Bottom Line: Cordyceps has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, but at this point there is only weak evidence that it can treat kidney disease, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and lung diseases. There is NO proof that it can lower cholesterol, stimulate the immune system, or treat hepatitis.
Cordyceps, used in traditional Chinese medicine, contains a fungus that grows on caterpillar larvae; both are contained in the product and both are consumed. Cordyceps has not been studied extensively in the laboratory, but the existing studies show that cordyceps stimulates many different immune cells when directly applied to them in a test tube. However, test tube results from the laboratory do not always translate into beneficial effects in the human body. It is not known if cordyceps stimulates the immune system in humans. Other experiments in animals suggest that cordyceps can stimulate progesterone production and reduce kidney toxicity from harsh medications, but scientists are not sure how cordyceps exerts these effects or if they will occur in humans.
To treat bronchitis and coughs Limited data from clinical trials support this use. More research is needed.
To treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD) Limited data from clinical trials support this use. More research is needed.
To relieve fatigue Clinical studies support this use.
To treat hepatitis No scientific evidence supports this use.
To lower high cholesterol No scientific evidence supports this use.
To stimulate the immune system Laboratory studies show that cordyceps stimulates several aspects of the immune system, but it is not known whether this effect occurs in the human body. There is no proof from clinical trials that cordyceps stimulates the immune system.
To treat sexual dysfunction Clinical trials weakly support this use. More research is needed.
To treat kidney failure Clinical trials weakly support this use.
Most of the clinical trials with cordyceps have been performed in China and are not published in English. A review of such studies, which were not always well-designed, claimed to show the following results. Further studies of these conditions are needed to establish whether cordyceps is definitively effective.
Elderly patients with asthenia (weakness) had significant improvements in fatigue, dizziness, intolerance to cold, tinnitus, frequent nighttime urination, low libido, and amnesia at a dose of 3 grams per day.
Improved quality of life in a study of 64 chronic heart failure patients at a dose of 3-4 grams of cordyceps per day.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had improvements in their pulmonary symptoms, appetite, and energy.
Several studies showed significant improvements in all respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, cough, and sleep) at a dose range of 3-4.5 grams of cordyceps per day.
Improved renal function in 30 patients with chronic renal failure. Improvements were seen in several blood and urine measures of kidney function.
In patients with lung cancer, cordyceps administered at 2-3 grams per day resulted in more patients completing radiation and chemotherapy compared to a control group.
Preventing cyclosporin-induced kidney toxicity: Sixty-nine kidney transplant patients were involved in a study to test the ability of cordyceps to prevent cyclosporin-induced kidney toxicity. Cyclosporin is a drug used to suppress the immune system so that transplanted organs are not rejected by the patient's immune system. Patients took three grams of cordyceps or a placebo for 15 days. Patients taking cordyceps showed better kidney function than those taking placebo, but larger clinical trials are needed to support these results.
This product is regulated by the F.D.A. as a dietary supplement. Unlike approved drugs, supplements are not required to be manufactured under specific standardized conditions. This product may not contain the labeled amount or may be contaminated. In addition, it may not have been tested for safety or effectiveness.
You have a myelogenous type cancer such as AML or CML (Cordyceps has been shown to increase proliferation of red blood cell precursor cells. These cells arise from the same lineage as the cells that cause myelogenous cancers).
You take insulin or other blood-glucose lowering medications (Cordyceps may have an additive hypoglycemic effect; blood glucose should be monitored).
Cordyceps includes fungus that grows on caterpillar larvae, Hepialus armoricanus Oberthuer. Both are contained in the product and both are consumed. Cordyceps is used for a wide range of conditions including fatigue, sexual dysfunction, coughs, and as an adaptogen or immune stimulant. In addition to anecdotal data regarding efficacy, small clinical trials have been performed, but only review articles are available in English (2)(3)(4). No adverse effects have been reported. Although no known drug interactions exist, blood glucose should be monitored in diabetics using cordyceps due to possible hypoglycemic effect (1). In addition, animal studies show proliferation of progenitor red blood cells (8); therefore, Cordyceps should not be used by those with myelogenous type cancers.
Cordyceps stimulates the number of T helper cells, prolongs the survival of lymphocytes, enhances TNF-alpha and interleukin 1 production, and increases the activity of natural killer cells in cultured rat Kupffer cells (3). Enhanced proliferation of erythroid progenitor cell in the bone marrow of mice is also shown (8). One study suggests that cordyceps can stimulate progesterone production in animal cells (5). Another study shows that cordyceps may be effective against tumor celIs by down-regulating MHC class II antigen expression (7). In addition, anecdotal data suggest reduction of cyclosporin and aminoglycoside-induced renal toxicity, although the mechanism of action is not known (4).
Elderly patients with asthenia had significant improvements in fatigue, dizziness, and intolerance to cold, tinnitus, frequent nocturia, hyposexuality and amnesia at a dose of 3 grams.
Improved quality of life in a study of 64 chronic heart-failure patients at a dose of 3-4 grams of cordyceps.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had improvements in their pulmonary symptoms, appetite, and energy.
Several studies showed significant improvements in all respiratory symptoms at a dose range of 3-4.5 grams of Cordyceps. Improvements were in shortness of breath, cough and expectoration, and sleep.
Improved renal function in 30 patients with chronic renal failure. Improvements were seen in creatinine clearance, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and reduction in urinary protein.
In patients with lung cancer, cordyceps administered at 2-3 grams resulted in more patients completing radiation and chemotherapy compared to control group.
Xu F, et al. Amelioration of cyclosporin nephrotoxicity by Cordyceps sinensis in kidney-transplant recipients. Nephrol Dial Transplant 1995;10:142-3. Brief letter summarizing results of a randomized, placebo-controlled study that found 3 grams cordyceps daily has a protective effect against cyclosporin-induced nephrotoxicity. Sixty-nine kidney transplant patients with at least 3 months of stable renal function following transplant were given cyclosporin 5 mg/kg/day and received either 3 grams cordyceps or placebo for 15 days. It is not mentioned why cyclosporin was initiated in these patients, as it appears that they were not previously taking the medication. SCr and BUN were statistically lower for patients receiving cordyceps compared to the placebo group. It must be noted that the cyclosporin levels appear lower in the cordyceps group, but this was not statistically significant. Cordyceps appears to reduce cyclosporin induced renal toxicity, but larger trials are needed.
