Cordyceps 3™

TCM herbal formula with Cordyceps, Astragalus, and Ginseng — tonifies Kidney yang and augments Kidney jing (essence); tonifies Lung; tonifies qi; improves kidney and ear functions; increases sperm count and motility; enhances energy and basal metabolism; prevents and treats elevated cholesterol; prevents and treats respiratory disorders; stimulates the immune system; anti-cancer; anti-aging; safe for long-term use

⚠️ Use with caution in the presence of an exterior pathogen, excess internal heat or dampness, and with infectious or inflammatory diseases. Some patients may notice headache and irritability due to the warm tonic properties — if so, reduce to 1–2 capsules three times daily.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Kidney disorders: nephritis, glomerulonephritis, nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic microalbuminuria, proteinuria, and compromised kidney functions

* Sexual and reproductive disorders: low sperm count, poor sperm motility, insufficient sex hormones

* Metabolic disorders: fatigue, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia

* Respiratory disorders: asthma, tracheitis, prevention of infection

* Immune disorders: chronic, compromised, and/or low immunity

Background: Cordyceps 3 tonifies the Lung, the Spleen, and the Kidney. In TCM, Lung imbalance corresponds to respiratory and immune disorders; Spleen imbalance refers to metabolic disorders; and Kidney imbalance is related to renal disorders as well as sexual and reproductive disorders. The combination of Dong Chong Xia Cao, Huang Qi, and Ren Shen represents three of the most precious herbs in the Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia — together they have a wide spectrum of beneficial effects including increasing energy, strengthening the overall constitution, and improving well-being. Cordyceps 3 is also an antiaging tonic to ensure optimal health and can be taken safely on a long-term basis.

Clinical notes: Cordyceps 3 is most effective when used long-term for prevention of cardiovascular, reproductive, and respiratory disorders, and is one of the best formulas to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Take continuously for at least 4–6 months for maximum effectiveness. Results can be enhanced by combining with supplementary formulas as listed below.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps / Cordyceps Sinensis / Caterpillar Fungus): tonifies both Lung and Kidney; treats chronic deficiency of both organs; tonifies Kidney — treats impotence, spermatorrhea, frequent urination, nocturnal emission, premature ejaculation, tinnitus, forgetfulness, and early signs of aging; tonifies Lung — treats chronic cough and frequent respiratory infections; bronchodilating; antibiotic; asthma — regulates bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell function via immunomodulatory agents; stimulates secretion of adrenal gland hormones; hyperlipidemia — 273 patients: marked decrease in LDL and triglycerides, increase in HDL; 204 patients: effective in lowering LDL; increases sperm count and sperm motility; 197 patients with sexual disorders — 64.15% effective rate at 40 days; 656 patients with chronic respiratory tract disorders — good success at 40 days; 43 patients with allergic rhinitis — 93% effective rate; 109 patients with chronic tracheitis — 84.4% effective rate; 18 patients with nephritis and proteinuria — protein in urine reduced from 4.3g to 1.32g in 30 days; 117 patients with compromised kidney function — good results; 23 patients with tinnitus — significant improvement at 4 weeks; cytotoxic — dose-dependent inhibitory effect on breast cancer, melanoma, leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, and oral squamous cancer cells; enhances macrophage phagocytic activity against foreign substances

— Huang Qi (Radix Astragali / Astragalus): tonifies qi — improves energy; strengthens Lung — prevents and treats infections; enhances immune system — fights cancer; most potent herb for generalized weakness and deficiency; nephroprotective — reduces fasting blood glucose and albuminuria, reverses glomerular hyperfiltration, ameliorates early diabetic nephropathy; treats proteinuria, nephritis, glomerulonephritis, diabetic microalbuminuria; 20 patients with nephritis — improvement in 16 patients; 56 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis — 61.7% effective rate, marked reduction of protein in urine; elevates basal metabolic rate and cAMP; immunostimulant — WBC↑; 115 leucopenic patients — obvious rise in WBC count; respiratory prevention — 94% effectiveness in 100 children; 41 patients with asthma — 85.4% improvement; antihyperglycemic — increases insulin release

— Ren Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng / Panax Ginseng): tonifies qi — improves energy; strengthens Spleen — improves digestion; tonifies Lung — prevents infection; calms shen (spirit) — improves mental function; awakens CNS — improves mental and physical performance; improves memory and learning; stimulates pituitary — increases ACTH secretion, stimulates adrenal glands; increases adrenal cortical hormone (ACH) and ACTH — better physical performance; gonadotropin secretion↑ — increases sperm production in males, lengthens estrus period in females; 24 patients with low sperm count — sperm count increased in 70%, sperm motility increased in 67%; treats atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and chest pain; lowers triglycerides and blood cholesterol; lowers blood glucose in hyperglycemic subjects; ginsenoside Rc — enhances glucose uptake via AMPK and p38 MAPK activation; IgM↑; reticuloendothelial system function↑; 52 cancer patients with leukopenia from chemotherapy — able to complete entire course of chemotherapy without bone marrow suppression

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Nephroprotective / kidney — Dong Chong Xia Cao (proteinuria↓, kidney function↑); Huang Qi (albuminuria↓, glomerular hyperfiltration↓, diabetic nephropathy, microalbuminuria, glomerulonephritis)

