Cordyceps sinensis is an insect parasitizing fungus. In East Asia, C. sinensis is regarded as an invigorant and was honored as one of the three greatest invigorants, together with Panax and Pilose antlers. With hundreds of years in Traditional Oriental Medicine, C. sinensis has been generally used to improve the conditions associated with aging and senescence. It is principally applied to treat weakness in the loins and knees, impotence and seminal emission, hyposexuality, fatigue, night sweating, and other conditions related to aging.

The pharmacological actions of C. sinensis have been studied in several scientific researches and reported to have bioactivities, including anti-tumor, anti-metastatic, anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, anti-microbial, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, anti-aging, neuroprotective, renoprotective effects, etc.