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Can Vegetarians Eat The Yarsagumba Cordyceps Mushroom?

Can Vegetarians Eat The Yarsagumba Cordyceps Mushroom?

This question is very debatable. In the end, it depends on the individual vegetarian’s ethical views – do they think all killing of animals for food is unethical, or is it kosher when the humans are not the ones doing the killing?

Yarsagumba takes lives to grow and reproduce, so the question is if you see it as the same or similar thing as the Inuit people and their meat-only diet, or simple circle of life.

So, what’s up with the debate?

As mentioned in the intro, the Inuit population’s diet mostly consists of meat and fish. Their environment doesn’t really allow for growing crops. With all that being said, some vegetarians still consider their eating habits to be unethical and cruel to animals.

So, where does this leave our friend yarsagumba? It still kills animals to survive. One may argue that it has less choice since the gods of evolution made it that way (unlike the Inuit who can “simply move”).

And that’s where we get the other side of the coin. There is no choice in the way yarsagumba exists, just the way there is no choice in the anteater eating ants, or a bird eating a worm, or a lion eating an antelope.

We as humans can operate on a (slightly) higher intellectual level and can consider the ethics, economics, and environmental impact behind all of our choices. Therefore, we are automatically held to a higher standard than other creatures whose instincts and natures don’t allow them to change their behaviors willingly.

There really is nothing else that is comparable to this situation. There is no other veggie-friendly food that kills animals in this manner. So, as the situation is very unique, it’s up to the individual to decide where they stand.

The fact is that yarsagumba is not an animal even though it kills animals. It’s also a fact that it has no control over the evolutionary card it was dealt with, and neither is there a human hand in any of these things.

Where are the vegans in this conversation?<h3?

Probably in the same place, though some on the extreme side of the spectrum may argue that killing is killing, and it doesn’t matter if a “plant” is doing it.

Luckily, yarsagumba is not the only member of the cordyceps family, and it certainly isn’t the only one that has medicinal properties. If they have issues with the ones that grow on ants, they can always switch to the ones that grow on plants.

How does yarsagumba kill animals?

It starts with a single spore. It lands on a humble ant (in this example). The ant starts behaving strangely since they are in obvious pain and distress. The spore is growing and developing a system of roots in its tissue now. It takes only a couple of days for its body to be completely taken over.

Yarsagumba plugs into its brain and floods it with chemicals. Once in the driver’s seat, it leads the ant towards perfect conditions. There it parks itself and starts growing. The ant is dead the second it finished its role as a transportation vehicle.

Within 3 weeks, the yarsagumba is fully grown and ready to release a new batch of spores. Ready to infect more ants.

Can yarsagumba survive without doing all that?

No. Many of its cousins can, but it cannot.

This is just one of those weird quirks of evolution. We don’t even know for sure why it infects insects in the first place.

Some scientists propose that this ability is older than most of the species of insects in the first place, and quite possibly originates in the times before plants and animals branched out from each other.

But then again, there are multiple species of fungi that have no issue feeding off of decomposing animal flesh. It could be that yarsagumba at some point just couldn’t wait for the heartbeat to stop.

The species that kill animals

When you read articles or watch documentaries, the species that is always depicted is cordyceps unilateralis, or better known as yarsagumba, winter worm, or caterpillar fungus. For centuries, it used to be considered to be an actual parasitic worm since it both looks the part and acts like one.

Obviously, it’s not. It’s a parasitic mushroom, just like all other members of the cordyceps genus and numerous other species of fungi.

Yarsagumba is native to the Himalayas, but other species all over the world behave the same. It’s just that this particular one has a spotlight on it because it’s the one humans have known about the longest and have been making use of it. It’s cousins behave the same, just with slight differences in their preferred conditions for growing and releasing spores.

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Does yarsagumba only kill ants or does it kill other animals as well?

As far as we know, yarsagumba only goes after worms and insects. To date, there was never a single legitimate case presented that it can infect mammals, birds, or fish.

There is also a possibility that it can’t infect anything larger in size. This conclusion mostly comes from the lack of cases where yarsagumba or any of its siblings have infected crabs or lobsters (which are in essence giant bugs).

All the confusion comes from entertainment and media, primarily the video game The Last of Us. The plot for it is a spin on the very popular zombie/post-apocalyptic genre in which cordyceps infect everything from humans to both wild and domesticated animals.

Believe it or not, several scientists actually had to come out and explain why these types of infections are improbable. It boils down to our central nervous systems being far more complex than the ones that exist in ants. Plus, our tissues are too good at protecting it.

If we get to see cordyceps jump from bugs to larger creatures, it would have to be the ones with a simpler nervous system (i.e., jellyfish).

The species that grow on plants

With about 600 species of cordyceps, you better believe that a vast majority of them grow on plants. The species that is most often farmed is called cordyceps militaries, and it’s probably the stuff you’ll get your hands on if you decide to give it a go yourself.

These species of cordyceps are still parasites and they are still bound to kill their host. However, they do in a very similar manner to any other parasitic mushroom – by slowly draining out the nutrients.

It’s argued that these types are a lot more destructive, considering that they are not as picky to what they like to latch on to. They have an almost identical life span to their ant-eating counterparts, therefore making a few errant spores capable of destroying an entire ecosystem.

So, if you’re dealing with these guys, still practice caution. Otherwise, you may have to say goodbye to your ficus, lawn, or that lavender meadow behind your house.

can i grow cordyceps at home

Know the difference when buying

The price tag is a decent indicator of what you’re getting. Cordyceps that prey on insects can be up to 160+ times more expensive than the stuff that can be cultivated on plants. This means if you see it going for $60, it’s the vegan-friendly stuff. But if the price tag goes into 4 or 5 digits, it may be the ant-killing kind.

