The Healing Himalayan Mushroom in WZRD Pow
From the very first fungi to make the move from sea to land that would make plant-life, and eventually animal-life possible on land, fungi have been pivotal in the arising of flourishing ecosystems. They are master symbiotes, working in harmony with countless organisms in the forest, prairie, and even the human body.
When they found Ötzi, the Ice Man, preserved in ice for 5300 years, they found a small leather pouch with a fungus that lives symbiotically on birch trees, believed to have some anti-oxidant and other medicinal properties. The use of mushrooms in medicinal and healing practices dates back thousands of years and is found all around the world in a variety of different indigenous cultures.
As some of Nature’s most efficient and potent creations, fungi have a special ability to effect our metabolic and immune functions due to their relative proximity on the genetic tree of life with animals, even closer than they are to plants! Fungi inhale oxygen and exhale carbon-dioxide, they consume their energy instead of creating it with photosynthesis, and carry many bio-molecular similarities with the animal kingdom.
One of the most fascinating and healing fungi was discovered at the base of the Himalayas in an area between Nepal, Tibet, and India. Cordyceps is a fungus that grows in the wild on caterpillars (though the variety in WZRD Pow is grown on plant substrate) and has been used in traditional medicine to treat countless different ailments and especially many illnesses and imbalances in immune and respiratory health. In 1993, the Chinese olympic team broke 5 world records and was attributed, at least partly, to the cordyceps the athletes were taking.
This high altitude fungus has been followed with high praise for thousands of years and in recent times a compounding body of scientific evidence in the form of peer reviewed studies has been accumulating. Scientists have been working to gleam some understanding about the underlying mechanisms responsible for these grand claims and effects.
In a study published in the Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology by the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, in Nanchang, China researchers claimed, “Cordyceps Militaris Alleviates Severity of Murine Acute Lung Injury Through miRNAs-Mediated CXCR2 Inhibition.”
In another study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food after giving cordyceps to subjects for four weeks researchers stated “C. militaris enhanced the NK (Natural Killer) cell activity and lymphocyte proliferation and partially increased Th1 cytokine secretion. Therefore, C. militaris is safe and effective for enhancing cell-mediated immunity of healthy male adults.”
From anti-viral to anti-diabetic, the list of the healing properties of this fascinating healing fungus only continues to grow as science continues to study this miraculous mushroom.
After learning so much about such a powerful medicinal mushroom we had to find a way to make its benefits easy and enjoyable to take on a near daily basis. It was added to the morning coffee blend and eventually found its home in what is now WZRD Pow.
WZRD Pow makes bringing cordyceps’ super healing and health boosting effects easily in a delicious blend of organic and fair-trade spices and other medicinal mushrooms. With its chocolaty base and subtle cinnamon-ginger make adding it to anything from pancakes to sweet potatoes.
Get your WZRD Pow and get your cordyceps boost today by visiting our shop and placing your order!