Cordyceps mushrooms transition from traditional remedy to modern supplement

Cordyceps, a fungus traditionally used in Chinese medicine, is transitioning from a traditional remedy to a modern dietary supplement. While long utilized for energy, vitality, and libido, recent human clinical studies are beginning to provide evidence for its effects on the immune system, respiratory health, and athletic recovery.

The most well-known species, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, grows in the Tibetan highlands by infecting insect larvae. Due to the rarity and high cost of wild-harvested specimens, most commercial supplements utilize cultivated varieties or different species, such as Cordyceps militaris. This variety in species presents challenges for standardized scientific research.