Mr. Innocent, or anyone... Any experience with Cordyceps (mushrooms)... The following is a copy describing claims and effects...
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The effects of Cordyceps are claimed to include preventing and reducing inflammation, reducing a cough, eliminating phlegm, calming emotions, improving shortness of breath, stimulating sexual functioning, lowering blood cholesterol, increasing the supply of blood to the body, slightly reducing blood pressure, improving the bodies oxygen uptake, and increasing the general functioning of the cell system. It is also used as a standard supplement by a great number of Chinese athletes as a legal way to significantly improve their competitive performance with great effect. Chinese Athletes using this legal supplement have set many world records.

Cordyceps can strengthen the body's immunity, and treat other conditions resulting from insufficient vitality and compromised immune functions. Cordyceps is widely used for back and joint pains, insomnia, irregular menstruation.

Cordyceps is an excellent powerful strengthening tonic for prolonged weakness during convalescence, for individuals with reduced appetite, lowered resistance to infection, problems with the respiratory tract or susceptibility to colds or flu.

The claims for the use of Cordyceps are based on the use of Cordyceps in thousands of facilities in Mainland China and throughout Asia including

The Chinese Academy of Medical Science
The Beijing College of Medicine
The People's Liberation Army Hospital
The Taiwan Pediatric Association
The Veterans General Hospital of Taipei.

ALTOGRINGO, a famous Calif. herbalist named
Ron Teeguarden in his book "The ancient Wisdom
of the Chinese Tonic Herbs" says that cordyceps
is an extremely effective and powerful life-enhancing agent ranking with Ginseng,Ganoderma, and Deer antler. It is said
to strengthen the body and mind at a fundamental
level and increase the primary force for
lifes activities and can be used over a long
period of time. It replaces a fundamental life
force in the body restoring the deep energy expended as a result of excessive exertion,adapting to stress or aging. As a sexual
tonic, is is better for the long term for sexual
fatigue or impotence. It is a great lung tonic,a powerful tonic for athletes and help the body
resist a wide range of viruses and bacteria as
it helps strengthen the immune system. Cordyceps
is a mushroom that grows on the head of a caterpillar. The caterpillar is completely consumed by the mushroom but retains its shape.
Therefore in its natural state it appears like
a dried caterpillar but it is now 100 per cent
vegatarian fungal material. I have used it and
it is good stuff-a regular fountain of youth. I
know a supplier in Calif. that commercially grows
it and has a really good price.........it comes in a bottle ground up into a powder.....

Altogringo and Doctorgood,

All true, only it doesn't work as quickly as epimidium. It is more a tonic to take long term with gradual sustained benefits. Also good quality Cordyceps is quite expensive. Epimidium is cheap.

Mr. Innocent

Mr.Innocent
Could you fill us in on Epimidium a bit?
Taxibob

Mr.Innocent and/or Doctorgood
When you have time can you give us your feelings on Reishi mushrooms?I remember reading some good stuff about them and picked up a bag of dried ones in Chinatown.They are hard as a rock.I'm considering running chunks through a coffee grinder and filling up capsules with them and trying them out.
Taxibob

Taxibob,

Pharmacological and clinical research:
Herba Epimedium grandiflorum (Yin Yang Huo)

-Effects on sexual activity: increases sexual activity, increases sperm production, stimulates sensory nerves thereby indirectly increase sexual desire. Has a moderate androgen-like effect on the testes, prostate gland, and levator ani.
it has not been shown to have any estrogen-like effects.

-Antibiotic effect: marked inhibitory effect against polio virus and staphlococcus aureus.

-Respiratory: expectorant and antitussive effects

-Blood pressure: lowered blood pressure of rabbits and rats with both normal BP and with renal hypertension.

-Kidneys: low dose increase urinary output, high dose decreased output.

Cautions and Contraindications:

-Hyperactive sexual drive or wet dreams.

-With inflamatory kidney disease.

-Should not be taken for long periods of time

-Ingesting can lead to dizinness,vomiting,dry mouth thirst and nosebleed.

Major known ingredients:: icarin, benzene, sterols tanin, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid vitimin E

Toxicity: Japenese variety, icreases the activity in mice and causes hyperflexia to he point of mild spasm. In very large doses it can cause respiratory arrest.

Basically puts lead in the old pencil. I just like to take it for a week at a time and take a good break.

Reishi has anitcancer properties as well as a variety of immune enhancement features. If you like mushrooms and you cook, soak them over night and cook them in soups or whatever.

Some of the chinese shops have industrial grinders and will grind your herbs for a fee. Don't use your coffee grinder it will break allmost immediately.

Best is to get standardized extracts that can be quite concentrated for stronger effect. The dry mushrooms are best for cooking but still have some benefit. Enjoy...

tAXIBOB-at most the the herbal pharmacys in china
town -many of them have a grinding machine and
will grind up anything for you-you may have to
buy maybe some ginseng from them,or cordyceps,
and then ask them to grind up the mushroom. Another way around it is to to cook the mushrooms
in almost boiling water for a while to make tea.
Perhaps best is cook them for awhile until they
become soft put some honey over the top and
there you have a nice healthy snack. I can send
you an address of where to buy some not expensive
cordyceps ...just let me know....Regards, Doctorgood

Doctorgood,

Tell me more about the price and quality of your
cordyceps source. Thanks

Mr. Innocent

Altogringo,

Pretty complete descrition of coryceps.

Doc Good
Sure i'm definitely interested.Thanks.

Mr.Innocent
Any suggestions of in what form Epimedium is best to take.Also best type of places to aquire?
Thanks guys
Taxibob

The last time I ordered in 1999 item number
BE24, 100 grams cordyceps $34.oo, powder....
item BE24c, 100 caps, $20.50... retail prices
for these are are $57.00 and$34.00 respect...
from Bioessense(tashi interprises) Richmond
Calif tel 510-5582000. I am going to order
some more very long and can then give updated
prices.

Doctorgood,

Thanks for the info. I am in the process of aquiring a old and well established chinese herbal medicine company with a colleague of mone .I'll keep you posted.

Mr. Innocent