How do you eat cordyceps to tonify the kidneys and benefit the lungs, and how many should you eat per day?

Since ancient times, cordyceps (Chinese cordyceps) has been regarded as a miraculous medicinal herb, and together with ginseng and deer antler velvet it is known as one of the three most precious tonic medicinal materials. Many medical books also record cordyceps, and it plays a great role in tonic health care. So what are the effects and actions of cordyceps and its dietary taboos? How do you eat it? How many should you eat per day?

1. Introduction to cordyceps

Cordyceps, also called Chinese cordyceps or winter worm summer grass, and formally known as Cordyceps sinensis, is a fungus that parasitizes insects, usually growing inside the bodies of lepidopteran larvae. Today cordyceps is worth more than gold. In fact, before the Qing Dynasty, cordyceps was not included in the pharmacopoeia, until the Qing Dynasty medical book “Ben Cao Cong Xin” first recorded Chinese cordyceps as a medicinal material.

Chinese cordyceps grows on high-mountain grasslands and shrub belts at an altitude of 4000 m as well as on grassy slopes near the snow line. A kind of fungal spore in the soil parasitizes the larvae, grows inside the larval body, and absorbs its nutrients until death. After a winter, when the second spring arrives, the fungal hyphae begin to grow, and by summer they emerge from the ground, looking like a plant. The larval shell and the hyphae together form a complete “Chinese cordyceps”. The fungal spore uses the insect body as nutrients. The insect body resembles a silkworm, 3-5 cm long and 0.3-0.8 cm in diameter; the surface is dark yellow to yellow-brown, with 20 to 30 ring lines, and the ring lines near the head are finer; the head is reddish-brown; there are 8 pairs of legs, with the middle 4 pairs more obvious; the texture is brittle and breaks easily, and the cross-section is slightly flat and pale yellowish-white. The odor is slightly fishy and the taste slightly bitter.

2. Effects and actions of cordyceps and dietary taboos

1. Nature, flavor and meridian entry of cordyceps: sweet in flavor, neutral in nature. Enters the lung and kidney meridians.

2. Effects and actions of cordyceps: benefits the kidneys and tonifies the lungs, relieves cough and resolves phlegm. Cordyceps can also be used as an ingredient in dishes and soups.

(1) Antibacterial

(2) Immune regulation

(3) Anti-inflammatory

(4) Nourishes the kidneys

(5) Increases adrenal cortisol levels

(6) Anti-arrhythmic

(7) Anti-fatigue

(8) Removes phlegm and calms wheezing

(9) Sedative and hypnotic

(10) Treats soreness and weakness of the waist and knees caused by kidney deficiency, and chronic cough with deficiency wheezing

In fact, cordyceps is not very sacred either; it is just an ordinary Chinese medicine for treating lung and kidney diseases. Everyone should not blindly pursue excessive effects, and it should be taken under a doctor’s guidance.

3. Dietary taboos of cordyceps

(1) Suitable groups

① People under great work pressure who tire easily.

② People with low immunity, irritability, susceptibility to colds, fear of cold, and allergies.

③ Elderly people with chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, high blood lipids, or high and low blood pressure.

④ People with acute or chronic nephritis, kidney failure, or kidney deficiency.

⑤ Middle-aged and elderly people who lack exercise and are physically weak.

(2) Unsuitable groups

① People with excessive internal deficient fire should not take it;

② People with colds and acute cough should not take it;

③ People with relatively severe inflammation should not take it;

④ Pregnant women, nursing women and children should not take it.

Note: cordyceps can be eaten by men, women, the old and the young, and is a tonic suitable for a relatively wide range of people, but elderly people should not blindly take tonics. It is recommended to take an appropriate amount under a doctor’s correct guidance.

3. How do you eat cordyceps?

1. Method one: Decoct cordyceps and drink the liquid

Many people soak cordyceps in water and drink it, but drinking it this way cannot bring out the medicinal properties of cordyceps. It is best to decoct and drink it. It can be decocted alone; simmer Chinese cordyceps over low heat for 6-10 minutes, and drink it immediately after the water boils, adding water while drinking until the flavor becomes weak. When the water color is darkest, the nutrition is richest; secondly, it can also be decocted with some medicinal materials and taken.

2. Method two: Stew cordyceps in soup

The traditional way to eat cordyceps is to stew it with meat. With different kinds of meat (such as chicken, duck, mutton, quail, pigeon, etc.), simmer over low heat for 2 hours, then add salt to season and it is ready to use.

3. Method three: Grind cordyceps into powder and take it directly

If you find stewing soup or brewing tea troublesome, you can grind cordyceps into powder and take it directly, which is also convenient to carry with you.

4. Method four: Soak cordyceps in liquor

Use 500 g of baijiu to soak 10-20 g of cordyceps, seal and soak for about 20 days before drinking (the longer the soaking time, the better the effect). Drink a small cup every day, preferably before bed. This method is suitable for some people who can drink alcohol.

4. How many cordyceps per day is appropriate?

The general medicinal dosage of cordyceps is about 3-5 g. Different constitutions and different conditions require different amounts. For the specific dosage, it is recommended to follow a doctor’s guidance.

Conclusion: Cordyceps sells very briskly on the market and is also sold as a high-end health product. In fact, this is also hype stirred up by some merchants. Cordyceps only has an auxiliary therapeutic effect on some diseases. In 2016, because cordyceps contains a very high arsenic content, the China Food and Drug Administration removed Chinese cordyceps from the health food category, so when choosing cordyceps we must pay attention to buying from legitimate merchants.