Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo (冬虫夏草), known in English as Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis), is a neutral, sweet Chinese herb from the Tonify yang category. It enters the Lung and Kidney channels. Its main action: tonifies Kidney, benefits Lung.
| Pinyin | Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo (Dong Chong Xia Cao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 冬虫夏草 |
| English | Cordyceps |
| Botanical name | Cordyceps sinensis |
| Category | Tonify yang |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels | Lung, Kidney |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Exterior conditions |
Actions
- Tonifies Kidney, benefits Lung
- Stops bleeding, transforms Phlegm
Indications
- Kidney deficiency with deficient essence: impotence, spermatorrhoea, sore, aching back and knees
- Chronic cough and wheezing from deficiency
- Consumptive cough with blood
How to remember Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo
Tonify yang herbs are mostly warm or hot and sweet, and most enter the Kidney and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Sweet: like most Tonify yang herbs
- Lung channel: from its action “benefits Lung”
- Kidney channel: from its action “Tonifies Kidney”
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: unusual for Tonify yang herbs (most are warm or hot)
Other Tonify yang herbs
- Dù Zhòng
- Lù Róng
- Xiān Máo
- Yín Yáng Huò
- Bǔ Gǔ Zhī
- Tù Sī Zǐ
- Bā Jǐ Tiān
- Suǒ Yáng
- Xù Duàn
- Ròu Cōng Róng
- Hé Táo Rén
- Shā Yuàn Zǐ
- Yì Zhì Rén
- Lù Jiǎo Jiāo
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo?
Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo is neutral and sweet.
Which channels does Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo enter?
Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo enters the Lung and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo?
Tonifies Kidney, benefits Lung; Stops bleeding, transforms Phlegm.
What is Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo used for?
Kidney deficiency with deficient essence: impotence, spermatorrhoea, sore, aching back and knees; chronic cough and wheezing from deficiency; consumptive cough with blood.
Practise Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.