There’s a quick visual indicator as well, but it’s not accurate all the time. The stuff that grows on plants tends to be brighter in color. Even when dried, the species that grew by hijacking insects lean more towards brown, while the veggie kind is a bit more orange.

It’s not a 100% clear indicator since there are quite a few plant-growing species that have a duller color, but it’s something to look for when someone is trying to sell you a “genuine article freshly harvested from the Himalayas”.

Finally, there’s the country of origin. All cordyceps that are farmed in the US are (currently) grown on plant-based substrates, The only “animal farmed” specimens could come from China where they grow them on maggots.

The stuff you’ve seen on the Discovery Channel should come from Tibet or Nepal. But note that the cordyceps from the last three countries rarely hits US shores, and when it does, it costs an arm and a leg.

Know the difference when growing

Make sure that you are working with the species called cordyceps militaries. It’s perfectly suited for growing on classic mushroom farming substrates, and most importantly, it won’t kill your friendly neighborhood ant colony.

They also look very different. While yarsagumba has a textured surface and looks like a caterpillar, these guys more resemble bloated orange enoki mushrooms. The outer skin is smooth and often bright tangerine color.

As of now, it’s difficult to get your hands on cordyceps unilateralis spores in the US (the Himalayan species that infects insects), so be very skeptical if someone is offering syringes with it for sale. Especially if they are doing so at a very attractive price.

can i grow cordyceps at home

Is there a difference in nutrition and medical properties between different species of cordyceps?

Yes, but it’s so small it’s irrelevant. It would take hundreds of years of consumption to see a significant difference.

Species of cordyceps are just a smidgen more effective. That may be the case because of their ability to seek out the perfect growing conditions on their own.

Still, considering how much of this mushroom humans consume and how our digestive system works, you can ignore all of that since you’ll get the benefits either way. So, pick the species that aligns well with your ethics and your wallet.

Himalayan Caterpillar Fungus cordyceps gold viagara
I Am a Vegetarian. Can I Eat The Yarsagumba Cordyceps?

I Am a Vegetarian. Can I Eat The Yarsagumba Cordyceps?

Vegetarians can consume the Yarsagumba Cordyceps. Why you ask? As will be explained further in the article, the only evidence of meat left after formation is the exoskeleton of the caterpillar, which constitutes about one percent of the entire mushroom.

Also known as the Caterpillar Fungus or the Cordyceps Sinensis, the Yarsagumba is one of the rarest and oldest mushrooms found mainly in China, Nepal, India, Tibet, and Bhutan above 3500 feet. With a risk of endangerment, cordyceps is a unique caterpillar mushroom fusion that occurs when the parasitic mushroom pores (ophiocordyceps sinensis) infect and mummifies the ghost moth larva habiting in the soil. Later on, a fungus sprouts through the host’s head.

To help you understand better as to why we consider the caterpillar fungus fit for a vegetarian and not a vegan, we will first define the terms vegan and vegetarian, then explain the formation of the Yarsagumba Cordyceps and why it is okay for vegetarians to eat it.

Who is a vegan?

A vegan is an individual who, for diverse reasons such as ethics, religion, individual convictions, to mention a few, chooses to avoid eating meat and any animal products such as eggs, honey, dairy, or anything that was once alive. This kind of lifestyle is called veganism, and it aims to preserve and control the exploitation of all animals.

Who is a vegetarian?

On the other hand, vegetarians are a bit more open. These individuals avoid meat, fish, and fowls for reasons such as health or ethical concerns such as the preservation of life, but are open to consuming animal products such as eggs, honey, and fish.

Vegetarians have further been classified into the;

  • Lacto-ovo vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy products
  • The Lacto vegetarians who eat dairy products but no meat, poultry, eggs, or fish
  • The ovo vegetarians who eat eggs but not meat, fish, dairy, or poultry
  • And the partial vegetarians who do not eat meat but are partial to consuming fish and poultry.

Looking at the above explanations, it can be said that the vegetarian is more likely fit to eat the Yarsagumba Cordyceps as they are more open to animal products which the mushroom is as compared to the vegan.

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Origin of the fungi

This is an exciting story. About 1500 years ago, in a country known as Tibet, some herders noticed that their animals were acting weird. They were lustful and chasing each other with the same lust after eating the Yarsagumba Cordyceps. Later on, the herders experienced the same aphrodisiac experience together with some locals after consuming the fungi.

It is not a surprise that the fungus’s earliest documentation is as a sexual tonic by one Tibet physician and lama called Nyamnyi Dorje in the year 1439-1475.

Formation process

The caterpillar fungus is not cultivated. It remains a wild plant whose magic the world has barely touched.

The caterpillar fungus is revered as a living mystery for its medical value or its impeccable history and the incredible process of formation. It is warm in the winter, but then comes summer, and it becomes one of the rearrests and most distinguished plants.

During the summer seasons, the Cordyceps, which are the parasitic fungi, produce spores that scatter all over the soil. Later on, when it rains, the rainfall makes it possible for the spores to find deeper soil roots. When winter comes, the caterpillar larva of the order Lepidoptera land on the alpine-grass to feed. In the process of feeding, it gets infected by the parasitic fungus forming a larva-fungi symbiote.

We say it is infected because a parasitic organism gains from other organisms by taking from them and causing harm, which the cordyceps do to the caterpillar.

Once infected, the caterpillar larva acts as the parasites’ host, where it feeds on the larva gradually and surely. During this process, the host skin turns color from brown to milkfish-white. This color change is evidence that the mummification process of the host is almost complete.

After the color change, the cordyceps fungus replaces the larva’s interior by gutting it and replacing it with string-like hyphae (the host dies from the inside out). The host then crawls into the best position possible where it can dispose of more fungal spores. At this stage, the larva has been coated with mycelia causing it to stiffen gradually.

