Cordyceps: What The Himalayans Have Always Known About Energy

Two stories reveal the importance of Cordyceps.

The first begins in Tibet, at high altitude on the cold Plateau. Yak herders noticed that the animals that grazed on a strange a caterpillar-shaped fungus that grew from the earth, had unusual endurance. They could travel further, and higher for longer. The herders began consuming the same fungus themselves. The same quality of effort followed.

The second begins in the imperial court of Qing Dynasty, China. Court herbalists, tasked with maintaining the health and vitality of the emperor, had begun incorporating a rare Himalayan fungus into their most closely guarded tonic formulas. Access to it was restricted to the emperor and the highest nobility. It was called Dong Chong Xia Cao, winter worm summer grass, for it's caterpillar shape and the fruiting body it produced.

Both stories point to the same realisation: that the body becomes more capable when Cordyceps is part of it.

What the Texts Say

The first formal documentation of Cordyceps in traditional Chinese medicine appears in Wang Ang's Ben Cao Bei Yao (1694). His description remains one of the clearest statements of what Cordyceps was observed to do across centuries of use:

"Cordyceps is sweet in taste and neutral in nature, replenishing the kidney and soothing the lung, arresting bleeding, resolving phlegm, and relieving cough."

In 1757, Wu Yiluo's Ben Cao Cong Xin ("New Compilation of Materia Medica") elaborated further on its properties, cementing Cordyceps as one of the most prized substances in the Chinese pharmacopeia. The kidney and lung systems in traditional Chinese medicine correspond closely to what modern science calls adrenal function, respiratory capacity and reproductive vitality. What the court herbalists were describing, in the language available to them, is what clinical research is now confirming.

What Cordyceps Is

Cordyceps is a genus of fungi with over 400 species. The most prized, Cordyceps sinensis (formally Ophiocordyceps sinensis), grows exclusively above 3,800 metres on the Tibetan plateau and surrounding Himalayan regions. It parasitises the Himalayan Ghost Moth larvae, replacing its tissue with fungal matter and erupting from the caterpillar's head as a small fruiting body each spring. It is harvested by hand, at a brief window, by collectors who have done this work across generations.

The conditions that produce it, the altitude, the cold, the specific host, cannot be replicated. Wild Cordyceps sinensis remains among the rarest naturally occurring substances in the world.

The other commercially significant species, Cordyceps militaris, can be cultivated in controlled environments. It contains many of the same primary active compounds at measurable concentrations and is used in most Cordyceps extracts for this reason.

Sinensis and Militaris: Not Interchangeable

POTENT:'s position on this is clear: Cordyceps sinensis is significantly more potent than militaris, and altitude and sourcing are the primary reasons.

The extreme altitude at which sinensis grows forces the fungus to develop adaptive compounds that militaris, cultivated at sea level, simply does not produce in the same concentrations. Cordycepin density, adenosine content and the full spectrum of bioactive polysaccharides are all affected by the stress conditions of the Himalayan environment. The organism earns its potency through the conditions it survives.

POTENT: selects its wild Cordyceps sinensis from a Himalayan plateau in northern Myanmar, where altitude, isolation and consistent harvesting standards produce specimens of reliably exceptional quality. These are not commodity batches. They are chosen for potency.

Our Cordyceps Elixir and Cordyceps Syrup use rigorously sourced militaris for consistent daily use. Our Wild Cordyceps Sinensis Elixir uses genuine sinensis from Myanmar for those who want the original, in full strength.

What It Does

The yak herders were observing noticeable changes in their physiology. Research has since identified the mechanisms behind those changes, and they are several.

Cellular energy. The primary mechanism is an increase in ATP production, the molecule cells use to transfer energy. Cordyceps deepens oxygen utilisation at the cellular level, increasing the efficiency with which mitochondria convert oxygen into energy. [1, 2] At altitude, where oxygen is thin, this effect is most visible. At sea level, it still matters.

Endurance and VO₂ max. Studies on athletic populations have found that Cordyceps increases VO₂ max, the maximum rate at which the body can consume oxygen during sustained effort. [3] This measure is central to endurance performance, and it is not easily moved by training alone.

Fatigue resistance. Cordyceps reduces the accumulation of lactic acid in muscle tissue during sustained effort, one of the primary causes of fatigue. Studies have found extended time to exhaustion following Cordyceps use. [4]

Adrenal and hormonal support. Cordyceps supports the adrenal glands and the production of hormones that regulate energy and the stress response. [5] This is why the energy it produces feels different from stimulants. It does not borrow from tomorrow. It strengthens the system that generates energy from within.

Libido and reproductive vitality. This is what Wang Ang's text described as "replenishing the kidney" and what modern research has begun to confirm through a different lens. Cordyceps sinensis has been shown to stimulate testosterone production in Leydig cells and to increase circulating levels of luteinising hormone. [6] In a placebo-controlled trial, 86% of women who received Cordyceps reported improvements in libido. [7] The relationship between Cordyceps and reproductive vitality, observed in the court formulas of the Qing Dynasty, is one of the areas most actively being studied by clinical researchers today.

