Meet Cordyceps: The Mushroom That Thinks It's a Superhero

Vanmaya
Jun 27
3 min read

Cordyceps mushrooms aren’t your everyday fungi. They grow in the wild, sometimes inside insects (yes, really), and have been used in healing traditions for centuries. Packed with powerful nutrients, Cordyceps can help boost your energy, focus, and overall wellness. Let’s explore what makes these mushrooms so special.

What Makes Cordyceps So Unique?

Cordyceps is a family of mushrooms that actually need insects to grow in nature. The fungi attach to an insect, grow inside it, and eventually sprout a small mushroom right out of its body. This might sound strange, but it’s just nature doing what it does best—finding balance.

Cordyceps are mostly found in mountain regions like the Himalayas. One famous variety, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, is known as “Himalayan Viagra” because of its energizing properties. Another, Cordyceps militaris, can be easily grown without insects and is now used widely in wellness supplements.

How Cordyceps Helps Your Body

At Vanmaya, we believe nature knows best, and Cordyceps is proof. Here’s what modern research and ancient wisdom say these mushrooms can help with:

Boosts Energy: Cordyceps can increase the production of ATP, the fuel your cells use to keep going.
Improves Focus: Helps the brain stay alert, especially during long hours of work or study.
Supports Heart Health: Can lower bad fats in the blood, which protects the heart.
Aids Lung Function: Traditionally used to ease breathing problems and now studied for respiratory health.
Strengthens Immunity: Cordyceps contains beta-glucans that help the body fight off infections.
Reduces Inflammation: Helps the body calm down when it's reacting too strongly.
Balances Blood Sugar: May help regulate glucose levels and protect kidneys in diabetic conditions.
Fights Fatigue & Supports Sleep: Promotes steady energy through the day and restful nights.

What’s Inside Cordyceps That Makes It Work?

Cordyceps is full of natural bioactive compounds:

Cordycepin: Boosts energy and has anti-inflammatory benefits.
Beta-glucans: Help the immune system work better.
Ergosterol: Supports heart health and turns into Vitamin D2 in the body.
Cordycepic Acid (D-Mannitol): Protects the kidneys and reduces inflammation.
Cordymin: A small protein that may protect against bone loss, especially in diabetes.

Different Ways to Use Cordyceps

At Vanmaya, we always encourage mindful, purposeful consumption. You can enjoy Cordyceps in three main ways:

Whole Fruiting Bodies – Dried mushrooms added to tea or soups.
Powders – Ground mushrooms you can mix into smoothies or take in capsules.
Extracts – The most potent form, with the highest concentration of active compounds.

Our favorite? Extracts—especially those made using traditional methods. These give you the best of the mushroom, minus the bulk.

How Much Should I Take?

Start small. Everyone’s body is different. Listen closely to how yours feels. Cordyceps is gentle, and many people take it daily for focus, endurance, or general well-being. If you’re pregnant, nursing, or have any health conditions, it’s always best to talk to a doctor first.

From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Science

Cordyceps has been used in Traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for centuries. Back then, it was called a “lung and kidney tonic.” Today, over 2,000 research papers explore how it really works. Even though many studies are still in the early stages, science is slowly confirming what ancient healers knew all along.

Why Vanmaya Loves Cordyceps

Cordyceps represents everything we stand for—balance, vitality, and reverence for nature. Whether you’re looking to recover from fatigue, breathe a little easier, or bring more calm and clarity into your day, Cordyceps is one of those rare gifts from nature that just works with your body.

We craft our extracts to be clean, potent, and deeply nourishing—just like the forests these fungi come from.

Curious to Try?

Explore our Cordyceps extract designed for daily health:

Sources

Full References with Links

Zhang et al. (2012) – Ophiocordyceps sinensis: Terminology, Life Strategy and Ecology🔗 https://doi.org/10.1080/21501203.2012.659778
Shrestha et al. (2012) – The Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps militaris: Research and Development🔗 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-011-0799-7
Ashraf et al. (2020) – Cordycepin for Health and Wellbeing: A Potent Bioactive Metabolite of an Entomopathogenic Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps militaris🔗 https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25092176
Liu et al. (2015) – Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Actions of Cordyceps sinensis🔗 https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/575063
Wong et al. (2011) – Cordymin, an Antifungal Peptide from the Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps militaris🔗 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2010.08.005
Qi et al. (2013) – Cordymin, a Peptide from Cordyceps sinensis, Protects Mice from Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes🔗 https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/985684
Chai et al. (2022) – Anti-Fatigue Effects of Cordycepin in Mice via Regulation of Energy Metabolism and Oxidative Stress🔗 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.01.012
Yang et al. (2018) – Protective Effects of Cordyceps sinensis Against Airway Inflammation in an Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma Mouse Model🔗 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6827
Guo et al. (2010) – Cordycepin Prevents Hyperlipidemia in Hamsters on a High-Fat Diet🔗 https://doi.org/10.1002/jps.22033
Yu et al. (2015) – Cordyceps militaris Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetic Rats🔗 https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/817295