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Indian Journal of History of Science, 45.2 (2010) 189-198
TRACING HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF
CORDYCEPS SINENSIS- AN APHRODISIAC IN
SIKKIM HIMA
–LAYA
ASHOK KUMAR PANDA*
(Received 23 October, 2009; revised 17 February, 2010)
Cordyceps sinensis (Berk) sacc is a well known fungus, and
traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and tonic in North Sikkim. Aphrodisiac
is an agent that increases and arouses sexual desire that makes sex more
attainable and/or pleasurable. The Sikkim Hima
–laya is a well known treasure
trove and biological hotspot and the people of North Sikkim have been
relying on this plant for centuries as an aphordisiac in the harsh high
altitude environment. There is a long history of its use as aphrodisiac
supported by scientific evidences. A study was conducted in between
June 2008 and September 2009 to know the medicinal uses of this fungus
by local people and folk healers. The claim that it can combat sexual
dysfunction and will be the alternative natural product to challenge Viagra
could be established only after clinical validation in well designed research
protocol.
Key words: Aphrodisiac, Cordyceps sinensis, North Sikkim, Sexual
dysfunction, Yercha gumba
INTRODUCTION
The sexual behaviour of human being is unique in the animal kingdom. It
is not only an expression of instinctual mating rituals but also serve a major role
in cementing the emotional bonds of two partners. Many cultures, customs, laws,
fantasies and art of sexual acts are associated with it1. When this capacity is
diminished or disrupted, the psychosomatic implications can range from minor to
catastrophic, depending on the individual constitution and situation. Therefore, the
A
–yurveda considers treatment of sexual dysfunction as imperative as it can have
* Senior Research Officer (A
–yurveda), A
–yurveda Regional Research Institute, Gangtok,
Sikkim. e-mail: akpanda_06@yahoo.com
190 INDIAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE
a profound effect on the well being of the individual. Mahars
.i Caraka prescribed
some aphrodisiacs before undertaking sexual intercourse. The idea was to promote
the quantity and quality of semen along with the sexual desire, preference and
enjoyment and to create good progeny2. The sexual desire and performance are
exceedingly complex, involving an intricate interplay of emotional, neurological
and vascular events in a specific sequence. In general, we believed that the most
important predictor of good sexual life is good in mental and physical health3. In
A
–yurveda, the sexual act is performed to settle passion (ka
–ma) and brings euphoria
after the orgasm. The other advantage is that it regulates the blood circulation,
energy utilization and relaxes the nervous system after the completion of sexual
act. The classical Chinese literature say: if one regulates his sexual pleasure he will
feel at peace and attain a long life. It is also used to say that women could fake
an orgasm but men could not fake an erection. 15% of men over the age of fifty
are impotent and 40% of forty years old men experience some degree of erectile
problems. Throughout the history, many foods, drinks, medicine, behaviors or
aphrodisiac an agent that increases and arouses sexual desire have been used for
making sex more attainable and/or pleasurable.The term ‘aphrodisiac’ is derived
from Aphrodite, the goddess of love and sexuality. It is not only a stimulant to
engorse the penis, but also that renews a desire for sexual intercourse when this
desire is lacking for some reasons4.
Probably the first known sex stimulant was human body odor.
Va
–tsa
–yana’s Ka
–masu
–tra is the first literature from India that describes the art of
sex in a scientific way. Many herbs, foods and sexual behavior are described in
Va
–ji–karana context of A
–yurveda in Caraka Sam
.hita
– (200 BC)5. Julius Caesar
(100-44 BC) said perfumes used by human-being is also an indicator of the “Fire
of Love”. The first modern perfume appeared in 1882, called “Fougere Royale.”
