Supplement: Natural Ingredients to Improve Your Life
    Within your body there is an amazing protection mechanism--a system...

Tagged with:

Filed under: Nutrition

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!