* Sperm count / reproductive — Dong Chong Xia Cao (sperm count↑, sperm motility↑, 64.15% effective rate); Ren Shen (gonadotropin↑, sperm count↑ 70%, sperm motility↑ 67%)

* Energy / metabolism — Huang Qi (basal metabolic rate↑, cAMP↑); Ren Shen (CNS↑, mental and physical performance↑); Dong Chong Xia Cao (adrenal hormones↑)

* Hypolipidemic — Dong Chong Xia Cao (LDL↓, triglycerides↓, HDL↑); Ren Shen (cholesterol↓, triglycerides↓, atherosclerosis)

* Hypoglycemic — Huang Qi (insulin release↑, blood glucose↓); Ren Shen (blood glucose↓, ginsenoside Rc, AMPK, p38 MAPK)

* Respiratory — Dong Chong Xia Cao (bronchodilating, antibiotic, asthma, tracheitis, allergic rhinitis); Huang Qi (respiratory prevention, asthma↓)

* Immunostimulant / anti-cancer — Dong Chong Xia Cao (cytotoxic, macrophage↑, cancer cell inhibition); Huang Qi (WBC↑, immune deficiency reversal); Ren Shen (IgM↑, reticuloendothelial↑, chemotherapy support)

* Endocrine regulation — Ren Shen (ACTH↑, adrenal↑, ACH↑); Dong Chong Xia Cao (adrenal gland hormones↑)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Tonifies Kidney yang; augments Kidney jing (essence) — treats impotence, spermatorrhea, nocturnal emission, premature ejaculation, tinnitus, forgetfulness, early aging (Dong Chong Xia Cao)

* Tonifies Lung; stops bleeding; dissolves phlegm — treats chronic cough, respiratory infections, asthma (Dong Chong Xia Cao, Huang Qi, Ren Shen)

* Tonifies qi; strengthens Spleen; improves digestion and metabolism (Huang Qi, Ren Shen)

* Calms shen (spirit); improves mental function and memory (Ren Shen)

DOSAGE

Standard: 3–4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach with warm water. Safe for long-term use — take continuously for at least 4–6 months for maximum effectiveness.

Supplementary formulas: Tonify yin, yang, qi, and blood — add Imperial Tonic. Cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiation — add C/R Support. Cancer unable to receive chemo/radiation due to weakness — add CA Support. Kidney disorders — add Kidney DTX. Kidney yin deficiency — add Kidney Tonic (Yin). Kidney yang deficiency — add Kidney Tonic (Yang). Dry/brittle/gray hair — add Polygonum 14. Enhance immune system — add Immune +. Chronic cough or asthma from Kidney and Lung yin deficiencies — add Respitrol (Deficient). Cough with unknown etiology — add Respitrol (CF). Tinnitus — add Nourish. Adrenal insufficiency / burned out — add Adrenal +. Impotence and reproductive disorders in men — add Vitality. Lack of libido in women — add Vitality. Male infertility, low sperm count, poor sperm quality — add Vital Essence. Female infertility — add Blossom (Phases 1–4). Thirst or dryness — add Nourish (Fluids). Anemia — add Schisandra ZZZ.

Nutrition: Include more nuts and seeds such as walnuts and pine nuts in the diet.

Lifestyle: Sleep by 10:00 p.m. — in TCM, 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. is when yin shifts to yang; it is crucial for the body to be at rest during this time for optimal health.

CASE STUDIES

— 36-year-old male (J.L.): Fatigue from long work hours, cold sensation, low sperm mobility; Lung and Kidney yin deficiencies. Cordyceps 3 for 6 months. Result: improved energy, less fatigue; continuing to improve sperm mobility.

— 61-year-old female (S.W.): Fatigue, weak sensation of the lungs, sighing, easy sweating, low back pain, frequent colds, immune system disorders; Lung and Kidney qi deficiencies; chronic fatigue syndrome. Cordyceps 3 + Ba Wei Di Huang Wan for 3 months. Result: shorter duration of fatigue each day, improved sleep, lungs felt great, stronger emotionally.

— 72-year-old male (D.D.): Shortness of breath, cough with frothy clear white sputum; diabetic, post-stroke, heart function 77%, creatinine 1.8 mg/dL; left leg hot, right leg cold, difficulty inhaling; recent two rounds of antibiotics; Kidney not grasping qi, Lung and Spleen qi deficiencies with phlegm accumulation; COPD. Cordyceps 3 + Respitrol (Deficient) + Circulation (SJ) + Neuro Plus. Result: gradually improved, getting stronger each week over ~3 months.

Related Reading

Also see: Imperial Tonic – constitutional tonic for qi, blood, yin, and yang | Immune + – for immune enhancement | Kidney DTX – for kidney disorders | Kidney Tonic (Yang) – for Kidney yang deficiency | Vitality – for impotence and low libido | Vital Essence – for male infertility and low sperm count | Respitrol (Deficient) – for chronic cough and asthma | Adrenal + – for adrenal insufficiency | Vibrant – for fatigue and low energy | Immune Support & Inflammation Collection.