Recovery. Cordyceps has been shown to reduce post-exercise oxidative damage and support faster recovery between sessions. [8] For people who demand a great deal from their bodies across long days, this is often the most practically significant effect.

The Difference Between Energy and Stimulation

This distinction is worth understanding clearly.

Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors, the receptors that signal fatigue, which creates the sensation of alertness. The underlying fatigue is still accumulating. When the caffeine clears, the adenosine floods back, and you feel more tired than before.

Cordyceps does not block anything. It strengthens ATP production, deepens oxygen efficiency and supports the hormonal systems that generate energy from within. What follows is energy that does not collapse. Sustained, clean, without the arc of stimulant and crash.

This is why traditional Chinese medicine used it as a tonic: something taken daily, over months and years, as a foundation for vitality. The court herbalists who prepared it for emperors were not reaching for a remedy. They were building a system.

How POTENT: Uses It

Our Cordyceps extracts are made in our Chiang Mai lab using ultrasonic-assisted extraction combined with hot water and alcohol, capturing the full range of water-soluble and fat-soluble compounds in every bottle. We use the fruiting body, not mycelium grown on grain, for the highest possible concentration of active compounds. Every batch is third-party tested for purity and potency.

At the POTENT: Mushroom Tea House in Chiang Mai, you can experience Cordyceps as ENERGY tea, brewed with our extract.

What Both Stories Were About

The yak herders and the court herbalists were separated by culture, context and language. What they shared was precise observation and careful record. Both noticed the same thing: that Cordyceps changed what the body was capable of. More energy from the same effort. Better recovery. Deeper vitality.

A thousand years of that kind of attention is not superstition. It is evidence, accumulated before the tools existed to explain it.

The tools now exist. The evidence has held.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cordyceps a stimulant? No. Cordyceps does not stimulate the nervous system the way caffeine does. Its energy effect comes from improved cellular energy production and oxygen efficiency, not from blocking fatigue signals. There is no crash.

What is the difference between Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris? Sinensis is wild-harvested from high-altitude Himalayan regions and is significantly more potent due to the stress conditions in which it grows. Militaris is cultivated and contains the same primary active compounds at consistent concentrations, making it a reliable option for daily use. Both are effective. They are not equivalent.

Does Cordyceps affect libido? The research supports what traditional Chinese medicine recorded: Cordyceps appears to support testosterone production, hormonal balance and reproductive vitality in both men and women. This is one of the areas of active clinical investigation.

How long before I notice a difference? With the appropriate serving size, most people notice improved sustained energy and reduced fatigue on the same day. Sustained results build within two to three weeks of consistent daily use.

Is Cordyceps safe to take every day? Yes. It is non-toxic, non-habit-forming and safe for daily use. No significant interactions with common medications are currently documented.

Where can I find Cordyceps extract in Thailand? POTENT: makes and sells Cordyceps elixirs and syrups from our Chiang Mai lab, including wild-harvested Cordyceps sinensis from Myanmar. We ship across Thailand. Begin here.

Sources

1. Zhou X, et al. "The immunomodulating effects of Cordyceps sinensis: in vitro and in vivo." Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2009; 121(3): 394–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.11.011

2. Tuli HS, et al. "Pharmacological and therapeutic potential of Cordyceps with special reference to Cordycepin." 3 Biotech, 2014; 4(1): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-013-0121-9

3. Hirsch KR, et al. "Cordyceps militaris improves tolerance to high-intensity exercise after acute and chronic supplementation." Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2017; 14(1): 42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386

4. Xu YF. "Effect of polysaccharide from Cordyceps militaris on physical fatigue induced by forced swimming." International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 2016; 18(12): 1083–1092. https://doi.org/10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v18.i12.30

5. Chen S, et al. "Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010; 16(5): 585–590. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0226

6. Panda AK, Swain KC. "Traditional uses and medicinal potential of Cordyceps sinensis of Sikkim." Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2011; 2(1): 9–13. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-9476.78183

7. Zhu JS, Halpern GM, Jones K. "The scientific rediscovery of an ancient Chinese herbal medicine: Cordyceps sinensis." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 1998; 4(3): 289–303. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.1998.4.3-289

8. Lo HC, et al. "The anti-hyperglycemic activity of the fruiting body of Cordyceps in diabetic rats induced by nicotinamide and streptozotocin." Life Sciences, 2004; 74(23): 2897–2908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2003.11.003

Related reading: Lion's Mane: Clarity and the Focused Mind | Reishi: The Mushroom of Immortality

POTENT: makes organic, third-party tested mushroom extracts in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Every product is crafted to be felt.