Once the mummification process has been completed, the exoskeleton( only remaining part of the caterpillar) acts as a fungal food cache while finally awaiting the warm weather to fruit into the Yarsagumba cordyceps.

Basically, after the fusion, nothing but the caterpillar’s shell is left—only the skin.

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What makes the caterpillar fungi perfect for the vegetarian?

There are two significant aspects of the caterpillar fungus that make it perfect for the vegetarian. One is its ethical aspect, and the other is its medicinal benefit.

It is ethical in that no animal was harmed in the process of harvesting, considering that the caterpillar’s death was from a fungal infection. When you look at the formation process, it is clear that the mushroom came about merely by a parasite’s help. This is normal for all plants during the natural cycle of life in plants.

Also, the fungus for years has proven to contain immense medicinal benefits some that would otherwise need to be obtained from animal products. These are;

  • The Yarsagumba Cordyceps is known to boost performance during exercise, especially in adults and children. The mushroom acts as a catalyst in Adenosine Triphosphate (ADT) production, an essential enzyme in delivering energy to the human muscles. It, however, has shown not to have any effects on athletes. It is, therefore, a perfect meat substitute.
  • The Yarsagumba Cordyceps contains antioxidants that help slow the aging rate by neutralizing the free radicles, primary aging, and disease-causing agents. In the process, the body and the brain are nourished hence establishing proper metabolism and less aging.
  • The Yarsagumba Cordyceps helps to manage type two diabetes by acting in place of the insulin.
  • The Yarsagumba Cordyceps is used to treat asthma, tuberculosis, and bronchitis, among other cardiovascular diseases.
  • The Yarsagumba Cordyceps acts as an aphrodisiac by improving the quality of your sex life. Traditional Chinese medicine states that it will help cure erectile dysfunction, boost longevity, stamina, and endurance levels needed to perform if you drink the boiled broth from the fungus. It works best for both genders
  • The Yarsagumba Cordyceps Helps cure hepatitis B
  • The Yarsagumba Cordyceps Helps improve the liver functions
  • People with cancer use Yarsagumba Cordyceps to reduce chemotherapy’s effects during cancer treatment and improve life quality by fighting against tumor cells.

It contains about 35% beta-glucans, which are the most renowned immune modulators. This activates the production of immunity, which in turn helps to fight cancer.

The benefits of consuming the caterpillar fungus are more than any individual would obtain from merely incorporating meat into their diet. There is healing, prevention, enhancement, all attributes that help a vegetarian live a fulfilled life. They get a complete package without compromising on their convictions.

can i grow cordyceps at home

Modes of consumption

  • You can take the Yarsagumba Cordyceps one or two pieces a day in its original form.
  • You can boil it and make the broth as a soup.
  • You can make tea from the Yarsagumba Cordyceps and consume it, preferably after meals. Soak it in water for about 20 minutes. This allows for the soluble components to dissolve in the water. You take it similarly to how you take green tea.
  • Grind it and mix the powder with milk, for vegetarians okay with animal products.
  • Make capsules of about 400mg and take two capsules three times a day.
  • You can make a tincture by soaking in water for the soluble extracts or alcohol for the antioxidants. All remedies ensure that you consume within three months to preserve the immunity properties, such as the beta-glucans.

Risks

Everything under the surface of the earth has risks. Generally, there are no risks that have been linked to the consumption of the Yarsagumba Cordyceps. However, prevention is better than cure. So, people about to go for surgery should avoid it due to the risks such as bleeding out, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it also or keep it to a minimum to prevent complications.

This should be the case until further studies have established the correct dosage and safety of the fungi.

In conclusion, the caterpillar fungus is a gift to vegetarians and all of humanity. Goats are herbivorous animals, and they discovered the fungus, which reinforces the fact that it is a plant. This fungus is quite lucrative and more expensive than gold in some countries. It is one of the rearrests and undoubtedly the most distinguished medicinal mystery plant with an even more exciting history behind it.

Currently, in the international market, a kilogram of the fungus goes for about 10,000 dollars, give or take. And you thought vegetarians had it cheap. As more and more comprehensive research and resources go into studying the further benefits of the Yarsagumba, a more precise and more elaborate picture of its composure continues to emerge; the one thing known for sure is that it is perfect for the vegetarian.

can i grow cordyceps at home
Can Mushroom Spores Survive in Deep Space?

Can Mushroom Spores Survive in Deep Space?

Mushrooms are something of an enigmatic lifeform. They are incredibly hardy, versatile, and they make up around a quarter of the total biomass on our planet. Their spores have been found in the upper reaches of our atmosphere—bordering on space itself—which naturally leads to the question of whether mushroom spores could survive in deep space.

Experiments have shown that most microorganisms were not viable after more than two weeks in space, with lichens being the only exception. Given that it takes human-made rockets three days to get to the nearest celestial body and months to get to the closest planet, mushroom spores could not survive in deep for any useful amount of time.

The basic question of this post doesn’t really paint the full picture, of course, so keep reading as we do our best to fill in those blanks.

What Are Mushroom Spores?

The easiest way to think of mushroom spores is as the seeds of the fungus world, a statement that may surprise some people as fungi is often mistakenly considered a type of plant rather than an entirely separate branch on the tree of Earth-life. Spores are very durable so that they can survive traveling long distances and extended waits before an opportunity to grow. This is crucial as the way they reproduce is by sending their spores out into the wind to settle elsewhere, so fragile spores that died easily would be of no use.

Part of the fungi’s lifecycle involves the mycelium—the main body of the fungus—growing to fill as much of the available substrate as it can. This makes finding new ground to inoculate harder since the mycelium will already have attempted to colonize the immediate area.

What Has This Got to do With Space?

There are many reasons why the ability of mushroom spores to survive in deep space might be of interest, not least of which is it would be a remarkable fact about an already remarkable organism. As for the rest, let’s take a look.

