Cordyceps sinensis has the effect of nourishing yin and yang, and is mild in nature, warm but not dry, nourishing but not stagnant, which can not only replenish deficiency and strengthen the body, but also cure diseases and prolong life. It is widely used in the adjuvant treatment of various chronic diseases and tumors after surgery and chemotherapy, and also has a good relief effect on the "sub-health" state such as physical overdraft caused by the high pressure of modern life and work.
Cordyceps with medicinal effects is produced in Naqu, Tibet and Yushu, Qinghai. Fulinmen Cordyceps sinensis and Tongrentang are the representative brands in these two producing areas, and Tongrentang has the highest price. Authentic Cordyceps sinensis is formed by connecting the insect body and fruiting body (daughter) of Cordyceps sinensis. The worm is like a silkworm, with a body length of 3 ~ 5 cm and a diameter of 0.3 ~ 0.8 cm. The surface is yellowish brown (dark brown in color from Yunnan and Sichuan) with 20 ~ 30 rings. The ring pattern near the head is fine, and the head is reddish brown. There are 8 pairs of feet in the abdomen, 3 pairs near the head, 4 pairs in the middle and 1 pair near the tail. The worm is light and brittle, easily broken, with a slightly flat cross section, milky white or yellowish. The substrate is mostly solitary in the head of insects, 4-7 cm long and about 0.3 cm in diameter. It looks like a day lily, with a grayish brown surface, a handle at the lower end and a head at the upper end. It is slightly enlarged and has a "sterile tip" with a length of 0. 15-0.55 cm. Flexible and not easy to break, yellow and white in cross section, empty or solid, fibrous, with the smell of straw mushroom and mushroom. The insect body is bright yellow, plump and fat, with yellow-white section and short daughter.
Cordyceps sinensis is expensive, and fake and shoddy products emerge one after another. Common counterfeits are Corynebacterium (Cordyceps Anhui), Cordyceps Liangshan, Cordyceps militaris (Cordyceps militaris), Bombyx Batryticatus and Cordyceps sinensis. At present, the most counterfeit products are Cordyceps sub-fragrant powder.
Cordyceps sinensis is mainly produced in Anhui, Hubei and Jiangxi. The surface of Cordyceps sinensis is covered with yellow-green powder, and the place without powder is brown-black. The body surface is rough, the ring pattern is unclear, the four legs in the middle are not prominent, and there is no "sterile tip" at the end of the base. Other shapes, sizes and colors are very similar to Cordyceps sinensis, which is easy to be copied. There are also fakes made of flour, bean flour, corn flour and gypsum. Its appearance and color can be confused, but the shape and size of the "worm body" are the same, with solid texture, brittle and easily broken, and full cross section. It tastes sweet and sticky, softens in water, or the surface fades, or melts like pulp. Such fakes can generally be seen through during use.
In addition, in order to make huge profits, unscrupulous merchants cheat consumers by inserting iron wires, fuses, injecting mercury, and wrapping soil mixed with fine metal powders such as iron powder and lead powder. Therefore, consumers who lack professional knowledge should never buy on their own in bazaars and tourist products markets. It is best to choose regular pharmacies, large hospital pharmacies or large department stores with "one license" (Drug Business License) and "one license" (the business scope must include the business license of drugs or Chinese herbal medicines) to protect their own rights and interests.
Cordyceps sinensis can be boiled with water and tea, soaked in wine, stewed, ground into powder capsules, chewed directly, or stewed with chickens and ducks for medicinal diet. According to modern pharmacological research, the effective components in Cordyceps sinensis are easily destroyed by heating, so it is best to choose a method without long-term high temperature treatment. In addition, patients with colds, fever, rheumatoid arthritis and cerebral hemorrhage, as well as winners of real fire or evil fire, should not take Cordyceps sinensis.
Cordyceps sinensis is not used to treat diseases. From the point of view of health care, some experts suggest that it is effective to take it for at least 3 ~ 6 months continuously. However, the Pharmacopoeia of China suggested that the dosage of Cordyceps sinensis should be 3-9g per day, and less than 3g would not achieve any effect. Therefore, according to this amount and the current market price, naturally few people can eat such "golden grass".