Over the past few years, several different types of mushrooms have become popular in the nootropics community. Cordyceps is one of the most-popular mushrooms being used and is said to have a number of nootropic benefits.

It's been used for centuries in traditional medicine and has a long track record of safe, effective use. In this post, we're going to look at the benefits of cordyceps, the optimal dosage, potential negative effects, and the best places to buy. But first, let's take a look at what cordyceps is.

What Is Cordyceps?

Cordyceps is a type of mushroom that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It has been used to treat a variety of specific ailments and as a general healing agent. While science is still catching up with tradition, some of the studies that have been done on cordyceps have been promising.

This fascinating fungus grows abundantly in warm, humid climates and there are more than 400 different species of cordyceps.¹ It is known by many names, including: 

• Cordyceps Sinensis
• Cordyceps Militaris
• Caterpillar Fungus
• Cetepiller Mushroom
• Summer Grass Winter Worm
• Totsu Kasa
• Yarchakunbu
• Aweto

The most commonly used and well-researched types of cordyceps is cordyceps militaris. It is sold as an extract in supplement form and has been shown to have several nootropic properties. Cordyceps militaris contains cordycepin (aka 3′-deoxyadenosine), a substance that has interested researchers for its ability to reduce the symptoms of depression, improve sleep and memory, and for several other potential benefits.²

One study found that cordycepin was able to reverse depressive behaviors in mice who had been exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress.³ Another study using mice found cordycepin to have a rapid antidepressant effect.⁴ This study found that cordycepin had an antidepressant effect that was stronger and came on faster than the prototypical tricyclic antidepressant, imipramine.

In addition to its ability to reduce the symptoms of depression, animal studies have shown that cordyceps can also improve sleep and memory. A 2013 study done on rats showed that cordycepin increased non-rapid-eye-movement (nREM) sleep and reduced sleep-wake cycles.⁵ Another study done on rats showed that cordyceps militaris was able to reverse chemically-induced memory impairment.⁶  

As you can see, there have been a number of studies that support the idea that cordyceps has nootropic properties. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them have been done on mice and rats. While using animal models can be great for learning about different substances, the conclusions drawn from animal research don't always translate to humans.

That being said, the studies done on animals certainly support what has been reported by cordyceps users for decades. And more research – both animal and human research – is being done on cordyceps everyday. In just the past 4 years since the article you're reading was first published, 864 scientific papers have been published about cordyceps. While none of them looked specifically at using cordyceps as a nootropic, many of them have reported brain-boosting effects. Now let's take a look at some of the nootropic benefits that people have been reporting from taking supplemental cordyceps.

Cordyceps Nootropic Benefits

One of the benefits of cordyceps that makes it so popular as a nootropic is its ability to improve mood. Just as the animal studies mentioned above suggest, many users report a strong and rapid antidepressant effect from taking cordyceps. Some users say that it does more for their mood than prescription antidepressants.

Another reason why nootropic users love cordyceps is for its ability to improve sleep. Reddit and other message boards around the internet are filled with case reports of people having the best sleep of their lives after taking cordyceps. Users report falling asleep faster, staying asleep longer, and waking up feeling refreshed.

A non-nootropic benefit of cordyceps that some people have noticed is an increase in physical endurance. Some users report that they can run and do other types of cardio for longer periods of time than usual. Unlike most of cordyceps' nootropic effects, this benefit has been studied in both animals and humans.

A 2017 study showed that cordyceps increased the amount of time that mice were able to swim.⁷ Another study done on humans a year earlier also showed promising results.⁸ Twenty-eight participants were randomly assigned to either receive cordyceps or a placebo. After one week, none of the participants showed improvement in any of the researchers' measurements. However, after three weeks, the participants in the cordyceps groups showed improvement in several areas related to endurance.

The list of potential cordyceps benefits is long and may even include the ability to fight cancer. A 2012 paper exploring the anti-cancer effects of several types of mushrooms cited multiple animal studies about cordyceps affecting cancer in a variety of positive ways.⁹

As you can see, just like another nootropic mushroom, lion's mane, cordyceps seems to have a wide variety of potential benefits. A 2014 paper reviewing the literature on cordyceps' benefits reported it to have anti-tumor, anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-aging effects – to name a few. ¹⁰

Potential benefits of cordyceps:

• Improved mood
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Increased energy
• Better sleep
• Reduced inflammation
• Anti-cancer
• Improved immune system

Cordyceps Dosage

Human trials have used cordyceps dosages ranging from 1,000 milligrams (mg) to 3,000 mg. It is usually taken either once a day in the morning or twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Some users have reported that they have trouble falling asleep when taking cordyceps at night.

The full benefits of cordyceps may take several weeks to notice. It's probably a good idea to start with a dosage at the low end of the range above (1,000 mg/day). If after a couple weeks you don't notice anything, consider increasing the dosage.

