Properties: Sweet, neutral

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Kidney and Lung

1. Supplements the Lung and tonifies Kidney
   Kidney Jing Deficiency
   Cough with blood-streaked Phlegm
   Night sweats, lower back pain
   Blood deficiency

Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-15g in decoction.

• Cordycepin
  Adenosine 3'-deoxyribonucleoside found I the mycelium and fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris (Hur, 2008) which causes cytotoxicity by incorporation into an mRNA molecule, resulting in premature termination of protein synthesis. This may be of use in numerous cancer types where it has shown effectiveness in vitro (Yoon et al., 2018) and an analogue, NUC-7738, is showing promise in clinical trials with advanced solid tumours, including melanoma (Schwenzer et al., 2021; Blagden et al., 2024) and is starting recruitment for research into leukemia (Clinical Trial NCT03829254). Its mechanisms may involve may sensitising cancer cells to immunotherapy (Thepmalee et al., 2024) and slowing growth (Lawrence et al., 2025). It has also shown rapid, robust imipramine-like (tricyclic) antidepressant effects in animal models of depression (Li et al., 2014) and the ability to repress pain and inflammation, protect brain function, improve respiratory and cardiac conditions, and ameliorate metabolic disorders, primarily through activating AMPK, inhibiting PI3K/mTOR/AKT (Radhi et al., 2021).
• Pentostatin
  Another adenosine analogue produced by the same gene cluster as cordycepin that acts as a safeguard by preventing the deamination of cordycepin by adenosine deaminase (Xia et al., 2017). It is also a very effective chemotherapy agent against hairy-cell leukemia (Grever, Doan & Kraut, 2003).
• Myriocin
  Found in Isaria sinclairii, the anamorph (asexual stage) of which Cordyceps is the telemorph (sexual stage). It is an amino acid-based antibiotic which also displays anti-fungal, immunosuppressive properties and is a potent inhibitor of sphingosine, required to make phospholipids for cell membranes. It modulates the immune system by modulating the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor, sequestering lymphocytes in the lymph nodes and preventing them from contributing to an autoimmune reaction. It has been isolated and sold as the drug Fingolimod used for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

Notes:

This is the Chinese lowland variety of Cordyceps which is easier to cultivate and harvest than Ophiocordyceps sinensis that grows exclusively in high altitude regions of Tibet. However, this lowland property gives it different therapeutic qualities, nourishing Yin over Yang and being cheaper and therefore less prized. However, it is a better source of cordycepin since it is absent in cultured O. Sinensis and may be from other organisms present in the wild harvested forms due to a lack of cordycepin found in cultivated O. Sinensis (Yang et al., 2010) and it lacking the gene associated with its synthesis (Xia et al., 2017).