The first record of Cordyceps appeared in 1082, and a detailed
description of its life cycle was found in manuscripts around
1590–1596, but Cordyceps has only been promoted in Europe since
1726, when it was introduced at a scientific meeting in Paris.
Cordyceps sinensis has been used in traditional Chinese herbal
medicine as a natural remedy for more than 2,000 years. The
imperial Quing dynasty used Cordyceps for treating kidney and
lung ailments, restoring physical strength and the immune
system, and rejuvenating and enhancing sexual energy. How can we
explain the effect that Cordyceps has on a human health? The
curtain of mystery has been reopened by the study of growth
conditions and life cycle of the fungus. The natural environment
of Cordyceps sinensis is the mountainous areas of north-western
China at an altitude of 3–5,000 metres above sea level. Climatic
conditions are very severe, with average temperatures of
0.2–0.8°C, humidity of 50–70% and snow for 140 to286 days a
year. During the last 20 years,