
Background
Most supplements use cordyceps that is made in a lab. Although cordyceps is sometimes called a mushroom, the type of cordyceps that is made in a lab does not grow a mushroom.
Cordyceps might improve immunity by stimulating cells and specific chemicals in the immune system. It might also help fight cancer cells and shrink tumor size, particularly with lung or skin cancers. Natural cordyceps is hard to get and might be expensive.
People most commonly use cordyceps for athletic performance, kidney disorders, liver problems, and sexual problems, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cordyceps is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding or what the side effects might be. Stay on the safe side and avoid use."Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: When taken by mouth, cordyceps might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using cordyceps.
Surgery: When taken by mouth, cordyceps might increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. Stop taking cordyceps 2 weeks before surgery.
Effectiveness
- Athletic performance. Taking cordyceps by mouth doesn't seem to improve athletic performance in adults.
Dosing & administration
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cordyceps can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking cordyceps along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cordyceps might slow blood clotting. Taking cordyceps along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Testosterone
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Cordyceps might increase testosterone levels. But it's not clear if this is a big concern. People taking testosterone should be cautious until more is known about this potential interaction.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Interactions with foods
Products
View all products- Cordyceps sinensis (Cordyceps) ext. 200 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 100 mg
- Asparagus cochinchinensis ext. 100 mg
- Eucommia ulmoides ext. 200 mg
- Lycium barbarum ext. 200 mg
- Cistanche salsa ext. 100 mg
- Cordyceps sinensis (Cordyceps) ext. 76.8 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum ext. 76.8 mg
- Grifola frondosa ext. 76.8 mg
- Lentinula edodes ext. 76.8 mg
- Trametes versicolor ext. 76.8 mg
- Polyporus umbellatus ext. 38.4 mg
- Tremella fuciformis ext. 38.4 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 38.4 mg
- Cordyceps sinensis (Cordyceps) 750 mg
- Withania somnifera 1.5 g
- Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) 1 g
- Eleutherococcus senticosus 500 mg
- L-theanine 100 mg
- Lepidium meyenii 1.5 g
- Calcium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 1 g
- Rhodiola rosea 500 mg
- Magnesium citrate 300 mg
- Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) 40 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 20 mg
- Natural flavours
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Cordyceps sinensis (Cordyceps) 105 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica powder 250 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 100 mg
- Lentinula edodes 100 mg
- Trametes versicolor 70 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus 100 mg
- Camellia sinensis 500 mg
- Grifola frondosa 125 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 175 mg
- Brassica oleracea (leaf) powder (Kale) 175 mg
- Chlorella vulgaris powder 175 mg
- Nasturtium officinale 160 mg
- Apium graveolens powder 110 mg
- Pleurotus eryngii 100 mg
- Lipase 750 LipU
- Protease 1000 DU
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 350 GDU
- Carica papaya (Papain) 40 mg
- L-glutamine 500 mg
- Bacillus coagulans (LactoSpore®) 4 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus 750 million CFU
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 500 million CFU
- Quercetin 100 mg
- Taraxacum officinale 100 mg
- Coriandrum sativum 80 mg
- Zingiber officinale 50 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis 50 mg
- Origanum vulgare powder 50 mg
- Natural flavours
- Stevia rebaubiana ext.
- Eleutherococcus senticosus 100 mg
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Cordyceps sinensis (Cordyceps) (mushroom)
- Echinacea angustifolia
- Astragalus membranaceus
- Sambucus nigra (fruit)
- Lycium barbarum (fruit) (Goji)
- Rosa canina
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Echinacea purpurea
- Sambucus nigra
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Olea europaea (leaf)
- Calendula officinalis
- Origanum vulgare
- Uncaria tomentosa
- Mentha x piperita
- Thymus vulgaris
- Cola acuminata
- Foeniculum vulgare
- Inula helenium
- Asclepias tuberosa
- Achillea millefolium
- Armoracia rusticana
- Capsicum spp.
- Allium sativum
- Allium cepa
- Zingiber officinale
- Ganoderma lucidum (mushroom)
- Lentinula edodes (mushroom)
- Tremella fuciformis (mushroom)
- Trametes versicolor (mushroom)
- Salvia eremostachya
- Hericium erinaceus (mushroom)
- Inonotus obliquus (mushroom)
- Ilex paraguariensis
- Cordyceps militaris (Cordyceps)
- Medium chain triglycerides (goMCT®️) 1.5 g
- Pleurotus eryngii
- Lentinula edodes
- Trametes versicolor
- Grifola frondosa
- Coffea arabica 2.9 g
- Huberzia serrata 25 µg
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Theobroma cacao 15 mg
- Natural flavours
- Theobroma cacao powder 480 mg
- Alpinia galanga powder 150 mg
- Bacopa monnieri powder 100 mg
- Coffea arabica powder 100 mg
- Acacia sp. (fibre)
- Cordyceps sinensis (Cordyceps)
- Pea protein concentrate
- Oryza sativa (Rice protein)
- Hordeum vulgare
- Wheatgrass powder
- Amaranth powder
- Quinoa powder
- Medicago sativa
- Malus (Apple)
- Vaccinium corymbosum
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Coriandrum sativum
- Petroselinum crispum
- Cynara scolymus
- Raphanus raphanistrum (Wild radish)
- Taraxacum officinale
- Brassica oleracea (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Apium graveolens
- Beta vulgaris
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica
- Armoracia rusticana
- Brassica oleracea var. viridis
- Nasturtium officinale
- Ocimum basilicum
- Piper nigrum
- Mentha spicata
- Cocoa powder
- Natural flavours
- Malpighia glabra
- Stevia rebaubiana (Steviol glycosides)
- Ganoderma lucidum
- Lentinula edodes
- Grifola frondosa
- Trametes versicolor
- Cannabis sativa (seed) powder
- Agaricus subrufescens (Himematsutake)