Can Cordyceps Cure Flu?

AUTHOR BRIDGET GREENWOOD Can extracts of the powerful medicinal mushroom Cordyceps cure the influenza, or flu, virus? A new animal study finds that Cordyceps militaris has an anti-influenza effect. The annual 5-month flu “season” leads to work days lost, hospitalizations, and even death. According to the Government of Canada, since the start of the 2013 flu season until August 2014 there have been 329 deaths in Canada alone, and many thousands worldwide. The influenza virus which causes this infections disease evolves rapidly. In flu pandemic years, where the virus mutates into new strains of the virus, millions may die. A new strain of the H1N1 virus, developed in 2009, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Flu vaccines provide significant protection against the flu virus, especially for seniors and people with compromised immune systems. But these flu vaccines are not always available for people in developing countries. In addition, H1N1 vaccinations caused severe side effect in some countries, especially in Scandinavia. Researchers at Duksung Women’s University (Seoul, Korea) developed an animal study to see if the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps militaris would have an anti-influenza effect, and could be used in the future to prevent and treat flu. The parasitic fungus Cordyceps has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, and in recent years is being tested for its bioactive medicinal properties, particularly for its immune boosting effects. Animal study results: Cordyceps medicinal mushroom prevents flu The researchers (Lee HH, Park H, et al) gave Cordyceps extracts, or a control substance, to mice for 7 days. The mice were then intranasally infected with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 flue virus. Their body weight and immune system functions were analyzed. Cordyceps extract boosted immune system response by increasing the amount of natural killer cells, which indicates that the Cordyceps has an anti-viral effect. The anti-influenza effect of the medicinal mushroom was also shown in the stable body weight, and increased survival rate, of the mice given Cordyceps. Go to this site for more information. www.ganolifevo.com/wwammcafe.