Cordyceps (Caterpillar fungus, Tochukasu)

are a parasitic fungi which grow out of insects it has infected. The fungus remains essentially dormant until the caterpillar dies; the fungus then replaces the caterpillar's body with its own material and grows its stalk upward and above-ground. The mushroom has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine as well as traditional Tibetan medicine. In Tibet Cordyceps is a cash crop with an ever increasing value. During the Nepalese Civil War fractions fought for control of the Cordyceps trade.

The popularity of this fungus caught the world's attention due to three female Chinese athletes, Wang Junxia, Qu Yunxia, and Zhang Linli who set 5 new world records for 1,500, 3,000 and 10,000 meters in 1993 at the National Games in Beijing, China. The amount of new world records being set at a single track event caused much attention. Following the races, the women were expected by some, to fail drug tests for anabolic steroids. However, the athletes tests revealed no illegal substances, and coach Ma Junren told reporters the secret was that the runners were taking Cordyceps at his request. Modern research has indicated the mushroom has

* Hypoglycemic activity
* Cellular health properties
* Possible anti-depressent activity

This mushroom can be used to treat Hepatitis B.