10:1 Extract
A highly concentrated extract where approximately 10 kg of raw Cordyceps is reduced to 1 kg of extract. This offers higher levels of key active compounds at a lower dose than standard dried powder.
Fungal name: Cordyceps militaris (fruiting body / cultivated mycelium)
Family name: Cordycipitaceae / Ophiocordycipitaceae (Cordyceps family group)
Other names: Cordyceps, Caterpillar fungus, Dong Chong Xia Cao, Himalayan gold, Winter-worm Summer-grass
Origin: High-altitude regions of Tibet and China (traditional O. sinensis), now widely cultivated worldwide (C. militaris)
Parts used: Fruiting body and/or cultivated mycelium
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Short Description
Cordyceps is a well-known vitality and endurance mushroom traditionally used to strengthen the lungs and kidneys, rebuild energy, and restore resilience after illness or prolonged stress. Modern evidence highlights Cordyceps as an adaptogenic-performance tonic that supports aerobic capacity, oxygen utilisation, cellular energy (ATP), fatigue resistance, immune responsiveness, and metabolic balance. It is particularly valued for providing steady, long-term energy rather than quick stimulation.
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Body Systems Affected
• Respiratory system (lungs) – Supports oxygen uptake, breathing efficiency, and exercise tolerance
• Renal/adrenal axis (kidney–energy system) – Builds core vitality, stamina, and recovery reserves
• Musculoskeletal system – Enhances endurance, reduces exercise fatigue, and supports repair
• Immune system – Modulates defence readiness and inflammatory balance
• Endocrine/metabolic system – Supports glucose handling, lipid tone, and mitochondrial efficiency
• Nervous system – Supports stress resilience and physical–mental endurance
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Summary of Health Benefits
Cordyceps is renowned as a potent energising, oxygen-boosting, and recovery tonic. Human clinical trials, especially in older or sedentary adults, show improvements in ventilatory and metabolic thresholds along with overall exercise performance after consistent daily use over several weeks. This suggests that Cordyceps can help the body utilise oxygen more efficiently and delay fatigue, particularly when ageing, low fitness, or chronic stress weaken stamina. A newer area of research highlights Cordyceps as a regulator of recovery and inflammation, with early trials indicating reduced exercise-induced muscle damage and faster repair after high-intensity activity. This makes Cordyceps valuable not only for enhancing performance but also for supporting recovery after physical strain, illness, or burnout. Besides its energising properties, Cordyceps has long been used for lung weakness and kidney depletion patterns. Modern mechanistic studies support this tradition by showing improved mitochondrial function, increased antioxidant defence, balanced immune signalling, and metabolic regulation. Over time, these effects lead to more stable daily energy levels, greater resilience to stress, improved recovery capacity, and enhanced overall vitality.
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Traditional & Historical Uses
High on the Tibetan Plateau, Cordyceps was gathered in early summer, when the snow had barely melted and the grass was still young. Families strolled across the mountains, eyes trained on the soil for the strange half-animal, half-plant form that pushed upward from the earth. It was dried like a precious jewel and passed through generations as medicine for the weary, the breathless, and the ageing. Elders took it to keep their lungs strong through cold winters, warriors and herders used it to endure thin air and long journeys, and those recovering from illness drank it in broths to rebuild strength when the body felt hollow. Over time, Cordyceps became known not as a loud or quick remedy but as a quiet restorer of “life force”, one that returned stamina, warmth, desire, and the will to keep moving forward.
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Benefits Breakdown
★★★★★ High-Quality Human Clinical Evidence
• Exercise performance & oxygen efficiency (especially in older adults)
How it helps: Improves exercise tolerance and ventilatory/metabolic thresholds, assisting people to sustain activity longer with less breathlessness.
How it works: Enhances oxygen utilisation and mitochondrial efficiency, raising thresholds where fatigue and lactate build.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3110835/
• Recovery from high-intensity exercise (muscle damage & inflammation)
How it helps: Reduces markers of muscle damage and supports faster recovery after strenuous training.