Cordyceps can be taken with or without food. Taking it on an empty stomach may increase absorption but may also cause mild nausea.

Cordyceps Negative Effects

Most people seem to tolerate cordyceps quite well with few, if any negative effects. When they do occur, they are usually mild and go away after you stop taking cordyceps. Negative effects that have been reported include nausea, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and tiredness.

These negative effects seem to be uncommon but can occur. Some or all of them may be mitigated by changing the way you take cordyceps. If you experience nausea while taking cordyceps on an empty stomach, try taking it with a small snack. If you experience trouble sleeping, try only taking cordyceps in the morning. 

When starting or stopping any drug, supplement, exercise program, or behavioral routine, it's always a good idea to consult a licensed medical professional. If you're currently taking any prescription medications, it can be especially important to talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet or supplement regimen. 

Where To Buy Cordyceps

Cordyceps is usually sold as an extract of cordyceps militaris. That's what you want. It is the most-common type of cordyceps used and the one with the most scientific research behind it to support its safety and effectiveness.

As one of the easier-to-find nootropics, there are several places where you can buy cordyceps online. If you're looking for cordyceps in capsule form, Pure Nootropics offers cordyceps militaris capsules. They're a company that has been trusted by the nootropics community for several years, not to mention one of my personal favorites. They have high-quality products, reasonable prices, fast shipping, and great customer service. 

If you would prefer to take cordyceps in powder form, Science.bio sells caterpillar fungus (cordyceps militaris) powder. Like Pure Nootropics, they have great products, reasonable prices, and good customer service. But what really sets Science.bio apart from other nootropic vendors is their awesome selection of products.

Cordyceps is so common that it's one of the few nootropics you can even find on Amazon (and here are 9 others). There are a number of cordyceps products for sale there. However, the quality and purity will vary from company to company. If you want to be 100% sure you're getting the highest-quality cordyceps, I'd suggest sticking to a trusted vendor like Pure Nootropics or Science.bio. 

Conclusion

Talk about magic mushrooms! As we've seen, cordyceps can have a wide range of potential benefits. Like lion's mane and other adaptogenic mushrooms, cordyceps has become quite popular in the nootropics community over the past several years for its brain-boosting properties.

Whether you're looking for a boost in mood, more energy, or you're just trying to improve your overall health, cordyceps may provide the benefits you're looking for. Have you used cordyceps or any other nootropic mushrooms? I'd love to hear all about your experience in the comments section at the bottom. 

References

1Sung, G., Hywel-Jones, N., Sung, J., Luangsa-ard, J., Shrestha, B., & Spatafora, J. (2007). Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi. Studies in Mycology, 57:5-59.

2Tuli, H., Sharma, A., Sandhu, S., & Kashyap, D. (2013). Cordycepin: a bioactive metabolite with therapeutic potential. Life Sciences, 93(23):863-9.

3Tianzhu, Z., Shihai, Y., & Juan, D. (2014). Antidepressant-like effects of cordycepin in a mice model of chronic unpredictable mild stress. Evidenced Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Published online December 23, 2014. 

4Li, B., Hou, Y., Zhu, M., Bao, H., Nie, J., Zhang, G., et al. (2016). 3′-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) produces a rapid and robust antidepressant effect via enhancing prefrontal AMPA receptor signaling pathway. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 19(4). Published online October 6, 2015. 

5Hu, Z., Lee, C., Shah, V., Oh, E., Han, J., Bae, J., Lee, K., Chong, M., Hong, J., & Oh, K. (2013). Cordycepin increases nonrapid eye movement sleep via adenosine receptors in rats. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Published online April 24, 2013. 

6Lee, B., Park, J., Park, J., Shin, H., Kwon, S., Yeom, M., Sur, B., et al. (2011). Cordyceps militaris improves neurite outgrowth in Neuro2A cells and reverses memory impairment in rats. Food Science and Biotechnology, 20(6):1599-1608.

7Zhong, L., Zhao, L., Yang, F., Yang, W., Sun, Y., & Hu, Q. (2017). Evaluation of anti-fatigue property of the extruded product of cereal grains mixed with Cordyceps militaris on mice. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Published online June 2, 2017. 

8Hirsch, K., Smith-Ryan, A., Roelofs, E., Trexler, E., & Mock, M. (2016). Cordyceps militaris improves tolerance to high intensity exercise after acute and chronic supplementation. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 14(1):42-53. 

9Patel, S., & Goyal, A. (2012). Recent developments in mushrooms as anti-cancer therapeutics: a review. 3 Biotech, 2(1):1-15.

10Tuli, H., Sandhu, S., & Sharma, A. (2014). Pharmacological and therapeutic potential of Cordyceps with special reference to Cordycepin. 3 Biotech, 4(1):1-12. 

[This article was originally published on March 8, 2019. Updated July 28, 2023.]