Contamination

There is an international treaty regarding the activities of humankind in space. For the most part, this treaty covers things like preventing any country from putting weapons of mass destruction in space or claiming planets by merely occupying them. The relevant part here, however, is that it states all human activity in space should avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.

In short, we don’t know much about life outside of our own planet because we have yet to discover any. If and when we do, it will likely be microbial life, and there is a concern that any life we take with us could cause harm to that microbial life. The fact that fungal spores can only survive for a week or two in deep space is useful because it means that even if some spores were to cling to the outside of a spaceship on its way to Mars, those spores would be dead by the time the ship arrived.

Panspermia

The origins of life on Earth began billions of years ago, so naturally, there is a lot of guesswork involved in determining how it happened. One theory is that life was brought to Earth from outer space. This could have been from a collision with another planet like the one thought to have caused the Moon or from a smaller body collision like an asteroid. If you are into more exotic theories, it could even have been “seeded” by intelligent beings, though that theory needs those intelligent beings to exist in the first place. One theory, though very improbable, is that it could have got here through spores traveling across interplanetary—even interstellar distances.

While the short lifespan of a mushroom spore in deep space doesn’t necessarily disprove such a theory, having an example of life that could survive in such a way would have added a lot more weight to the theory as a possibility.

can mushroom spores survive in space

Could Fungi Colonize Other Planets?

Pretending for a moment that mushroom spores could survive the trip to another celestial body, would there be anything for them at the other end?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. At least in the immediate vicinity. Mars has an extremely thin atmosphere and is very cold. Venus has an atmosphere so thick that standing on the surface would be equivalent to being 3,000 feet underwater, and you wouldn’t want to be standing on the surface because it would be around eight hundred degrees Fahrenheit down there. And the Moon has no atmosphere at all. But all of the atmospheric concerns pale in comparison to a more fundamental roadblock—the substrate.

Earth has been teaming with life for billions of years. It permeates everything we know. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil we stand on. All of it is full of microbes and nutrients. There is none of this on any of the planets we have been able to study. The “soil” on Mars is sterile. The regolith on the Moon is nothing but pulverized rock. Even if a mushroom spore were to reach one of these celestial bodies and still be viable, there would be nothing for it to feed on, and so it would never grow.

can mushroom spores survive in space

Radiation

It would be understandable to think of the vacuum of space and the incredibly cold temperatures as the reason why things like mushroom spores can’t survive up there, and these certainly play their part in making space inhospitable for Earth life. However, it seems to be the radiation that does most of the short term damage, as experiments like the one linked above have shown by comparing life exposed to space with life exposed to space while being protected from radiation.

Our planet has a strong magnetic field that keeps most of that cosmic radiation out, and our ozone layers further cuts down the amount of radiation reaching us down here on the surface. But, out beyond the protection of the ozone layer, there is enough radiation to significantly reduce the chances of a mushroom spore being viable after prolonged exposure to space.

The above study also showed that coating the spores with a thin layer of aluminum drastically increased the amount of time they could withstand exposure to space, though we’re not sure how useful that information is.

can mushroom spores survive in space
Are Cordyceps Good for Heart Health and Liver?

Are Cordyceps Good for Heart Health and Liver?

An enhanced immune system, better stamina, disease toughness, Liver, and heart health are all guaranteed by cordyceps fungus. Cordyceps are processed into pills that can be swallowed or powder, which is taken with coffee or tea. The cordyceps medical history traces a century back in Tibetan and China, where it was used to cure headaches, coughs, diarrhea, heart disorders, and liver disease. Currently, it is cultivated in the Himalayan plateaus and other parts of the world.

What are cordyceps?

Cordyceps mushrooms are parasitic fungi found in the USA, India, China, Japan, and Peru. They comprise 400 species and typically use insects and arthropods as hosts. However, each species targets a specific host.

How does cordyceps grow?

Cordyceps grows inside arthropods and insects’ body whilst consumes them. Given that the conditions are favorable for the mushroom’s growth and the insect is fully consumed, a blade-like mushroom protrudes from the host’s head. Meanwhile, as they are still being hosted, they coerce the victim to relocate to trees and low lying plants to thrive.

When it comes to the mushroom medication, the prevalent species are the cordyceps sinesis and Cordyceps militaris. However, sinesis is expensive due to the difficulties that arise when culturing. As a result, it does not make up the Cordyceps supplement’s constituents. It costs up to $20000 Per kg and is sold in Asia and North American markets.

Health benefits of cordyceps on heart

With the advanced research on cordyceps effect on the heart, the benefits are becoming more lucid. For instance, cordyceps has been medically approved in china as a treatment for arrhythmia. Arrhythmia affects the heart by elevating and lowering the heartbeat. In other words, it causes irregular cardiac frequency.

Analysis from research studies has also outlined cordyceps as an effective remedy in reducing heart injuries. Therefore, it’s effective in persons with chronic kidney disorders. Chronic kidney disorders can aggravate the risk of heart failure. Prevention and alleviation of these injuries can help with the outcome evasion.

Furthermore, cordyceps have traces of adenosine, which is an existing natural compound that has heart-protective properties. Should you choose to use cordyceps as a regular dose, you will realize the positive effects in no time.

Apart from cordyceps being able to protect the heart by preventing injuries, it also affects cholesterol levels by reducing their arteries’ build-up. Consequently, it enhances proper blood circulation. Moreover, it makes the heart-beating process easy and non-strenuous.

To some extent, research has also elucidated the cordyceps effect on triglycerides. Tryglecirdes fall under the category of fats that are found within the blood. These fats pose a significant threat to the heart functions, and they may reduce the heartbeat, eventually causing heart failure. However, with cordyceps, the risk issue can be addressed.