How it works: Modulates exercise-induced inflammation and accelerates repair signalling in muscle tissue.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/fo/d3fo03770c
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★★★★ Emerging Human Clinical Evidence
• Anti-fatigue & vitality support (general wellness / chronic fatigue patterns)
How it helps: Early human trials and long-standing clinical use suggest improvements in fatigue, cold intolerance, and stamina with consistent use.
How it works: Supports ATP production and reduces oxidative stress associated with fatigue.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jspfsm/55/Supplement/55_S145/_article
• Immune readiness & respiratory resilience
How it helps: Demonstrates improved immune response patterns in healthy adults, supporting balanced defence without overstimulation.
How it works: Polysaccharides and nucleosides regulate innate immune signalling and cytokine tone.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-58742-z
• Adjunct support in chronic illness-linked fatigue (e.g., renal/lung conditions)
How it helps: Emerging clinical literature suggests improvements in fatigue and microinflammatory status when used alongside standard care.
How it works: Immunomodulating and antioxidant actions reduce chronic inflammatory load while supporting nutrition and recovery tone.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1360997/full
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★★★ Preclinical & Experimental Evidence
• Mitochondrial energy & ATP enhancement
How it helps: Increases endurance, fatigue resistance, and hypoxia tolerance in animal and cell models.
How it works: Cordycepin, adenosine analogues, and polysaccharides improve mitochondrial biogenesis and ATP-yield efficiency.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8622900/
• Metabolic regulation (glucose & lipids)
How it helps: Improves insulin sensitivity markers and lipid metabolism in diet-stress models.
How it works: Polysaccharides influence AMPK/PI3K-Akt pathways and reduce oxidative lipid injury.
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/21/5107
• Anti-inflammatory & antioxidant mechanisms (systemic)
How it helps: Reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative damage across many models.
How it works: Polyphenols, sterols, and polysaccharides down-regulate NF-κB/COX pathways and boost antioxidant enzymes.
https://knowledge.lancashire.ac.uk/id/eprint/33848/1/33848%20molecules-25-02735-v3.pdf
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★★★ Traditional & Nutritional Evidence
• Lung–kidney tonic for vitality and longevity
How it helps: Traditionally used for breathlessness, weakness, ageing fatigue, and recovery after illness.
How it works: Slow adaptogenic nourishment supports respiratory efficiency and core energy reserves over time.
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/6/935
• Yang / reproductive vitality support (traditional)
How it helps: Used historically for low libido, cold-type exhaustion, and post-illness depletion.
How it works: Restorative energy-building and microcirculatory support were believed to strengthen “essence” and vitality.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2015/575063
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Skin & Topical Care
Therapeutic
• Fatigue-driven or inflammatory skin patterns (indirect support)
How it helps: By improving oxygen use, immune regulation, and antioxidant defences, Cordyceps may indirectly support clearer skin where flare-ups follow stress, illness, or metabolic strain.
How it works: Reduced systemic inflammation and better micro-energy supply support healthier repair and barrier tone.
Personal Care / Anti-Ageing
• Skin vitality from within
How it helps: Long-term use may support brighter tone, improved resilience, and decreased dullness linked to oxidative stress or poor circulation.
How it works: Antioxidant polysaccharides and nucleosides protect collagen and reduce inflammation-related ageing signals.
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Research & Modern Findings
Exercise Performance / Oxygen Utilisation
How it helps: Improves ventilatory and metabolic thresholds and supports better endurance, especially in older or low-fit adults.
How it works: Enhances oxygen kinetics and mitochondrial efficiency, raising fatigue thresholds.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3110835/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5236007/
Recovery After High-Intensity Exercise
How it helps: Reduces muscle damage and speeds recovery after strenuous training in early human trials.
How it works: Modulates exercise-induced inflammation and accelerates regeneration signalling.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/fo/d3fo03770c
Immune Modulation in Healthy Adults
How it helps: Strengthens balanced immune responsiveness and improves defence readiness.
How it works: β-glucans and nucleosides normalise innate immune signalling pathways.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-58742-z
Energy / Anti-Fatigue Mechanisms
How it helps: Supports stamina and reduces fatigue patterns seen with aging, stress, or illness.