It was designed for men, to attract women. In 1986 “Pheromones” were said to
help turn on people who smelled them for sexual arousal. Starfish, Remora
(sucking fish), dried human marrow, and Sanguus menstruus (menstrual blood)
were used as sex stimulant in ancient Rome. Later, in the Middle Ages, the metals
like -gold and silver were used as aphrodisiacs. Horns of rhinoceros, penis of
tiger, oysters, almond etc are also used as aphrodisiacs in Chinese medicine. The
first chemical aphrodisiac Yohimbine comes from inner bark of West African tree
Corynantha yohimbe and has been used to initiate and prolong sexual arousal
in men. The medicinal plants Gingseng, Saffron (Crocus sativus), Kapikacchu
(Mukuna pruieta), S
ƒ
veta musali (Asperagus adscendens), Garlic (Allium
191
TRACING HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF CORDYCEPS SINENSIS
sativum), Sparrow meat, S
ƒ
ila
–ja
–tu (Asphaltum), As
ƒ
vagandha
– (Withania
somnifera) have the reputation as aphrodisiacs. Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg)
has been mentioned in Una
–ni medicine to be of value in the management of male
sexual disorders . Skin of deer and Ginger is specially used as female aphrodisiac
in some tribal communities of Orissa6. Viagra and Levita are not considered as
aphrodisiacs, because they do not have any direct effect on Central Nervous
System but they help enabling the erection7.
The Hima
–laya has a great wealth of medicinal plants and traditional
knowledge. More than 50% of the ethno- medicinally important species of India
are from the Hima
–layan region. Nearly, 1748 species of medicinal plants are
found Hima
–layan region8. Most of the rare and endogenous Hima
–layan medicinal
plants are used in A
–yurveda as rasa
–yana (rejuvenation drug)9 . The Sikkim
Hima
–laya is a well known treasure trove and biological hotspot in the world. The
people of North Sikkim mostly rely on traditional knowledge of the bio- resources
for their survival in the harsh high altitude environment10. The Cordyceps sinensis
(Berk) sacc is a well known fungus, and traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and
tonic in North Sikkim and other Hima
–layan regions. It is highly valued traditional
medicine used in China, Nepal, Bhutan and India. Internationally it is regarded as
Hima
–layan Viagra or Hima
–layan aphrodisiac. This Hima
–layan aphrodisiac is widely
available in alpine zones of Sikkim Hima
–laya, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh,
Western Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan11.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CORDYCEPS SINENSIS -HIMA
–LAYAN APHRODISIACS
The Historical and general reference of Hima
–layan aphrodisiacs refers to
Cordyceps sinensis (Berk) sacc. It was discovered about 2000 years ago as
exotic medicinal mushroom described in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine.
The British mycologist Dr M.J. Berkelesy first described it in 1843 as Sphaeria
sinensis Berk. Later in 1878, Andrea Saccardo renamed it as Cordyceps sinensis
(Berk) sacc12.The name Cordyceps comes from Latin word: meaning Cordl
(club) and ceps(head).
The normal harvesting period stretches from month of April to August. It
grows only at the high altitude regions of about 3800 meters above the sea level,
in the cold, grassy, alpine meadows of the mountain Hima
–laya. This fungus is
parasitic in nature.
192 INDIAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE
The base of this mushroom first originates from an insect larval host
(Hepialis armoricanus family- Hepialidac) and ends at the club like cap, including
the stipe and stroma. The fruit body is dark brown to black, and the root of
organism, the larval body pervaded by the mycelium is yellowish to brown in
colour13. The immature larve (host) on which the Cordyceps (parasite) grows
usually lies about 6 inches below the ground surface. As the fungus approaches
maturity, it consumes more than 90% of infected insect effectively to mummify the
host. As the stroma matures, it swells up and develops perihelia. The average
weight of Cordyceps is about 300-500mg14.
Table 1. Mycological Features of Cordyceps sinensis, the Hima
–layan aphrodisiac15
English name Caterpillar fungus, Cordyceps mushroom
Latin name Cordyceps sinensis.
Phlum Ascomycota
Class Ascomycetes
Order Hypocreales
Family Clavicipataceae.
Local Name Yarsa gumba, Yarcha gumba,
Nepali Name Keera jhar, Jeevan but
.i, Keeda ghass, Chyou kira, Sanjeevani
but
.i.
