Ironically, since the introduction of Viagra, the search for a natural alternative for erectile dysfunction has increased significantly. And as it turns out, the Chinese may already have had the answer two millennia ago.
Cordyceps is a minute fungus found at high altitudes of the Tibetan plateau. Its hard to imagine that it ever got noticed and discovered, let alone that its now become one of the most sought after medicinal mushrooms in the world.
For nearly two millennia, Chinese doctors have dispensed Cordyceps extract for physical stamina and sexual prowess. Preserved written records date back as far 200 A.D., when it was described in the book “The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman.
The normal life cycle of the “Caterpillar fungus” (Cordyceps sinensis) consists of parasitizing on non-vital tissue of the silk-worm caterpillar. In the end, it overwhelms its host (the caterpillar), kills it, and sprouts out of the dead carcass. That doesn’t sound like anything you would want to put in your mouth, does it? Well, have no fear. With modern technology, Cordyceps sinensis mycelium can now be grown on a bed of rice medium. The extract of the fungus grown in this way contains the same compounds as wild harvested specimens. An additional perk is that it is much less likely to contain any traces of other types of fungi, bacteria, or heavy metals.
A study out of China, which was released over a decade before the introduction of Viagra, reported a 64% improvement in erectile dysfunction from a daily consumption of 1,000 mg of Cordyceps sinensis. (1)
There are three likely contributing factors why Cordyceps sinensis appears to have an effect on sexual dysfunction:
- Cordyceps sinensis has been shown to improve physical vitality and stamina in general. (2,3,4) In 1993, a group of nine Chinese women set world records at the Chinese National Games. When asked about the secret to their success, they attributed it to their use of Cordyceps. (5,6)
- Two published research papers indicate that Cordyceps helps increase blood flow by diluting blood vessels (7,8), which would be of significant relevance in sexual dysfunction.
- Thirdly and perhaps most important of all is that two studies have shown Cordyceps sinensis to “significantly increase” the production of testosterone in males. (9,10)
Note: Always consult a licensed health care provider before using any herb for medicinal purposes. This article is solely intended as a source of information and does not prescribe or advice the use of any substance mentioned herein.
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