Another area of considerable research interest
is the relationship between Cordyceps and liver
function. Cordyceps has been shown in nearly all
such studies to increase the effi cient functioning
of the liver. For example, in the Orient today,
Cordyceps is commonly used as an adjunct in the
treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C. In one study,
Cordyceps extract was used in combination with
several other medicinal mushroom extracts as an
adjunct to lamivudine, for the treatment of hepatitis
B. Lamivudine is a common antiviral drug used in
the treatment of hepatitis. In this study, the group
receiving Cordyceps along with other medicinal
mushroom extracts had much better results, in a
shorter period of time than the control group, who
received only lamivudine.37
In another study using 22 patients who were
diagnosed with posthepatic cirrhosis,57 after 3
months of consuming 6–9 grams of Cordyceps per
day, each patient showed improvements in liverfunction
tests.