Origin, cultivation and use of the Cordyceps mushroom:
Due to its rarity and the laborious harvesting process, which is described below, the prices for genuine Cordyceps mushrooms are even higher than those for truffles or caviar – one kilogram of fruiting bodies currently costs up to €40,000. The eight to 15 cm long, thin, brown caterpillar mushrooms owe their name to their appearance and to the fact that they actually require live caterpillars as hosts. The fungi infect the caterpillars of the butterfly genus Thitarodes, grow through them from the inside, and ultimately form fruiting bodies that are usually about twice as long as the host body. Cultivation of Cordyceps in the traditional sense is not possible – it must be collected by hand from the wild. Cordyceps is native to the Tibetan Highlands, and occasionally also to neighboring regions of Bhutan, India, and Nepal. Collecting the caterpillar mushrooms is a key source of income for many farmers and herders in the highlands. In China, Cordyceps is not only a popular edible mushroom—it also plays a central role in Chinese medicine. The earliest written evidence of its use as a medicinal mushroom dates back to the 15th century, but it has likely been used for much longer.
Ingredients of the Cordyceps mushroom:
In addition to numerous vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, the Chinese caterpillar fungus contains special amino acids such as cordycepin, ergosterol (a precursor to vitamin D), and L-tryptophan, as well as various peptides and glycoproteins. The beta-glucans contained in Cordyceps, which are typical of the mushroom, are receiving particular scientific attention, and their positive physiological effects are currently being thoroughly researched.
What is Cordyceps CS-4?
Due to the laborious harvesting and high price of "real" Cordyceps, a special cultivated form has been developed that yields the active ingredient-rich mycelium of the caterpillar fungus instead of fruiting bodies. For this purpose, the fungus is cultivated in a natural nutrient solution (no substrate made of grain or similar is used). At the end of the ripening period, all of the liquid has given way to the mycelium. What remains is Cordyceps CS-4, whose chemical composition, according to scientific studies, is so similar to that of the naturally growing Cordyceps fungus that CS-4 can officially be called "Cordyceps."
Cordyceps: The fitness booster among medicinal mushrooms
The greatest strength of Cordyceps, however, lies in its antioxidant properties: It inactivates free radicals and can thus protect the organism from damage. As with all medicinal plants, the concentration of constituents in untreated mushrooms can vary greatly. Therefore, standardized processing, as guaranteed with Hawlik medicinal mushroom products, is recommended for the application and dosage of the Chinese caterpillar fungus.
Cordyceps: You can buy these dosage forms from Hawlik
Cordyceps powder capsules the “classic”Each capsule contains 420 mg of Chinese caterpillar fungus powder, ground from hand-picked and gently dried fruiting bodies.
Application and dosage: Take two Cordyceps powder capsules twice daily with plenty of liquid at meals.
Cordyceps extract capsules
Highly concentrated dosage through extraction. Each vegetable capsule contains 300 mg of medicinal mushroom extract and 40 mg of acerola extract (equivalent to 7 mg of vitamin C).
Application and dosage: Take two Cordyceps extract capsules twice daily with plenty of liquid at meals.
Cordyceps extract and powder capsules
Our customer favorite combines the benefits of extract and powder. Ideal for maintaining vital balance!
Application and dosage: Two capsules twice daily with plenty of liquid in the morning and at lunchtime with meals.
Cordyceps liquid extract
Highly concentrated and easy to swallow. With added vitamin C, potassium, and zinc.
Directions and dosage: Take 2.5 ml of Cordyceps liquid extract twice daily with meals – neat or diluted in a glass of water, preferably in the morning and at lunchtime. The recommended daily intake is 5 ml of liquid extract. This corresponds to approximately 12 capsules of Cordyceps extract.
