Can moldy Cordyceps sinensis be eaten? How to deal with it?

Can moldy Cordyceps sinensis be eaten? A friend came to my house and bought some Cordyceps sinensis for his mother. My mother was reluctant to eat it and always hid it. A few days ago, she took it out and found that it was moldy. I opened it with my hand and found that the inside was white, but the core was black, and there was a smell. I knew that the Cordyceps sinensis was moldy. My mother was reluctant to eat it because it was moldy before she could eat it. I searched online to see if moldy Cordyceps sinensis is edible, and I'll tell you the answer right away.

Chinese medicine is not easy to store and will become moldy if exposed to moisture. If you are not careful, deer antlers and ginseng may even be infested with worms. Cordyceps sinensis only grows mold. If it does not change color, but just becomes damp, soft and moldy, then it will be fine. Just lightly dry and shake it. If the condition is more serious, boil some water in a basin. The scalding time should not be too long, 10 seconds at most. Just wash and dry it. Keep it tightly closed during storage. Cordyceps mold is generally caused by high temperature and high humidity and improper storage environment. As long as the degree of mold is not serious, you can use the traditional method to deal with it, that is, use a small brush to clean the moldy and hairy areas, then dry them in the sun, seal them and store them in the refrigerator.

Unprocessed Cordyceps sinensis is very easy to deteriorate, become hollowed out and moldy during storage due to the breeding of bacteria, mold and even parasites and high moisture content. Not only does it lose its medicinal value, it can also be harmful to the body. Studies have shown that moldy substances can lead to a significantly increased incidence of liver cancer and digestive tract cancer. Even soaking in white wine or alcohol cannot remove them, and washing and drying them are even more impossible to eliminate. They must never be eaten.

In terms of efficacy, not only has the efficacy been lost, but more importantly, even if the mildew spots on the surface are removed, the aflatoxin contained in it cannot be removed. Aflatoxin is a strong carcinogen. Animal experiments have shown that it takes as little as 24 weeks for aflatoxin to cause cancer. It has relatively stable chemical properties and can only be destroyed at high temperatures above 280°C. It is recommended that you pay attention to the storage method of expensive Cordyceps sinensis. Usually the humidity of Cordyceps sinensis should be kept between 5%-8%, and it is best to store it in the refrigerator.

The above content is all about whether moldy Cordyceps sinensis can be eaten and how to deal with it. My friend gave it to my mother as a gift, but I felt very uncomfortable when I saw that my mother didn’t eat it. So I asked my friend to buy another box for my mother. This time I also told my mother how to store Cordyceps sinensis. Also, eat it first after buying it, and don’t wait until it gets moldy to remember about it.