Cordyceps, Caterpillar Fungus, Dong Chong Xia Cao 冬虫夏草 Dong Chong Xia Cao (‘Winter Worm, Summer Herb’, TCM)dByar rtswa dgun ‘bu  དབྱར་རྩྭ་དགུན་འབུ་ (Tibet) Dried Cordyceps as available on the Chinese market.(Photo by Rafti Institute) (Wikimedia) Left: uncleaned and cleansed fresh Cordyceps; Right: bunches of graded Cordyceps as sold on the Chinese Market. See also More Photos of Cordyceps Entomological name: Cordyceps sinensis (syn. Ophiocordyceps sinensis)C. militaris and others have been used similarly. Parts used: Dried worm with Cordyceps Temperature & Taste: Warm, moist. Sweet Classification: N. Yang Tonic Uses: 1. Warms and Strengthen the Kidneys, Tonifies Yang: -Impotence, Spermatorrhea, premature Ejaculation-Weakness and pain of the lower back and knees-frequent urination-mental decline, Tinnitus, Forgetfulness, Failing Memory 2. Strengthens the Lungs, Stops Cough and Wheezing: -Chronic Cough and Wheezing from deficiency-Consumptive cough, Hemoptysis-relieves altitude sickness-nourishes Lung Yin, increases Lung Qi and Yang and is therefore very effective for chronic cases Dose: Powder: 500mg–2 gramsDecotion: 2–9 grams Substitutes: 1. Now cultured mycelium of Cordyceps is being grown for the medicine market which is chemically very similar and also far cheaper.2. Cordyceps Cicadae, the Cordyceps from Cicada has been shown to be an acceptable substitute. (see here) Main Combinations: 1. Kidney weakness with Impotence and…

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