How it works: Cordycepin, HEA, adenosine, and polysaccharides support ATP production and antioxidant protection.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8622900/
https://knowledge.lancashire.ac.uk/id/eprint/33848/1/33848%20molecules-25-02735-v3.pdf
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Emotional, Mental & Spiritual Influences
• Emotional: Restores confidence and drive where exhaustion causes discouragement.
• Mental: Supports steady focus and endurance thinking without overstimulation.
• Spiritual: A symbol of transformation and resilience—life force arising from hardship.
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Properties
• Adaptogenic tonic – Builds long-term resilience to stress and depletion.
• Respiratory tonic – Strengthens lung efficiency and oxygen use.
• Energy restorative – Supports ATP production and endurance stamina.
• Immunomodulating – Balances immune over- and under-activity.
• Antioxidant – Protects tissues from oxidative fatigue and ageing stress.
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Actions
• Enhances aerobic capacity – Improves oxygen utilisation and fatigue thresholds.
• Builds stamina – Supports sustained physical and mental endurance.
• Supports recovery – Helps repair muscle and reduce exercise inflammation.
• Strengthens immune tone – Normalises defence signalling and resilience.
• Balances metabolism – Encourages healthier glucose and lipid handling.
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Active Constituents
• Cordycepin – Signature nucleoside supporting energy, immunity, and inflammation balance.
• Adenosine & HEA (hydroxyethyl-adenosine) – Support oxygen use, circulation, and endurance signalling.
• β-glucan polysaccharides – Immune modulation, gut support, antioxidant effects.
• Sterols (ergosterol derivatives) – Cell protection and inflammation regulation.
• Mannitol & peptides – Contribute to anti-fatigue and antioxidant tone.
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Nutritional Profile
• Moderate protein and essential amino acids
• B-vitamins and vitamin D precursors (ergosterol)
• Trace minerals supporting energy metabolism
• Polysaccharide fibre contributing to gut-immune balance
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Herbs / Mushrooms It Pairs With
• Reishi – Stress-immune synergy and deeper resilience.
• Lion’s Mane – Cognitive stamina + endurance pairing.
• Turkey Tail / Maitake – β-glucan partners for gut-immune axis strength.
• Rhodiola / Ginseng / Astragalus – Classic adaptogenic energy and lung-support combinations.
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How to Use
Take with water, preferably with food:
• Daily wellness: 1 capsule once daily with breakfast
• Ongoing support: 1 capsule twice daily (morning & late afternoon)
• Intensive support: 2 capsules twice daily for 6–12 weeks, then reduce to Ongoing support
Do not exceed the recommended dose unless advised by a healthcare professional.
Tips for best results
Cordyceps works best when taken consistently for several weeks, as endurance and vitality benefits build gradually rather than acting like a stimulant. Many people prefer morning and early-afternoon use to align with its energising tone. Pairing it with a balanced diet, good hydration, and steady training or recovery routines enhances performance and anti-fatigue effects. Long-term seasonal use is beneficial during winter, high-stress periods, or recovery phases.
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Contra-Indications & Cautions
Cordyceps is generally well tolerated, but mild digestive upset or dryness can occur in sensitive individuals at higher doses. Avoid use if allergic to mushrooms. Because Cordyceps may influence immune signalling, people with autoimmune disease or those using immunosuppressive medication should consult a practitioner before use. Caution is also advised for individuals on anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy or with bleeding disorders, and discontinue before surgery unless supervised. Safety for high-strength extracts in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and young children is not well established, so use in these groups should be guided professionally.
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Disclaimer
This product is a natural mushroom-based health supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided is educational and reflects traditional and holistic use. Under the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965, this product may be classified as a complementary medicine/health supplement and has not been evaluated by SAHPRA for quality, safety, or intended use. Consult a healthcare practitioner before use, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place.
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Cultivation Snapshot
• Traditionally wild-harvested O. sinensis grows on insect hosts at high altitude; most modern products use cultivated C. militaris.
• Cultivation is done on grain or insect-mimicking substrates under controlled humidity, temperature, and light.
• Fruiting bodies typically mature in several weeks, allowing steady and sustainable production.
• Cultivated Cordyceps ensures consistent potency and protects wild plateau ecosystems from overharvest.
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