Dong Chong Xia Cao (冬虫夏草)

Naming

Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps)——Zeng Ding Ben Cao Bei Yao (Supplement and Revision of Essence Materia Medica)

The Processing of 冬虫夏草

Origin

The dried stroma and the sporphore of Cordyeps sinensis (Berk.) parasitized on larva of Hepiaius varrans Staudiger.

Location

Sichuan, Qinghai provinces and Tibet Autonomous Region in China.

Harvest

Plucked in early summer when the stroma comes out and the spore doesn't scatter.

The actual smell and taste

Slight raw meat smell, slightly bitter.

Best quality

Whole, large, fat larva body with short stroma, bright yellow appearance and white inner part.

Processing

Unprocessed.

The Effect of 冬虫夏草

Property

Sweet, neutral; kidney and lung meridians entered.

Actions

Tonify kidney yang, nourish kidney essence, tonify lung qi, stop bleeding, resolve phlegm and relieve cough and dyspnea.

Indications

A. Chronic cough, dyspnea of deficiency type, phlegmatic blood cough of deficiency type due to lung deficiency or both deficiency of lung and kidney

It is a good herb for even reinforcement of lung and kidney because it can tonify kidney yang, nourish kidney essence, and tonify lung qi. It also can stop bleeding, resolve phlegm, and relieve cough and dyspnea. It has the effect of both treating branch and root of cough and dyspnea of deficiency type. Because of its hemostatic action, it is very indicated for phlegmatic blood cough of deficiency type, it is combined with herbs of nourishing yin, clearing lung, resolving phlegm and relieving cough, for instance, it is used with Bei Sha Shen, Nan Sha Shen, Chuan Bei Mu and Mai Dong. For phlegmatic blood cough of both qi and yin deficiency type, it is combined with herbs of tonifying qi, nourishing yin, clearing lung, resolving phlegm, relieving cough and hemorrhea, for instance, it is used with Xi Yang Shen, Bei Sha Shen, Chuan Bei Mu and E Jiao. For phlegmatic blood cough of both lung and kidney deficiency type, it is combined with herbs to tonify lung and kidney to receive qi, resolve phlegm and relieve cough and dyspnea, for instance, it is used with Ge Jie , Shan Yao and Chuan Bei Mu.

B. Impotence and premature ejaculation with thin semen due to kidney deficiency

It is indicated for impotence and premature ejaculation with thin semen due to deficiency of kidney yang and insufficiency of kidney essence, because it can treat impotence through tonifying kidney and nourishing essence. It could be used as alcoholic preparation singly or combined with kidney-yang-tonifying and essence-nourishing herbs, for instance, it is used with Tu Si Zi, Ba Ji Tian and Yin Yang Huo.

Besides, it is suitable for weakness due to chronic diseases, suspectible to external contraction it could be stewed with duck, chicken or pork, because it can tonify kidney, secure essence, tonify lung and protect defensive system, and improve the recovery of organism.

Dosage and Administrations

Decoct or stew 5~10 g, or it can be used as pill, powder or alcohol preparation.