Medicinal mushrooms are an inexhaustible source of ever new properties and healing effects. One of the best-known medicinal mushrooms is the Cordyceps, also known as the caterpillar fungus. Studies have shown that Cordyceps strengthens the immune system, reduces depression and is effective against arthritis pain. However, its special talent lies in the area of ​​potency and libido strengthening. At the same time, it also increases general physical performance, which makes it particularly interesting for athletes. It has now been discovered that Cordyceps can even help with cancer.

Cordyceps – a medicinal mushroom of a special kind

The Chinese caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) – also known as Tibetan caterpillar fungus or Cordyceps sinensis – grows in the Tibetan high mountains at altitudes between 3,000 and 5,000 meters.

As the name of the mushroom suggests, in the wild it is dependent on a caterpillar in order to exist at all. It lives off its flesh, so to speak.

The caterpillar understandably does not take much pleasure in its parasite, but the fungus is all the more valuable for us humans.

Anyone who does not want to eat a “carnivorous” mushroom should rest assured, because the wild caterpillar fungus is extremely rare anyway and almost never reaches western regions.

The Cordyceps products available in Europe (e.g. Cordyceps CS-4® powder) come from Cordyceps fungi that grow on grain-based media rather than caterpillars, but still contain the effective ingredients.

Cordyceps is a healing all-rounder

In Asia, Cordyceps has been highly valued for at least a thousand years because it is considered a medicinal all-rounder with a particularly wide spectrum of effects in folk medicine.

For example, the medicinal mushroom stimulates libido and potency, helps with joint pain and has a performance-enhancing effect.

Furthermore, Cordyceps has long been used as an anti-cancer agent in traditional Chinese medicine. This is because the medicinal mushroom stimulates the formation of white blood cells, inhibits the formation of new blood vessels in cancerous tissue and starves cancer cells.

In addition, the caterpillar fungus is often used in Asian countries such as China and Japan to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

Cancer research: Cordyceps as a beacon of hope

Western medicine first began to explore the healing power of Cordyceps in the 1950s. Even then, it was recognized that the fungus could have a very positive effect on malignant tumors.

The scientists discovered at the time that the active ingredient cordycepin is broken down by the body far too quickly to pass the practical test and really help cancer patients.

However, a team of researchers from the University of Nottingham managed to overcome this obstacle a few years ago: the active ingredient was simply combined with another substance that prevented it from being broken down in the body.

Unfortunately, the additive causes side effects, but helped to identify the anti-cancer mechanism of action of cordycepin.

Cordyceps inhibits cancer cell growth

The study found that cordycepin affects tumor cells in different ways.

Firstly, the medicinal mushroom inhibits the growth of cancer cells and prevents them from dividing. Under the effect of Cordyceps, cancer cells are also unable to attach themselves to one another, which also prevents the spread of cancer (1).

In addition, Cordyceps ensures that protein production in cancer cells no longer functions properly. The cancer cell can therefore no longer produce proteins that are helpful for division and growth.

Study leader Dr. Cornelia de Moor described the study as an important basis for further studies.

The next step is to find out which types of cancer respond to cordycepin therapy and which side-effect-free additives are suitable for an effective combination.

Reishi – Powerful Medicinal Mushroom for Cancer

Reishi is also an extremely effective medicinal mushroom that can bring great success in cancer prevention, but also in cancer therapy. In many Asian countries, it has long been officially included in cancer treatment.

Reishi expert Dr. Fukumi Morishige from the Linus Pauling Institute for Science and Medicine in California also uses the Reishi mushroom to treat cancer patients who have long since been given up on by conventional medicine (4) – with very good results. He recommends the combination therapy of Reishi mushroom and vitamin C.

Chaga mushroom – medicinal mushroom with diverse effects

The Chaga mushroom is also a medicinal mushroom with a long history in traditional folk medicine – especially in Siberia and the Baltic countries. The mushroom particularly likes to grow on birch trees and initial studies (on mice) have shown that in its presence tumor growth could be slowed or even inhibited and the number of metastases shrank.

The Chaga mushroom can also be used in the treatment of diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, allergies, autoimmune diseases and many other typical diseases of civilization. Read all about the use and dosage of the Chaga mushroom in the link above.