Cordyceps worm mold is widely used in China to treat kidney disease, and some scientific studies indicate that it may reduce creatinine values in patients with chronic kidney disease. I have never found found much personal benefit from it.
Conclusions of recent Chinese study: "Current evidence shows that cordyceps as an adjuvant to routine immunosuppressant therapy may benefit kidney transplant patient, however, better quality evidence is still required."
Cordyceps sinansis that is used in China is extremely costly, around $10.000 per pound. In the US cordyceps supplements are derived from myceliated grain and sold as sinansis but at very low price. Another type of cordyceps is militaris that is widely sold here at a low price as well, however, the studies on natural immunosuppressive effects of cordyceps are done using sinansis type that is naturally grown and highly priced.
The usual, less expensive substitute for cordyceps sinensis sold is cordyceps militaris, which fortunately has some health benefits of its own which have been established by research studies: Quing Yang, et al., "A Novel Protein with Anti-Metastasis Activity," International Journal of Biological Macrobiology (2015) 80, 385-391; Chengiang Thang, et al., "Prevention of Type 1 Diabetes," Methods and Forms of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, 2008, 30 (6) 421-429; Yuanmin Yin, et al., The Immune Effects of Edible Fungi and Polysaccharides," Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2007, 16, Suppl. 1, 258-260; Zhen-Yuan Zhu, et al., "Immunomodulatory Effect of Polysaccharides from Submerged Cultured Cordyceps," Pharmacology and Biology, 2012, 56 (9) 1103-1110; Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects (2d Ed.), section 5.8: Cordyceps as an herbal drug, by Bao-Quin Lin and Shao-Ping Li.
I recently tried a two-week personal experiment in which I took 4 gms. of cordyceps militaris per day along with an unchanging diet and found that at the end of that period my creatinine level had dropped by 25%, while prior to that it had been continuously increasing.
Awesome! Thank you for the valuable info! Is there any specific brand you prefer? I’ll try it too. I’ve been adding matcha powder to smoothies for years and I want to also add cordyceps. I’ve reviewed multiple studies on sinansis from medical database but have not seen the info you found. My creatinine has been very stable, I’m on 100% plant based diet and continue fasting for up to 16-20 hours daily still with only two or one meal a day taking only two immunosuppressive drugs. No steroids, no BP pills, no other drugs. Never pain killers. Thank you once again!
I don't use any specific brand, other than what my Chinatown sources say is the best available at the moment. I am also on a plant-based diet.
Are you still using cordyceps can it be given to women CKD patient?
