The Cordyceps Mushroom: Protector and Healer of the Respiratory System

We are living in a world that is hostile to our lungs. Toxic particles in the air, coming from industry, agriculture, and cars, are a leading cause of many chronic respiratory illnesses and cancers. Combined with the new pandemic virus, COVID-19, the human respiratory system is in trouble. In our collective work to defeat COVID-19 and to combat air pollution and create a cleaner, healthier earth, our respiratory systems need all the support they can get. Nature provides us with many medicinal mushrooms and plants that are healing to the lungs. One particular family of mushrooms, the cordyceps, are superstars in this regard.
Cordyceps /ˈkɔːrdɪsɛps/ is a genus of ascomycete fungi (sac fungi) that includes about 400 species. Cordyceps mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Wild cordyceps fungi grow from the bodies of wild caterpillars, but today, we can grow these little mushrooms on farmed caterpillars and organic rice. Cordyceps are traditionally used to soothe the lungs, replenish the kidneys, to reduce fatigue, and to boost the sex drive. Years of scientific research on these mushrooms supports traditional uses and has also discovered a plethora of other medicinal properties. Among other findings, research has revealed that cordyceps can successfully treat various cancers, and that the mushrooms are supportive of heart and kidney health. But the many different ways in which cordyceps mushrooms are beneficial to the respiratory system is especially fascinating.
Above all, research had demonstrated that cordyceps are beneficial for those who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CODP) and from asthma. The anti-inflammatory properties of cordyceps are a driving force behind the little mushrooms’ medicinal powers. This ability to reduce inflammation in the airways has been demonstrated in several studies, making cordyceps useful for those who suffer from allergies and for asthmatics (Lin et al, 2001; Gao, Li & Shen, 2009; Wang et al, 2012 and Chiou & Lin, 2015). Cordyceps extract has even been found to reduce undesirable immune responses and cytokine expression in asthmatics (Heo et al., 2010). One particularly interesting study included 120 randomized human test subjects and discovered that the use of cordyceps both improved lung function and the inflammatory profile of patients with moderate-to-severe asthma (Wang et al., 2016).
Other research has revealed that consumption of cordyceps can inhibit tracheal contractions and relax the bronchial walls (Yang et al., 2018). Much of the reason behind the mushrooms’ healing abilities is due to their anti-inflammatory properties, but they affect the airway in many other ways. Studies have revealed that use of cordyceps may increase airflow to the lungs and enhance oxygen utilization, and that cordyceps extract can even be used as a therapeutic reagent in the treatment of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (Gao et al, 2010). Cordyceps extract has also been found to be able to inhibit cellular senescence induced by cigarette smoke (Liu et al., 2016), and can even alleviate acute lung injury that may be a side effect of the use of certain chemotherapies (Lie et al, 2015).
A review of twenty studies thus demonstrates that these powerful little mushrooms may be an effective all-around treatment for many respiratory issues. Cordyceps extract supports breathing, enhances oxygen utilization, reduces inflammation, and directly inhibits tumor formation and cellular damage in the respiratory system caused by bacterial infections, viral infections, chemicals and air pollution. Those with chronic respiratory issues – as well as those who are currently fighting respiratory infection – would be wise to give the little cordyceps mushroom a chance.
Chiou, YL & CY Lin. (2012). "The extract of Cordyceps sinensis inhibited airway
inflammation by blocking NF-κB activity" in Inflammation 35(3): 985-93.
Fung, JC et al. (2011). "Cordyceps militaris extract stimulates Cl(-) secretion across human
bronchial epithelia by both Ca(2+)(-) and cAMP-dependent pathways" in Journal of
Ethnopharmacology, 138(1): 201-211.
Gao, BA et al. (2010). "Cordyceps sinensis extract suppresses hypoxia-induced proliferation
of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells" in Saudi Medical Journal, 31(9): 974-9.
Gao, GX, GM Li & HH Shen. (2009). "Effect of Astragali-Cordyceps Mixtura on TGF-
beta/Smad signal pathway in the lung of asthma airway remodeling" in Journal of
Ethnopharmacology, 125(1):68-74.
Heo, Jin-Chul et al. (2010). “Anti-asthmatic activities in mycelial extract and culture filtrate of
Cordyceps sphecocephala J201" in International Journalof Molecular Medicine, 26(3):
351-356.
Hsu, Chia-Hsiu. (2008). "Effects of the Immunomodulatory Agent Cordyceps militaris on
Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Asthma Model" in Pediatrics & Neonatology, 49(5):
171-178.
Kuo, Yuh-Chi et al. (2001). "Regulation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids cell function by the
immunomodulatory agents from Cordyceps sinensis" in Life Sciences, 68(9). 1067-1082.
Li, SP, FQ Yang & KW Tsim. (2006). "Quality control of Cordyceps sinensis, a valued
traditional Chinese medicine" in Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis,
41(5): 1571-84.
Liu, A. et al. (2016). "The inhibitory mechanism of Cordyceps sinensis on cigarette smoke
extract-induced senescence in human bronchial epithelial cells" in International Journal of
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 11: 1721-31.
Liu, S. et al. (2015). "Cordyceps militaris Alleviates Severity of Murine Acute Lung Injury
Through miRNAs-Mediated CXCR2 Inhibition" in Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry,
36(5): 2003-2011.
Lin, XX et al. (2001). "Effects of fermented Cordyceps powder on pulmonary function in
sensitized guinea pigs and airway inflammation in sensitized rats" in China Journal of
Chinese Materia Medica, 26(9): 622-5.
Singh, Mrinalini et al. (2013). "Cordyceps sinensis Increases Hypoxia Tolerance by Inducing
Heme Oxygenase-1 and Metallothionein via Nrf2 Activation in Human Lung Epithelial
Cells" in BioMed Research International.
Wang, N. et al. (2016). "Herbal Medicine Cordyceps sinensis Improves Health-Related
Quality of Life in Moderate-to-Severe Asthma" in Evidence-Based Complementary and
Alternative Medicine.
Wang, Shanlin, Fenfei Du, Lili Wang & Danhong Ying. (2011). "Effects of Cordyceps
Polysaccharide on the OVA-induced Airway Inflammation and Hyperresponsiveness in a
Murine Asthmatic Model" in Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy.
Yu, Xuhua et al. (2019). "Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Cordyceps sinensis on Stable
COPD of GOLD Stages 2–3: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" in Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1(4). 1-12.
Yue, GG et al. (2008). "Effects of Cordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps militaris and their isolated
compounds on ion transport in Calu-3 human airway epithelial cells" in Journal of
Ethnopharmacology, 117(1): 92-101.
Yang, L. et al. (2018). "Cordyceps sinensis inhibits airway remodeling in rats with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease" in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 15(3):
2731-2738.
Zhou, Xuanwei et al. (2009). "Cordyceps fungi: natural products, pharmacological functions
and developmental products" in Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 61(3): 279-91.
Zhu, JS, GM Halpern & K. Jones. (1998). "The scientific rediscovery of a precious ancient
Chinese herbal regimen: Cordyceps sinensis: part I" in The Journal of Alternative and
Complementary Medicine,4(3): 289-303
Zhu, JS, GM Halpern & K. Jones. (1998). "The scientific rediscovery of a precious ancient
Chinese herbal regimen: Cordyceps sinensis: part II" in The Journal of Alternative and
Complementary Medicine, 4(4):429-57.