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Health benefits of cordyceps on the Liver

Since Cordyceps prevent and reduce inflammation, they turn out to be beneficial to the Liver. Inflammation in low quantities can be right. However, to the Liver, it poses a significant risk of Hepatitis B disease. Moreover, it may cause cancer and even heart disease.

According to research, human cells with proteins that increase inflammation can get suppressed if exposed to cordyceps. In light of this research, cordyceps can be attributed to the reduction of inflammation in the body. Undoubtedly if your Liver has the potential of inflammation, cordyceps will outdo it. Moreover, taking cordyceps orally can help victims of hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B, if prolonged, can result in liver cancer. In that case, Cordyceps will help cure the Hepatitis and counteract its effects in its early stages. Nonetheless, in victims with prolonged Hepatitis, liver cancer can be investable. In such an incident, should you choose cordyceps to combat the situation, its anti-tumor properties will prevent the tumor cells from developing and kill cancerous cells.

Cordyceps can also fight inflammation on mouthparts and skin. It can, therefore, be used in asthma therapy. Furthermore, it can be applied on top of the skin to reduce inflammation.

can i grow cordyceps at home

What are the other health benefits of cordyceps?

· Decreases the rate of aging

Cordyceps are rich with antioxidants, and that explains their anti-aging induced mechanisms on individuals. Oxidants and radicals formed within the body are responsible for cell-damaging, resulting in rapid aging and disease. Oxidation and radicals can also cause stress on the skin, and it can be presented as skin sagging and wrinkles.

If cordyceps were to be taken to suppress the aging process, their antioxidants would antagonize any oxidation activity. The antioxidants are also capable of reversing the aging process if already started. Cordyceps also prevent radicals that are capable of rapid aging from entering the skin.

According to tests that were conducted on mice and fruit flies, the subjects treated with cordyceps lived longer than those that were not. With all things considered, cordyceps does not only prevent and reduce aging but can also increase life expectancy. The study again proved that cordyceps antioxidants contain cell regenerative properties.

· It has anti-tumor properties.

In recent years the cordyceps potential for regressive tumor growth has generated various follow-ups. Due to that, multiple types of research have been done on the fungus using different tumor cells. The results show that the anti-tumor properties are exerted in specific ways depending on the tumor type.

In consideration of test-tube studies that have been contacted, cordyceps have been found to inhibit various cancer growth types. The tests have been efficacious on lung cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, and sarcoma. Additionally, cordyceps have positive effects on lymphoma and melanoma.

On the other hand, cordyceps has also been proven to reverse various forms of cancer therapy effects. However, the studies were conducted on mice with cancer; thus, it’s not yet ascertained on humans. The results proved that the fungi suppressed the radiation from the therapy and treatments of taxol.

can i grow cordyceps at home

· Help in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Cordyceps constitutes a particular type of sugar that treats diabetes in their makeup. Diabetes is a condition in which the body fails to produce or respond to insulin. Given that your body fails to produce enough insulin or even react to it, glucose will not enter the cells. Consequently, it remains in the blood and builds up with time, causing diabetic health concerns. Keeping blood sugars well controlled is vital, and in this case, cordyceps can mimic the actions of insulin.

To some extent, other evidence suggests that cordyceps mushrooms can prevent kidney diseases and any diabetic disorder. Further study tests have been done on 1,746 subjects with aliments from chronic conditions of the kidney. According to the results, victims who were cordyceps supplements realized better kidney functioning.

· Cordyceps can boost exercise performance.

Cordyceps are attributed to the increment of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the boy. They also contain adenosine on their own accord. The combination of these chemicals results in extreme energy delivery to the muscles. In return, the oxygen usage in the body, mostly during exercises, is improved hence performance.

This evidence is backed up with a study on the exercise effects of cordyceps. The research was done on thirty healthy adults using a mounted bike. Test subjects were given 3 shots of synthetic cordyceps and other placebo shots for six weeks. The result unraveled that exercise performance was boosted by 7 % in individuals given cordyceps shots. On the other hand, placebo individuals’ conditions remained still.

can i grow cordyceps at home

Side effects of cordyceps

· Induces coagulopathy

This is a condition in which the ability of blood to clot is impaired. Cordyceps have the properties that cause the blood to thin. The effects of thinning consequently lengthen the time for a blood clot to form. Life hazards, in this case, are always excessive bleeding during surgeries and other cuts.

· Induces autoimmune disease

If taken orally, cordyceps will trigger the immune system to become more active. In return, there will be elevated signs of autoimmune diseases. Provided that you have immune conditions, it will be wise to refrain from the use of cordyceps.

Verdict on Cordyceps dosage

When it comes to dosing, the right dose shall depend on various factors such as the user’s health, age, and other apparent conditions. However, there is no substantial scientific evidence that acts as a guide towards the right cordyceps dosage. You should also be aware that natural meds are not always safe, and the correct dosages are essential.

With all things considered, it will be a wise move if you follow directions that are pertinent to the dose label on the product. It would be best to communicate with your physicians or any other healthcare personnel before commencing their use.

Bottom line

Cordyceps are prominent Chinese traditional medicines that have been used for decades to cure ailments. Though the fungi are still going through tests and researches, they are becoming more promising in medical fields.

The fungi are being portrayed as an essential cure for diabetes, lung cancer, and aging with advancing research. Moreover, it perfectly enhances exercise performance. On the other hand, its effect on the Liver and heart’s health is effective in positive ways. For the general body, Liver, and heart health, you should consider using cordyceps supplements.

can i grow cordyceps at home
How Do I Grow Cordyceps At Home?

How Do I Grow Cordyceps At Home?