Chinese Name Dong chong xi cao
Japanese Tocheikasa
Related species There are more than 680 types of so called Cordyceps are found
world wide today. Such as Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps
barnesii, Cordyceps ophioglossoides, Cordyceps hyphae,
C. nutans, C. nepalensis, etc
History and Traditional Use
This Hima
–layan aphrodisiac was discovered about 1500 years ago in
Tibet, surrounding parts of Sikkim and Nepal by the Ya
–k herders who observed
that their Ya
–k became energetic after eating this fungus16. About 1000 years later,
the Emperor’s physician in the Qing Dynasty learned and used this knowledge
with their own wisdom to develop powerful aphrodisiacs. The first reference to
Cordyceps as a medicinal fungus occurred around 101 BC by an anonymous
writer in a book titled, Sheng Nung Bon Cas Chien (The Classic Herbal of the
Divine Plowman)17. The another written record of the Cordyceps fungus comes
from China, in the year 620 AD, at the time of the Tang Dynasty (618 AD-907
AD), bringing substance to the once intangible allegorical narrative, which spoke
a magical creature, whose annual existence alluded to a miraculous transformation
from animal to plant in summer, and then again from plant to animal in winter. In
193
TRACING HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF CORDYCEPS SINENSIS
1757, the earliest objective and scientifically reliable description of Cordyceps
fungus was written by auther Wu-Yiluo in the Ben Cao Congxin ( New Compilation
of Materia Medica) during Qing Dynasty18. In Chinese medicine Cordyceps
sinensis is considered sweet and warm, it enters the lung and kidney channels;
the typical dosage is 3-9 grams.Western descriptions of the health benefits of the
Cordyceps fungus came in the eighteen century. The first such publication came
from French Jesuit priest named Perennin Jean Baptiste du Halde, who recounted
his experience with this Hima
–layan aphrodisiac while he was a guest at emperor’s
court in China. In 1757 Cordyceps makes its first appearance in a medical text
- New Compilation of Materia Medica19
Its current high international profile and demand developed only sometimes
in 1993 when many Chinese long distance runners broke world record by using
this Cordyceps fungus. In mid nineteenth century this Cordyceps fungus was
marketed in United State.
The first Tibetan author who described Yartsa gunbu seems to be the
famous Tibetan doctor Zurkhar Nyamnyi Dorje (1439-1475) mentioned above in
“An Ocean of Aphrodisiacal Qualities - A special work, the practitioner who
founded the so-called Zur Medical tradition. In his treatise Ten Millions of
Instructions: A Relic (commonly and incorrectly also referred to as “Oral
Instructions on a Myriad of Medicines”), he mentions Yartsa gunbu among the
drugs that cure the rotsa (ro tsa) ailments—those concerning sexual virility.
Collection, trade and use of Yartsa gunbu (dbYar rTswa dGun ‘Bu), has a long-
standing history in Rigpa Sowa where it is classified as “medicinal essences” (rTsi
sMan). According to Phuntsho Namgyel, although knowledge of cordyceps as an
important medicinal plant exists in the Hima
–layan kingdom of Bhutan, the Bhutanese
traditional medicine system, which is similar to Tibetan medicine, started
incorporating it in its formulations only a few years ago.20,21
The traditional healers of Sikkim have been using this fungus for eighteen
diseases, maximum use in form of self medication and folk healer’s recommendation
is for aphrodisiac use. A study was conducted in between June 2008 and September
2009 to know the medicinal uses of this fungus by local people and folk healers.
The strengths of the claims are evaluated by the numbers of user for an illness.
It was found that this fungus is used for male and female sexual dysfunction, to
restore the general health and appetite and to promote longevity in Lachung &
Lachen area of North Sikkim traditionally. The person of both sexes usually uses
one piece of C. sinensis with one cup of milk for enhancing their sexual potency
194 INDIAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE
and desire. The Bhutia communities put one piece C. sinensis in one cup of local
made alcohol (chang) and leave for one hour and drink in the morning and
evening as an aphrodisiac. Some use hot water instead of alcohol. They said it
is more potent than Ginseng and also used in the treatment of cancer, fatigue, to
relieve chronic pain, tuberculosis and to treat liver and kidney ailments. The
people of North Sikkim believed that this medicine has been used by our ancestors
before Chogel period in between 1200-1600 BC. But the awareness about its
uses has doubled after 1995 only. From 1997 to 2009 prices have increased by
500%, on average of over 20% per year in Tibet.
