Cordyceps Mushrooms

Cordyceps as Antioxidant Source

Much of the anti-aging reputation of the humble Cordyceps is rooted in its power as a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants fight damaging atoms called free radicals that cause oxidative stress to our DNA, cells, and skin, in addition to contributing to multiple disorders and illnesses.

When an antioxidant like those found in Cordyceps encounters a free radical, it passes an electron on to it, balancing and effectively neutralizing it.

While there have been a multitude of promising studies on the anti-aging power of Cordyceps, they’ve mostly been done on mice. There’s no study effectively saying natural Cordyceps sinensis fights aging in humans, but we do have centuries of traditional uses to draw from.

Cordyceps as Energy Booster

Cordyceps is well-regarded as an energy booster thanks to its ability to increase our production of a molecule called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. This tiny powerhouse captures energy from food molecules as they’re broken down, and carries it to other cells, driving a host of important cellular processes in our bodies.

Cordyceps and ATP can help our bodies use oxygen more efficiently and boost our exercise performance, even as we age. However, this doesn’t appear to have the same effect in trained athletes.

Cordyceps as Anti-Inflammatory

Studies have shown that Cordyceps has incredible potential as a natural anti-inflammatory, reducing inflammation in skin, muscles, respiratory systems, and more. This has also only been studied in animals, so we can’t make any claims about the effectiveness of Cordyceps as an anti-inflammatory on humans.

But, we do know that natural anti-inflammatories can be effective against both short-lived acute inflammation and long-lasting chronic inflammation. You've probably used anti-inflammatory medication before, such as ibuprofen or naproxen for muscle pain, headaches, and so forth. These are in a medication class called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. These medications work well for the majority of people, however they do carry some risk, including stomach ulcers and increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. If cordyceps proves to be successful in reducing inflammation without these risks, that could be a game-changer!

Cordyceps as Adaptogenic Mushroom

When it comes to combining Cordyceps with CBD, it’s the adaptogenic power of the mushroom that we look to. So, what’s that?

Adaptogens are natural compounds that can help your body manage and adapt to stress, including biological, chemical, and physical stress. They were first named by the Russian scientist Nikolai Lazarev, who was studying ways to increase vitality in then-Soviet athletes and soldiers.

It turns out that mushrooms and fungi like Cordyceps, lion’s mane, reishi, and many others are packed with adaptogenic potential.

Cordyceps as Nootropic Mushroom

Another powerful attribute of Cordyceps and many other mushrooms and fungi is the potential to boost and hone cognitive function as a nootropic. There are a number of ways this seems to work, including stimulating growth and repair of nervous system cells, fighting brain cell inflammation, and maximizing the body’s use of oxygen as we mentioned above.

Although lion’s mane is the most famous nootropic mushroom, cultured Cordyceps sinensis has been found to have nootropic potential, as well.

These are only a few of the amazing potential benefits of the Cordyceps mushroom. This mushroom has also shown potential to help with heart disease, to manage blood sugar levels for diabetics, and to fight tumors. Those are big ideas with even bigger, and thus-far inconclusive, scientific studies behind them.

When we combine adaptogenic mushrooms and nootropic mushrooms with the incredible soothing and therapeutic effects of CBD, we can create incredibly robust mushroom products to help us when we’re feeling stress, fatigue, and much more.