Autumn is a suitable time for health preservation and nourishment. Many people choose to eat some highly nourishing medicinal diets, such as Cordyceps. So, how is Cordyceps best eaten? Is it suitable for everyone?
Cordyceps, also known as Dong Chong Xia Cao, is essentially a fungus—specifically, the Cordyceps sinensis fungus of the Clavicipitaceae family. It is called "winter worm, summer grass" because of its "growth" process. To reproduce, the ghost moth lays eggs in the soil, which then hatch into larvae. The Cordyceps fungus invades the larva's body, absorbs its nutrients, and multiplies continuously, filling the larva's body with mycelia and causing its death. This is the "winter worm." The following summer, the Cordyceps fungus grows a small, 4-10 cm tall, purplish-red grass from the larva's head, which is the "summer grass." When the "summer grass" emerges from the ground, it is harvested and dried, becoming the form we are familiar with.
How is Cordyceps best eaten?
Of course, stewing Cordyceps in soup is one of the most common methods. Cordyceps can be stewed with duck, chicken, pork ribs, etc. Stewing not only makes the Cordyceps delicious but also allows its nutrients to dissolve effectively in the soup, facilitating the body's absorption. However, when stewing, it's important to use low heat. Do not add the Cordyceps too early; add them 20 minutes before turning off the heat. You can eat the Cordyceps along with the soup after finishing the broth.
A less common method is to soak Cordyceps in alcohol. This method is more suitable for those who enjoy drinking. Simply place the Cordyceps in baijiu or yellow rice wine and soak for a period before drinking. Cordyceps soaked in alcohol should be taken twice daily, with each dose being 15-20 ml. After drinking, you can eat the Cordyceps to avoid wasting their nutrients. Soaking Cordyceps in alcohol is said to have benefits such as replenishing qi, strengthening yang, nourishing yin and kidneys, replenishing essence, securing the root, tonifying deficiency, strengthening the heart, and calming the mind. Remember not to drink too much.
Chewing Cordyceps directly is a more traditional and ancient method. Generally, fresh Cordyceps can be eaten raw. However, some Cordyceps that have been stored for a long time may have bacteria and parasites on their surface, which can affect health if eaten raw. Therefore, if you want to chew Cordyceps directly, you must choose fresh ones.
Cordyceps Stewed with Free-Range Chicken
Extended Reading: A Complete Guide to Eating Cordyceps
Cordyceps Should Not Be Eaten Indiscriminately
Because Cordyceps has unique and excellent medical and health benefits, some people believe it can cure all diseases, that it is beneficial and harmless even if taken by healthy people, and even hold the misconception that "more is better." As the saying goes, "all medicines have some toxicity." Improper use of Cordyceps can also have adverse effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that the body should have a balance of yin and yang. For example, a person with excess yang and deficient yin might be harmed by盲目ly consuming Cordyceps. Therefore, it is very necessary to consult a doctor before taking it. When using Cordyceps, avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Its nourishing effects can only be achieved with the right indications to get the desired results. The following three groups of people must be especially careful.
Children and Teenagers
Cordyceps is not suitable for all ages as some advertisements claim. Because it has effects similar to male hormones, taking it may lead to premature development in children and teenagers, so it is not recommended for them.
People with Various "Excess Syndromes"
The so-called "excess syndrome" is mainly a series of pathological changes caused by the vigorousness of pathogenic factors and the decline of healthy qi, leading to a fierce struggle between them. It is often seen in the early or middle stages of external diseases. It is generally believed that symptoms such as high fever, agitation, loud voice and rough breathing, abdominal pain that worsens with pressure, constipation or difficulty urinating, and a strong pulse are all clinical manifestations of "excess due to pathogenic factors." For example, modern diets are often greasy, with plenty of rich food, and many people have internal phlegm-heat, with metabolic products unable to be expelled. This is considered an "internal excess syndrome" of damp-heat obstruction. People with "excess syndromes" who eat Cordyceps will not achieve therapeutic or health benefits; instead, it may lead to adverse reactions such as palpitations, shortness of breath, irritability, and bleeding from the corners of the mouth.
People with Yin Deficiency and Flaring Fire
Indiscriminate supplementation with Cordyceps may lead to "internal heat" or "上火" (shanghuo). If it needs to be taken, it must be used under the professional diagnosis of a physician, combined with other Chinese herbs, and never alone, to avoid worsening the condition.
Goji Berry and Chicken Kidney Double Oatmeal Porridge
Extended Reading: A Complete Guide to Eating Goji Berries
You may also like:
Smog Rampant, Cordyceps Protects Your Lungs
How to Choose High-Quality Cordyceps
What Are the Benefits and Effects of Cordyceps?
Autumn Diet and Health Preservation: Four Don'ts and Five Dos
I don't know
Wormgrass stew chicken