How to take cordyceps

What is cordyceps?

Cordyceps is a type of fungus that’s prized for its wealth of potential health benefits. There are over 400 species of the mushroom, however the main types sold today are cordyceps sinensis and cordyceps militaris.

Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine and similar healthcare systems have been using cordyceps for thousands of years. They believe it can help with everything from improving athletic performance to boosting the immune system. What’s interesting is that modern scientific research is finding promising results to support this impressive reputation.

Another fascinating thing about cordyceps is its unique life cycle. In the wild, it develops on a living host.(1) If you think that sounds creepy, you’re right! The spores infect a caterpillar, ant, or similar small insect, and the fungus then spreads inside its body. The cordyceps takes control of its host, directing it to a spot that’s more suitable for the mushroom to mature. Eventually the bug dies, and the fungus grows out of its body, ready to release more spores.

Right now, you’re probably not wondering how to take cordyceps. Instead, you’re likely asking yourself why on earth anyone would want to consume such a fungus. Well, first of all, don’t worry: taking cordyceps won’t turn you into a mindless zombie! Quite the opposite – the mushroom has a wide range of wellness-boosting properties to offer us. Secondly, the vast majority of cordyceps on the market is grown on carefully controlled substrates with no insects in sight.

With those concerns out of the way, let’s go over how the fungus could benefit you. We’ll then turn to the specifics of how to take cordyceps.

Himalayan Gold: the benefits of taking cordyceps

Before thinking about how to take cordyceps, it’s important to know what gains you’re hoping to get from the mushroom. The good news is that there are several possible ways in which it can boost your wellbeing. That’s what earned cordyceps the nickname ‘Himalayan Gold’. We do have a dedicated article about the benefits of cordyceps, but here’s a quick recap.

One of the most popular reasons for taking cordyceps is to boost energy. Research suggests the fungus might reduce fatigue and improve athletic performance, partly by improving the way the body uses oxygen.(2) The mushroom could similarly work to enhance a low sex drive. It’s not only the body though. Some studies have found cordyceps also improves memory in aged mice, however trials on humans are required to clarify this.

Speaking of ageing, as an antioxidant, cordyceps could additionally help to fight the damage caused to our cells by free radicals. This is vital because experts have linked such damage to an array of chronic diseases and signs of ageing. Moreover, cordyceps boasts impressive anti-inflammatory properties.(3) Inflammation contributes to a number of harmful conditions, for example heart disease, so this is another important benefit.

People especially prize cordyceps for the positive impact it can have on your immunity. This is thanks to the beta-glucans it contains, which can enhance the function of certain types of immune cells.(4)

Furthermore, evidence indicates that cordyceps might be effective at inhibiting cancer cells and slowing the growth of tumours.(5) Research also suggests the fungus could work to manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.(6) So with all these potential advantages to be gained, it’s important to know how to take cordyceps safely and effectively.

How to take cordyceps

Now that you have a better idea of the benefits this fascinating fungus can offer, let’s talk about how to take cordyceps. There are several different options out there, and the best choice for you will depend on a few factors. These include your personal preferences, what fits in with your daily routine, and so on.

Like with all adaptogens, you shouldn’t expect results overnight. Whichever method you pick, you’ll probably need to take cordyceps for a few weeks before the benefits appear. We recommend taking a break after 6-8 weeks of using cordyceps, to allow your body to rebalance. Healthy individuals can do three or four of these cycles a year.

With that in mind, below are three of the most common options for how to take cordyceps. We go through the pros and cons of each to help you decide which is the right method for you.

Method one: fresh or dried cordyceps mushrooms

Perhaps the most obvious way to take cordyceps is simply to consume the mushrooms in their natural state. If you’re curious about how to eat cordyceps, they are safe to munch on raw. However, you can also cook them just like any other type of mushroom. So far, so good.

The difficulty with this is that cordyceps mushrooms are not always easy to source. Unfortunately, you’re not going to find them alongside the chestnut mushrooms in the supermarket! An easier alternative is to buy them dried. You can then use these to make cordyceps tea.

This traditional drink is a great option for how to take cordyceps. That’s because hot water helps to extract the nutrients from the mushroom, enabling you to get the maximum health benefits. Plus, it’s nice and simple! All you have to do is add the dried mushrooms to hot water and leave it to steep.

The key factor to remember is you need to steep them for far longer than when you make leaf tea. Most recipes suggest leaving the mushrooms to simmer for at least 15 minutes and as much as 45 minutes. Cordyceps has a mildly bitter taste, so you can always add other ingredients to the tea to mask it if you’re not a fan. Honey, ginger and mint all work well for this.

Method two: cordyceps supplements

If you’re looking for the easiest option of how to take cordyceps, you might like the idea of daily capsules. There are different varieties available and, depending on the strength, they usually recommend taking 1-4 per day with a meal.

The main downside of capsules is that you need to be careful where you buy them from. Some suppliers are less reputable than others, and may bulk out their capsules with unwanted filler ingredients. Likewise, the capsules themselves often contain animal-derived ingredients like gelatine, meaning they’re not suitable for those on a plant-based diet.

