Interest in mushrooms is growing. But the reasons for the growing interest vary. Some are fascinated by the effect of mushrooms on us humans. Others see enormous potential for using mushrooms for sustainability issues in the future. And then there are those who have seen Last of Us on HBO and think that now mushrooms are taking over. 
What is Cordyceps?
In the Last of Us series, the Cordyceps mushroom is the culprit. Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis or Cordyceps sinensis as it was previously called) is in its wild state a parasite that takes over a living organism - usually larvae. The fungus infiltrates the larva and grows out of the larva's head as a club-like shape. I know, it's brutal. In the Last of Us series, they hint that the Cordyceps mushroom has now learned to take over humans and turn them into zombies. But just to be very clear, that's not possible ... yet :-)
Cordyceps in its wild state is very rare and therefore very expensive. If you buy a Cordyceps product, it is most likely a cultivated variety. Here are a few pictures of the cultivated variety. They are so incredibly beautiful.
Cordyceps in wild and cultivated form
Cordyceps has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for many centuries and is today one of the most popular functional mushrooms. The wild mushroom grows at high altitudes and 95% is harvested in Tibet. Today in China it is a great gift to get a genuine Cordyceps fungus. Due to the high price and low availability, it is not sustainable or reasonable to use the wild mushroom. The cultivated mushroom is a fully satisfactory substitute.
It can be difficult to find Cordyceps grown within the EU. Örtfabriken prefers mushrooms grown or harvested within the EU, as we have a stronger food regulation framework within the EU to rely on. It is also more natural to use herbs and mushrooms in our local area and thus avoid long transports. We can also have closer contact with our producers and meet them in person. We not only ensure that the mushrooms are grown within the EU, we also want the alcohol to be produced within the EU.
Beta-glucans and terpenes
Functional mushrooms such as Cordyceps, Lion's Mane, Reishi and Chaga all have active ingredients in the form of beta-glucans and terpenes, among other ingredients. Beta-glucans have attracted a lot of interest and are currently being researched extensively.
In addition, each functional mushroom has active ingredients that give it its uniqueness. For example, Cordyceps contains both cordycepin and adenosine. According to regulations, we are not allowed to write about what Cordyceps is good for, but there are many good sources of knowledge and a wealth of research. Cordyceps is one of the most popular functional mushrooms today and the interest has generated several interesting research reports. For example, Örtfabriken recommends the website Pub Med for further reading.
Örtfabriken receives many questions about mushroom dosage. Our recommendation for Örtfabriken's Cordyceps tincture is 20 drops daily, which you should preferably take earlier in the day. You can either take the drops directly into your mouth or in a glass of water.
Here you can watch a short film about the Cordyceps fungus in its wild state by David Attenborough for the BBC. We hope it creates fascination and not fear :-).
If you are interested in knowing more about mushrooms, we can recommend more of Örtfabriken's blog articles:
Biohack your everyday life with the help of mushrooms
Lion's Mane - history and uses
Here you will find Örtfabriken's mushrooms in tincture form .
