dong chong xia cao

冬虫夏草·Cordyceps

Chinese caterpillar fungus

About dong chong xia cao

Dong Chong Xia Cao (冬虫夏草) is cordyceps, a fungus that grows from the body of a caterpillar, recorded as Cordyceps Sinensis. It is sweet in flavour and warm in temperature, entering the Lung and Kidney channels. The catalogue files it among the substances that tonify Yang. Its Chinese name reads as winter insect, summer grass.

Names

Pinyin	dong chong xia cao
Chinese	冬虫夏草
Latin Name	Cordyceps·Cordyceps Sinensis
English Name	Chinese caterpillar fungus·Cordyceps
Japanese	tochukaso
Korean	dongchunghacho

Classification

Category: Tonify Yang, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Adaptogens
Channels: Lung, Kidney
Flavour: Sweet
Temperature: Warm
Part used: Fungus
Family: Hypocreaceae
Species: cordyceps sinensis
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Yang and augments Jing

Kidney Yang deficiency with impotence, seminal emission, and a sore, weak lower back, knees and legs
Kidney Jing deficiency
Kidney Yin deficiency
A gentle Yang tonic that also nourishes Yin, so it is more balanced and less drying than most

Nourishes Lung Yin, transforms Phlegm and stops bleeding

Lung Yin deficiency with a chronic cough and wheezing
Consumptive cough with streaks of blood in the sputum
Wheezing from combined Lung and Kidney deficiency

Supports recovery from debility

General depletion after a long illness, including spontaneous sweating from Qi deficiency

Combinations

du zhong + yin yang huo + rou cong rong
Kidney Deficiency with pain in the low back and legs, premature ejaculation and spermatorrhea
duck, chicken, pork or fish
Weak Wei Qi leaving low resistance and debility, with dizziness, weakness, spontaneous sweating and similar signs; prepared as a stew
huang qi + bai zhu + fu xiao mai
Weak Wei Qi with sweating
sha shen + chuan bei mu + e jiao
Lung Yin Deficiency with cough, wheezing, chest pain and coughing of blood
ge jie
Asthma involving both Lungs and Kidneys
mai men dong + shi hu + sheng di huang
Lung cancer, taken every day as a drink
du zhong + xu duan
Bone and joint disorders.
lu rong + yin yang huo + gou qi zi
Impotence.
gou qi zi + shan zhu yu
Tinnitus.
huang qi
Spontaneous sweating while convalescing from a chronic illness, prepared as a stew
chuan bei mu + e jiao + mai men dong + bai he
Yin Deficiency of the Lung and Kidney with a long-standing cough and scanty sputum streaked with Blood
ge jie + ren shen + wu wei zi
Qi Deficiency of the Lung and Kidney with weakness and a feeble, chronic cough

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 3-14g; Tincture: 2-4ml	3-14 g	—	2-4 ml	—	—

Cautions

caution Exterior conditions: a warm tonic is usually held back while an acute external invasion is present
caution Adulteration is well documented because authentic wild Cordyceps is rare and expensive; buy from a reliable supplier

Interactions

Drug interactions

Immunosuppressants, as in transplant patients: the herb influences immune activity and has been studied as an add-on in transplant care, so combined use should be directed by the practitioner (theoretical)