Interesting facts

Imagine an insect that is brainwashed by parasitic fungi (genus Cordyceps). This interesting fungi manipulates insect's brain forcing him to climb the plant or tree, and upon reaching to the top grows out of his head or body! Cordyceps also called Chinese caterpillar fungus, native to the Tibetan plateau in China. In human beings, it enters through the ears, germinates in the mind, causes the host to destroy rival communities, and exits via the mouth, and infects others. A Korean study of a related species of Cordyceps indicates that it has components that may inhibit coagulation, making it potentially beneficial in stroke and heart attack prevention. A hot water extract of the fungus appeared to stimulate the immune system. In other studies, which have reported that Cordyceps may be useful in treating Hepatitis B. A study from Thailand reported that Cordyceps nipponica might be of value in the treating malaria. Another review concluded that Cordyceps might be promising as a possible support for heart & lung function. Interesting fact is that Chinese Olympic athletes use this fungi to improve their performance and stamina. (Seems to work quite well for them, see all their gold medals that we don't have?)

So I learned that Cordyceps are highly beneficial to the human body. I've previously learned during Biology in secondary about that many ways in which fungi can be both beneficial and damaging to the human body. Some fungi will eat away at the cell tissue and replace it with it's own fake tissue, which tends to burst(dissolve) and then spread to other cells. This also occurs within blood cells which have been infected. It is however more deadly within the bloodstream because of the speed as to which it can spread throughout the body. It can reach the heart and other vital areas through the bloodstream e.g. the lungs, kidneys, liver and brain. It can cause a form of cardio arrest, which can pass unnoticed in the heart from scans because it. eats away at the underlying layer where the scan will only see it as a light area but compared to the rest of the heart it'll appear the same.