The name cordyceps refers to a genus of mushrooms that, for the most part, have a somewhat gruesome growing cycle that involves infecting and killing a host insect. Though there are many species of Cordyceps (around four hundred, in fact), the most well known in the world of medicinal mushrooms is Cordyceps Sinensis, known colloquially as the Caterpillar Fungus. Indeed, many people use the term genus name when they mean that specific species.

For the rest of this post, when we say “Cordyceps,” we are referring specifically to the Caterpillar Fungus variety unless otherwise stated. This particular fungus is highly sought after and, due to the scarcity of it, costs tens of thousands of dollars per pound. For anyone reading this post who is not familiar with the fungus, this should go a long way to explaining why people are so keen to grow Cordyceps at home.

If you want the fungus for personal use, it could save you a lot of money to grow at home rather than buy it, and if you are planning to grow them to become a seller yourself, well: tens of thousands of dollars per pound pretty much speaks for itself.

Unfortunately, this is a notoriously difficult fungus to get hold of due to the way it grows, not to mention where it grows. However, methods of cultivating this highly sought-after fungus are becoming more and more reliable, and you can now grow Cordyceps at home. Want to know more? Keep reading.

Why is Cordyceps So Hard to Get?

They are dispersed throughout the world from varied environments including rain forests. The natural habitat of Yarsagumba cordyceps is in the Himalayan Mountains—specifically the Tibetan Plateau—which presents a rather obvious barrier to just heading out and picking your own batch like you would with a more common mushroom.

Further complicating matters is the legality and licensing around picking Cordyceps. Even if you lived in a region where a trip to the Tibetan Plateau for a spot of Cordyceps-picking was feasible, you would need to pay for the right to do so, with Cordyceps being responsible for a substantial portion of the local economies and very closely regulated as a result. 

In other parts of the world, especially rain forests, they are predominantly found turning insects into zombies and almost impossible to harvest.

Unfortunately, these mushrooms in the wild are all but impossible and impractical to collect.

And, until recently, home cultivation was not an option.

How Do I Grow Cordyceps At Home?

So, that’s enough background; how do you go about growing Cordyceps at home? There are two main strategies for approaching this challenge; home-inoculation and grow kits.

Even with these options, there are some hurdles to getting a good Cordyceps crop at home. The first of which is the substrate; Cordyceps grows inside caterpillars naturally. It is possible to get them to grow without an insect host, but it is much easier if you can let them grow as naturally as possible. Beyond their living host, there are also environmental conditions to worry about.

One of the natural regions that Cordyceps grow in, as we’ve mentioned, is high up in the Himalayan Mountains, which are not only colder than many parts of the world but also have a thinner atmospheric pressure due to the higher altitude. This is relevant because the way fungi determine when it is right to sprout a fruiting body (the mushroom part) is through exposure to the outside world. The mycelium—the main part of the fungus that you don’t usually see—grows away from things like air and sunlight, underground, in trees, or, yes, inside insects.

Therefore it treats sudden exposure to conditions that suggest the outside world as a sign that it has reached the surface and can begin sprouting a fruiting body that can shed spores and perpetuate the fungi lifecycle. This is a problem because the Cordyceps’ mycelium is looking for certain conditions before it will sprout a fruiting body, and those conditions are difficult to replicate in a small homegrown setup. Assuming that homegrown setup isn’t up a mountain somewhere.

So let’s take a look at these two methods a little more closely.

Inoculating Grains

You can purchase inoculating fluid online, which contains spores that are ready for planting, though it is not always easy to find. You will need a substrate for your inoculating fluid to be mixed in with. Brown rice is considered particularly useful for this, though things like German millet and barley also work.

Get an appropriate container—mason jars are popular—and add around 2oz of your substrate with a further 2oz of distilled water. Cover your container and give it a good shake to thoroughly mix up the water and rice. The fact that we said distilled water is important because you don’t want chemicals and impurities in the water impeding the Cordyceps’ growth, and that should also explain why the next part is necessary.

Empty your substrate out onto a baking tray and place in a preheated oven of around 250 degrees Fahrenheit in order to sterilize it. If you went with our suggestion of using a mason jar, it is important that you don’t use the jar for baking in as the glass will almost certainly not be suitable for cooking in. Let your substrate bake for around twenty minutes, then pull it out and let it cool for at least an hour.

Once it has cooled, it’s time to transfer it back into your container. You may want to use a sterile spoon to avoid contaminating your freshly sterilized substrate.

For the next step, consult the information that came with your inoculating fluid on how it should be used. And, carefully following those instructions, add it to your substrate. Once done, seal your container and give it another thorough shaking.

Now, you could take your chances here and see if your spores will grow in the substrate alone, though you will have much lower chances of success. The best bet is to add a few hosts for your fungus to infect. Ghost moth larva is a popular option for this, though caterpillars also work. You can also use ground up silkworm pupa in your substrate to encourage the fungus to take hold without a living host present.

can i grow cordyceps at home

Grow Kits

By far an easier option, grow kits come with everything you need to get started. The instructions may vary from grow kit to grow kit but should mostly involve pouring the pre-prepared substrate into a container and adding the inoculating fluid. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully to avoid mishaps.

Tending to Your Cordyceps

There are a few things you want to try and maintain as far as environmental conditions go to give you the best chance of a successful yield. Firstly, keep the humidity between 70-80%. You will also want to keep the temperature nice and level at around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Failing to meet these conditions could result in stunted growth—or no growth at all! It’s also worth mentioning that some experts recommend alternating between light and darkness to simulate the day and night cycle the fungi would experience in nature.

Once you’ve got all of this in place, settle in for a long wait. You should know within two weeks whether or not your Cordyceps has taken hold and has sprouted, but it will take at least sixty days for them to fully grow.

