Cordyceps sinensis, also known as Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps sinensis, is a complex of the stroma and larvae corpses of the fungus Cordycrps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc.

Cordyceps sinensis mainly grows on forest meadows or lawns at high altitudes; due to soil quality, the color of Cordyceps sinensis in forest meadows is mainly dark yellow-brown, while that in grasslands is dark yellow-brown. Mainly yellow-brown; the former is mostly produced in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Gansu, while the latter is mostly produced in Tibet and Qinghai.

Cordyceps sinensis is a traditional and valuable nourishing Chinese medicinal material. It is listed as one of the three major tonics along with natural ginseng and deer antler. It has mild medicinal properties and can be eaten all year round. It is suitable for the elderly, young, sick, weak and weak. It has wider medicinal value than other types of tonics.

Broad classification

Authentic Cordyceps sinensis can be divided into two types according to its growth environment. Grassland Cordyceps in plateau meadows and alpine Cordyceps in high-altitude Yinshan canyons. Due to the growth environment and soil quality There are some differences in color and shape. Grassland Cordyceps is earthy yellow, with fat body and soft flesh; alpine Cordyceps is dark brown with plump and firm body. Because the grassland is a vast area and is the main producing area, this variety is mostly popular on the market. The sources of alpine Cordyceps are rare, but ancient medical books mostly record this kind of food. In terms of nutritional content, the two are almost the same, but no matter which one is natural, it loses its value once it is dyed or contaminated.

The Growth of Cordyceps

As for the growth of Cordyceps, most people find it mysterious. There was a poem by the predecessors: "Cordyceps is true to its name, and changes to create a unified Qi. One thing. It’s hard to believe that it can be both an animal and a plant. “In fact, Cordyceps is a combination of insects and fungi. The insect is the larvae of the Cordyceps bat moth, and the fungus is the Cordyceps fungus. In midsummer, on the snowy mountain meadows above 3,800 meters above sea level, the ice and snow melt, and the bat moth, which is small and flower-like, leaves thousands of eggs on the flowers and leaves. superior. Then the moth eggs turn into small insects, which burrow into the moist and loose soil, absorb the nutrients from the roots of the plants, and gradually make the body white and fat. At this time, the spherical ascospores encounter the Cordyceps bat moth larvae and penetrate into the insect body, attracting their nutrients and germinating mycelium.

The larvae infected by the fungus gradually wriggle to a distance of two to three centimeters from the surface, and die with their heads and tails down. This is the "winter worm". Although the larvae dies, the fungus inside the body grows day by day until it fills the entire insect body. In the late spring and early summer of the following year, a purple-red grass grows from the head of the insect, about two to five centimeters high, with a pineapple-shaped capsule at the top. This is the "summer grass". Cordyceps is the most fully developed at this time and has the highest active ingredients in the body. It is the best season for collection. Diqing and Nujiang Prefectures in Yunnan Province are one of the main producing areas of Cordyceps in my country.

Harvesting and storage:

Every year between April and May of the lunar calendar, when the snow melts, it is the harvesting season of Cordyceps sinensis. At this time, the Cordyceps sinensis seedlings have not emerged more than one inch. At this time, the seedlings will die, other weeds will grow very fast, and there will be no trace of Cordyceps sinensis. When harvesting Cordyceps sinensis, remove the yellow wax coating and other impurities attached to the insect body, and dry it in the air or sun; The traditional packaging method is to tie 6 to 8 pieces into a small bundle (boy) with a small red rope.

The storage requirements of Cordyceps sinensis are not high. Generally speaking, as long as it is processed by normal drying methods in the production area and placed in a ventilated environment, it will not deteriorate or become moldy. If it is too humid, it can Consider packaging it in a sealed bag and storing it in the refrigerator