In line with this, most supplements don’t indicate the amount of active ingredients – such as beta-glucans and cordycepin – they contain. This is important because those compounds are the ones doing the heavy lifting in terms of health benefits. 

Therefore, if you choose capsules, make sure you scrutinise the information about the ingredients and how they were sourced carefully. That way, you can be confident about what you’re putting into your body

Related reading

• Cordyceps benefits: Himalayan gold
• Cordyceps sinensis vs militaris: which one should you go for?

Method three: cordyceps powder

For those after a more natural option than capsules for how to take cordyceps, a whole food powder is ideal. This is made by drying the mushrooms and then grinding them into a fine powder, with nothing else added. That means you get all the same nutrients as you would from consuming whole dried mushrooms.

Cordyceps powder is convenient and easy to source, plus makes a wonderfully versatile way to enjoy the mushroom’s health benefits. It’s also a great choice if you’re not keen on the taste or texture of whole mushrooms!

Just like with dried mushrooms, you can use our Organic Cordyceps Mushroom Powder to make cordyceps tea. Simply stir half a teaspoon into hot (but not boiling) water and let it steep for a few minutes. Another option is to pop the powder into an empty tea bag and brew it like a normal cup of tea. Because powder has a larger surface area than whole mushrooms, the steeping time is much quicker.

If you’d prefer a more modern beverage, there are plenty of other drinks you can add cordyceps powder to. For instance, try stirring some into your morning coffee for an extra-energising start to your day. One recipe that we particularly love is making a warming mushroom hot chocolate, enhanced with vanilla and cinnamon. Both coffee and chocolate complement the bitter taste of cordyceps perfectly.

Don’t restrict yourself to just drinks though, as you can also use cordyceps powder in your cooking. This is why it’s such a flexible choice for how to take cordyceps. It makes a fantastic addition to savoury dishes like soups and stews, as there’s hot liquid to extract the nutrients. So, feel free to experiment and find some delicious and creative ways to include cordyceps in your diet!

When to take cordyceps

Once you’ve decided how to take cordyceps, it’s best to make it a daily habit. This consistency is more important than the specific time of day that you consume it. If you’re using cordyceps powder, we recommend taking it up to twice a day (with a break after 6-8 weeks). There’s no scientific evidence to suggest taking it in the morning is more effective than the evening or vice versa. Having said that, because cordyceps is a stimulant, it’s preferable to take it in the first half of the day.

Ultimately, the best time to take cordyceps is simply the time that suits you the most. For example, you could mix it into your morning coffee, or a lunchtime tea or hot chocolate, depending on your preference. Do this regularly for optimum results.

How much cordyceps should I take?

There’s currently no standard accepted dosage for how much cordyceps to take daily. Nor is there any research showing how much would be considered overdosing. As such, the best advice is to follow the guidelines on the specific product you buy. This will vary depending on the option you choose for how to take cordyceps.

For example, we recommend stirring half a teaspoon of our organic cordyceps mushroom powder into a hot drink once or twice a day. This is a safe amount, and sufficient for you to enjoy the fungus’s impressive health benefits.

A note on using cordyceps safely

The question isn’t only how to take cordyceps, it’s also whether you should take it at all. While experts generally consider the fungus to be safe, you should not use it if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. This is simply because there’s a lack of research into whether there are any risks to people in those groups. Likewise, children should not be taking cordyceps or any other types of medicinal mushrooms.

In addition, those who are currently on medication or have a health condition should seek medical advice before taking cordyceps. This will help ensure you don’t experience any unwanted side effects or harmful interactions.

How to know you’re getting high-quality cordyceps

As well as thinking about how to take cordyceps, you need to consider where you’re sourcing it from. Like any substance you put into your body, it’s important to make sure your medicinal mushrooms are of high quality.

For example, we recommend choosing an organic cordyceps product. That ensures there are no pesticides or other chemicals involved in the cultivation of the fungus. It’s also preferable to avoid suppliers that use myceliated grain. That’s because it’s tricky to separate the grain from the mycelium, and the final product might not be 100% cordyceps.

Similarly, you want to check the levels of beta-glucans and cordycepin in your cordyceps. Here at Erbology, we send our mushrooms to an independent accredited tester to verify their quality. Thanks to the carefully controlled conditions we cultivate them in and our 20+ years of experience growing mushrooms using the latest scientific research as our guide, our cordyceps contain over 47% beta-glucans. This is extremely high. Likewise, on average, our powder contains 5.5mg of cordycepin per 1g.

The final word on how to take cordyceps

As you can see, you have several options open to you for how to take cordyceps. As whole food advocates, we’ll always recommend using whole mushrooms or 100% cordyceps powder over taking a capsule. Either way, the most important factor is to choose a reputable supplier, so you know you’re getting a quality product.

We’re excited that modern research is finding evidence to support ancient wisdom on the benefits of this fabulous fungus. So now that you know how to take cordyceps, why not give its wellness-boosting powers a go?

Related reading

• The Erbology guide to medicinal mushrooms
• What are beta-glucans?