Growing Cordyceps for my Own Use

Growing Cordyceps for your own use is something of a double-edged sword in terms of the advantages and disadvantages it provides. On the one hand, you do not need as much equipment to grow a small amount of fungus as you would if you were growing it to sell as part of a business, but you do need some equipment, and it can feel like a much more significant investment when there is no financial return on the horizon. If you happen to live in an area where the climate is right, or you already have the equipment to hand, growing for your own use can be a very rewarding venture.

Growing Them as a Business

Growing for purposes of selling as part of a business can be a very lucrative venture if you are prepared to invest in the necessary equipment to grow the fungi on a larger scale. You will need to be able to regulate the climate of a much larger area to get a good yield from each batch of spores, which means additional costs in both upfront equipment purchases and long-term running costs. As with growing for home-use, if you already have the equipment—perhaps from a previous mushroom growing venture, you are well on your way to making a profitable operation selling Cordyceps.

can i grow cordyceps at home

The Best Way to Package Them For Sale

As with most perishable substances, environmental factors like humidity are the enemy. The best way to package Cordyceps—particularly if you expect to be shipping your product over long distances—is in airtight containers that can be sealed in a dry, cool environment. Plastic bottles and bags are often used for this purpose.

How Long do They Last Before They go Bad?

If stored in a cool, dry place, Cordyceps can be kept for an impressively long time while still maintaining all of the nutrients they are so desired for. Of course, there is no hard rule for how long any given fungus will keep, but as a general rule, you can expect to keep your Cordyceps for up to two years before you need to worry about it no longer being useable.

How do I Preserve Cordyceps?

Like most mushrooms, Cordyceps can be preserved through dehydration. Drying them out will remove the water content from the fungus and allow it to be stored for much longer without decomposing. Drying out Cordyceps is a practice used liberally when harvested in the wild due to the fact that it perishes quickly once removed, and demand for this fungus across the world means it may not always be heading for a quick sale.

Is a Cordyceps a Worm, Caterpillar, or a Mushroom?

Cordyceps is a genus of fungi that consists of around four hundred different species. The mushroom is actually the fruiting body of the fungi and is grown so that spores can be released to take root elsewhere and continue the lifecycle of the fungus. The body of the fungus—the mycelium—primarily lives in the substrate that the fungus takes up root in and is rarely visible above it, but when the mycelium encounters increased levels of oxygen, light, and temperature changes, it knows it has reached the surface of whatever substrate it is rooted in and may sprout a fruiting body—a mushroom.

Cordyceps is notable for the fact that it takes up root in a living insect, rather than soil or plants, like many other fungi.

can i grow cordyceps at home

Why the Confusion?

As mentioned above, Cordyceps tends to grow inside of a living host—insects in particular—and this is the first point of confusion. In the case of the Caterpillar Fungus that we have been discussing, the insect of choice is a caterpillar, which is why Cordyceps is sometimes mistakenly believed to be that insect.

The next point of confusion stems from the fact that Cordyceps—which have been a popular folk medicine around the regions where it grows for centuries—was once thought to be a kind of worm. When something is thought to be a particular kind of thing for hundreds of years, it can be difficult to shake that notion.

As we’ve stated, however, Cordyceps is, in fact, a fungus. It just happens to be a fungus that grows inside of a caterpillar and looks a little bit like a worm.

Final Thoughts

Growing Cordyceps from home is far from the easiest venture in terms of home fungi cultivation, though it is no longer impossible. The important thing is to have a clear idea of what you are doing it for.

If you want to make a business out of it, you need to be prepared to invest in the necessary equipment. On the other hand, if you are just growing for your own use, it is worth weighing up the costs of growing your own—factoring in your own time and effort—against the expense of just buying it.

can i grow cordyceps at home
Are Mushrooms Able to Grow on Human Skin

Are Mushrooms Able to Grow on Human Skin

If you wonder whether all mushrooms or some of it grow on human skin, you probably need to understand that there are different species and classes of mushrooms. For instance, not all mushrooms grow on human skin, but some can, and they fall under the dermatophytes, a fungi class.

What are Fungal Infections?

Fungal infections are brought by fungal spores that stick to the skin or breathed through. These infections can result in mushroom growth on the human skin. Apart from being on the skin, they can, at times, be present in the lungs and also in the respiratory tracts as well.

Fungal spores contact tends to be harmless, but it’s a great danger to those with a weak immune system and lung disease. The spores may cause infections to the sinuses, brain, and even the liver. They can, however, be harmless if they are treated earlier enough.

With the known knowledge that mushrooms are fungi, but not all fungi are mushrooms, mushroom growth on human skin can be attributed to fungal causes. Fungi that cause mushroom growth on the skin include the jock itch, athletes’ foot, and candidiasis. These dermatophytes grow on the skin and feed on the fiber-protein keratin. At times they may also grow on the nails and hair.

Apart from the skin’s keratin, mushrooms also thrive in warmth and moisture. That’s why you may encounter holes in sweaty feet and other parts. Notably, skin mushroom is highly contagious, spreading from person to person, but, in other cases, you may get it from animals, soil, and clothes.

If you are completely bamboozled with mushroom types that grow on human skin, herein are the 5 types, signs of their growth, and possible remedies.

1. Tinea Cruris (Jock Itch)

Tinea cruris or jock itch is regarded as the most irritating skin mushroom. It commonly affects males, but women can contract it too long as they are exposed to the fungus spore or come into contact with infected matter.

Jock itch is portrayed by a rash that develops near the groin, within the thighs, or the anus. The rash’s center is usually red-brown; on the other hand, its edge also develops bumps. In this case, the skins burn up and itch dreadfully. Oozing blisters are also a subsequent formality.

Possible causes

Jock itch is mostly attributed to athletes’ foot and fungal nail infections. Furthermore, it’s contagious, and it spreads through skin contact and sharing of towels.

