Here, we speak with a number of Traditional Chinese Medicine experts on cordyceps fungus and benefits of cordyceps.

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My mom was an earth mother.

My mother was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge aimed at keeping her children well.

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I never did appreciate how ahead ofholistic health trendsshe always was.

It was during this time that I first caught wind of the term functional mushrooms.

Since then, this Eastern medical miracle has risen to the forefront of the wellness world.

An image of four wine glasses on a wooden surface

It isnt hard to understand why.

As a result, we hopejust like my mother didthatmagic mushrooms might provide some sense of relief or resolution.

(And do they ever.)

Young woman mixing ice coffee

But what are cordyceps, exactly, and what differentiates them from adaptogens and nootropics?

What is cordyceps fungus?

Board-certified herbalist andNew Chapterdirector of educationCharlotte Traasgoes into more detail.

Cropped shot of young woman shopping in the dairy section of a supermarket. She is reading the nutrition label on a container of fresh organic healthy natural yoghurt

Cordyceps militaris, on the other hand, are a bit more palatable to the mind and the wallet.

These strains are more commonly grown in a lab and fed a substrate, then harvested, Traas explains.

Why are cordyceps and other functional mushrooms so hot right now?

Two cups with coffee and green tea on a beige background.

This was when some World Championship female Chinese distance runners attributed their successincluding breaking three world recordsto cordyceps.

As Doctor of Preventive Medicine and co-founder ofOm Mushroom SuperfoodSandra Carter, M.A.

How do adaptogens and nootropics differ from cordyceps?

red pigment in a wooden spoon

And its no surprise to her that theyve caught on so rapidly.

Generally speaking, all cordyceps are adaptogens, but they may not all be nootropics.

And like all supplements, they are not regulated by the FDA.

Allmushrooms are bioaccumulators, which means they accumulate whatever they are grown on, she says.

For this reason, lab-grown Cordyceps militaris is often a safer bet.

Sinensis is also extremely rare, so finding authentic samples is difficult.

This is why youll often find cordyceps and other forms of fungi blended with additional good-for-you herbs.

HerImmune Multi Boostadds vitamin C.

KhourysToodaloo trail mixesalso make it easy to get your blended fix.

Once youve been given the blessing, consider giving cordyceps and their brethren a try.

After all, it all boils down to one question: Do you believe in magic?

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