In 2007, 1 kg of dried Yartsa gunbu costs in Lhasa varied from •2,000
to • 8,000 depending on quality22. In Chinese cities the best fungi can cost
•24,000/kg, more than gold. The cost of one kg of wild collected Cordyceps
fungus is about 1 lakh in India23 and forty to sixty rupees per piece in Sikkim. Due
to the rarity and high prices of the wild collected variety, attempts have long been
made to cultivate Cordyceps. After much early frustration in attempted cultivation,
commercially viable methods were finally achieved in the late 1970’s. By the mid
1980’s, the majority of Cordyceps available in the world’s marketplace was
artificially cultivated24.
Table 2. Traditional uses of Cordyceps sinensis in North Sikkim25
S.N. Illness Strength of the claims
1 Erectile Dysfunction ++++
2 Female aphrodisiac +++
3 Infertility ++
4 General weakness +++
5 Tuberculosis ++
6 Bronchitis ++
7 Malignant Tumor +++
8 Rhinitis ++
9 Rheumatism +
10 Arthritis ++
11 Jaundice ++
12 Prostate enlargement ++
13 Liver diseases +++
14 Kidney diseases +++
15 Coronary Heart Disease +
16 Chronic pain ++
17 Sciatica & backache ++
18 Low BP & dizziness +++
195
TRACING HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF CORDYCEPS SINENSIS
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES
Cordyceps can combat sexual dysfunction and may be an alternative
natural product to challenge Viagra. Three separate Chinese double-blind and
placebo-controlled studies of Cordyceps with over 200 men with “reduced libido
and other sexual problems” showed remarkable results. On average, 64% of the
Cordyceps-users reported significant improvement at the conclusion of the
experimental period compared with 24% of the placebo group. In another double-
blind, placebo-controlled study conducted with 21 elderly women with similar
complaints, 90% reported improvements in their condition following the use of
Cordyceps compared with none in the control group26,27. There are three likely
contributing factors why Cordyceps sinensis appears to have an effect on sexual
dysfunction:
Firstly Cordyceps sinensis has been shown to improve physical vitality
and stamina in general. 28,29,30. In 1993, a group of nine Chinese women set world
records at the Chinese National Games. When asked about the secret to their
success, they attributed it to their use of Cordyceps. 31, 32
Secondly Cordyceps sinensis helps dilate blood vessels and increase
blood flow, 33, 34 which is certainly an important factor of erectile function.
Thirdly and perhaps most important of all is that two studies have shown
Cordyceps sinensis to “significantly increase” the production of testosterone in
males. 35,36
CONCLUSION
Cordyceps sinensis grows over much of the area traditionally inhabited
by populations of Tibetan language and culture, and since its citation in Tibetan
medical treatises pre-dates its mentioning in Chinese medical texts by second
centuries, it may be assumed that Tibetan people were probably the first to notice
this fungus thriving on the high pasturelands, examine its morphological traits,
understand its biological features, assess its qualities and therapeutic properties,
and to attribute it a name. It is remarkable and difficult to explain that this
medicinal fungus, so highly praised as a tonic and aphrodisiac by Zurkhar Namnyi
Dorje in the 15th century, is not mentioned in many Tibetan materia medica.
While this interesting fungus is used in some Tibetan medicinal formulations, it is
certainly not employed as heavily as in Chinese culture. The demand for Cordyceps
has also compounded exponentially in this same time frame, partly due to the fact
196 INDIAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE
that the opening of China with trade to the west in the 1970’s exposed many more
people around the world to the concepts and practices of Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM). Cordyceps has a long history of use as Hima
–layan aphrodisiac
in Sikkim and other Hima
–layan states of India & Nepal. The contemporary
traditional practitioners and people of North Sikkim have been using this fungus
as aphrodisiac before the time of Chogel. So it can combat sexual dysfunction and
will be the alternative natural product to challenge Viagra after clinical validation
of the claims in well designed research protocol.
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