Treatment

The skin condition can be addressed with topical antifungal medications such as the allylamine or azole type. Research suggests that allylamines are quicker yet expensive if compared to azoles. On the other hand, if the infection has been present for long or tends to have worsened oral medication, terbinafine or itraconazole can help.

how do fungi mushrooms talk communicate Mycelial Network

2. Tinea corporis

Tinea corporis or ringworm is a superficial dermatophytosis that mostly occurs on arms and legs of glabrous skin. It may also occur at any body part and is similar to jock itch.

Though it’s called ringworm, it has nothing concerning the literal parasite. In fact, its name is due to the circular rings of rashes that it forms. The spreading of Tinea corporis varies. If it’s acute, it’s faster than any other tinea infection. It hastily develops in red pustular lesions. Normal corporis, on the other hand, spreads slowly and develops less severe rashes.

Possible causes

The micro-fungus dermatophyte typically causes this skin condition. The micro-fungus, upon exposure, will reside on the skin surface until conditions become favorable. Thereon they induce the rash as well as an infection.

Tinea corporis mostly grows on women’s skin than men. It may be contracted through, person to person infection, from pets, or even clothing.

Treatment

In most incidents, treatment revolves around the application of topical antifungal creams on the infected mushroom skin. However, given that the case is extensive or hard to treat, systemic treatment using oral medicine can suffice. There are also over-the-counter drugs such as tolnaftate and Ketoconazole. They are available in the form of Nizoral shampoo hence can be applied topically.

can mushrooms fungus grow on human skin

3. Tinea Versicolor

Tinea versicolor is another member of the dermatophytes. Unlike other mushrooms infections on the skin, Tinea Versicolor affects the upper body parts. It’s quite common to find its effects presented as discolored patches on the back and chest. It causes the skin to flake and tan.

The patches may either make the skin lighter or darker, and they appear in either pink, brown, white, or tan color. Since the fungus does not permit them to tan with the rest of the skin, it becomes impossible to tan the patches away.

Causes and treatment of Tinea versicolor

The condition Is caused by yeast and is most common in young adults. However, it can be treated through topical antifungal medications that contain selenium sulfide. Furthermore, Ketoconazole, which is a Nizoral ointment, can be an option too. The treatment may take up to two weeks to work.

4. Candidiasis

Candida yeasts typically live inside the human mouth, digestive tracks, and vagina. It can either grow outside or inside the human body, but the sum result is a typical infection.

In other cases, candidiasis may be triggered by human interventions. That’s by taking in antibiotics that counteract bacterial infections. Consequently, the antibiotics result in the death of bacteria that hampers the overgrowth of candida.

In most cases, the organs that are susceptible to skin infection are usually moist. They are generally the armpits, the skin within toes, and in women, it affects the skin underneath the breasts. Also, the anus and groin are vulnerable to the infection. The conditions are more aggravated in the skins of individuals who are obese as that accounts for more folds that generate moisture.

On the other hand, besides infecting the skin, candida directly affects vaginal linings and the mouth.

Cause and treatment of candidiasis

Different Candida species can cause candidiasis, and their looks vary depending on the part that they are affecting. They commonly appear to be reddish rashes that have lesions and pustular bumps as well.

On the treatment approach, antifungal medications such as clotrimazole can be used to suppress the infection.

can mushrooms fungus grow on human skin

5. Tinea Pedis /Athlete’s Foot

Tinea pedis, commonly known as athletes’ foot, is the top prevalent mushroom growth on the human skin. The name justifies its progression as it commonly affects people who use athletic shoes for exercise.

Athletic shoes make the environment warm and moist at the feet’ vicinity (the conditions essential for fungi thriving). In other cases, the infection can be from swimming pools where the fungus spreads rapidly.

Athletes’ foot appears in different ways that can either be scales or even fissures within toes, blisters, or skin lesions on heels as well.

Causes and treatment of athletes foot

Athletes’ foot is a result of dermatophytosis caused by parasitic fungi that use humans as hosts. It’s highly contagious, and it can spread through both indirect and direct contact.

On treatment approach, conventional methods such as a daily-based thorough washing of feet and subsequent application topical medication can suffice. Since the exterior skin is damaged and vulnerable to reinfection, topical treatment should be followed until the skin rebuilds.

can mushrooms fungus grow on human skin

Ways of preventing mushroom growth on the skin

Everyone is vulnerable to mushroom growth on the skin. The situation is even worse in those with weak immune systems. We all have the moist parts in our bodies, which are efficacious grounds for developing the skin mushrooms. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; it will be wise if you know how to prevent mushroom growth on your skin.

Preventions of skin mushroom growth

  • Ensure good overall hygiene, with the inclusion of oral hygiene too. That will help get rid of infections such as candidiasis.
  • Your feet should always be clean, free from moisture. If you have to put on shoes, you should see that they allow feet aeration.
  • Avoid walking barefooted in gym lockers and swimming pools.
  • Keep your toe and fingernails short.
  • Upon touching pets and other animals, sterilize your hands since the infections are contagious.
  • Check your pets with a vet’s aid to see if they have ringworms.

Verdict

Mushroom growth on human skin is not an adverse medical condition, and it can be treated, provided that the right medication is present. However, should you not maintain proper hygiene and dried skin, infections will recur.

If the aforementioned treatments do not combat mushrooms’ growth on your body, it will be wise to see dermatologists for help. In retrospect, not all mushrooms grow on human skin. However, the dermatophytes, a group of mushrooms, have the capabilities of turning humans into hosts. You will not encounter a mushroom with a real shape on human skin, but they are, however, present in the form of fungal infections.

Mushroom growth on the skin is uncomfortable and should not be left untreated as they may cause further fatal internal infections. Mushroom growth on human skin is real and no fiction; it will be wise for you to maintain proper hygiene and moisture-free skin to prevent infections.

can mushrooms fungus grow on human skin
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