Introduction of Dong Chong Xia Cao: Chinese Caterpillar Fungus
✵The article provides records of the herb Chinese Caterpillar Fungus, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and botanical source—namely, the fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (family Hypocreaceae). It offers a detailed introduction to the morphological features of this fungal species, its growth characteristics and ecological environment, the characteristics of the dried herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Cordyceps (Chinese Caterpillar Fungus)
Pinyin Name: Dōnɡ Chónɡ Xià Cǎo
English Name: Chinese Caterpillar Fungus
Latin Name:Cordyceps Properties and Flavor: Neutral or slightly warm in nature; sweet in taste.
Brief Introduction:Cordyceps is the dried stroma of the fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (family Hypocreaceae), which parasitizes the larvae of certain moths in the family Hepialidae. The resulting complex—comprising the sclerotized larval body and the emerging stroma—is used in traditional medicine to reinforce kidney Yang and tonify the lungs. It is indicated for impotence, nocturnal emission, night sweats, and chronic cough with hemoptysis in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (phthisis). The herb is commonly known as Cordyceps, Chinese Caterpillar Fungus, or Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo.
Botanical Source: According to classical herbal works, Cordyceps (Chinese Caterpillar Fungus) refers to the dried stroma of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (family Hypocreaceae), parasitizing the larvae and dead caterpillars of insects in the family Hepialidae.
(1) Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc.
Botanical Description:Cordyceps sinensis is a highly valued medicinal fungus in both Classical Chinese Medicine and modern clinical practice. In China, it is colloquially known as "winter worm, summer grass" and "caterpillar mushroom."
Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. is also known as Sphaeria sinensis Berk. It infects the larvae of certain moths in the family Hepialidae, such as Thitarodes armoricanus Oberthür. Cordyceps is defined as the symbiotic complex comprising the stroma of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. and its host larva (Thitarodes spp.).
Stroma: Solitary, rarely 2–3 per larva; emerging from the anterior end of the host. Total length: 4–11 cm; cylindrical or clavate; basal diameter: 1.5–4 mm, tapering upward. The head (fertile portion) is subcylindrical, brown, solid when young and becoming hollow with age; length: 1–4.5 cm; diameter: 2.5–6 mm; apex bearing a sterile tip measuring 1.5–5.5 mm. Perithecia are embedded in the stromal surface; asci are numerous, slender, and cylindrical, each containing 1–3 ascospores (occasionally 4 or more); ascospores are long, filiform, multiseptate, non-fragmenting, measuring (160–470) μm × (5–6.5) μm. The fungus parasitizes larvae of Thitarodes armoricanus Oberthür and related species.
Ecological Environment:Cordyceps sinensis grows exclusively on the larvae of Thitarodes moths and is typically found on high-altitude alpine meadows above 3,000–5,000 meters, especially in snow-retentive, well-drained arctic-alpine grasslands. It is primarily distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region of western and southwestern China. It is also reported in Nepal.
Growth characteristics:Cordyceps sinensis is an entomopathogenic fungus (obligate parasite of insect larvae). Its primary host is the larva of Thitarodes spp. (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae). Infected larvae burrow into soil and die during winter; a sclerotium forms within the cadaver. Under warm, moist conditions in spring, a clavate, brown stroma emerges from the larval head.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb consists of a larval body and a stroma emerging from the head of the larva. The larva resembles a silkworm, measuring 3–5 cm in length and 3–8 mm in diameter. Its surface is dark brown to yellowish-brown, bearing 20–30 annular ridges; the ridges near the head are narrower. The head is reddish-brown and bears eight pairs of legs, of which four pairs—located in the middle segments—are more prominent. The texture is crisp and brittle, fracturing easily; the fracture surface is relatively smooth and yellowish-white. The stroma is solitary, slender, and cylindrical, 4–7 cm long and approximately 3 mm in diameter. Its surface is dark brown to tan (chocolate brown), with fine longitudinal wrinkles; the upper portion is slightly enlarged, and no distinct differentiation exists between the fertile apex and the stipe. The stroma is soft and flexible, with an off-white fracture surface. The herb has a faintly fishy odor and a mild or slightly bitter taste. Higher-grade specimens exhibit a bright yellowish surface, plump and fleshy appearance, a yellowish-white fracture surface, and a short, stout stroma.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Expectorant and anti-asthmatic effects; (2) Anti-tumor activity; (3) Hematopoietic stimulation; (4) Antimicrobial activity: inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Burkholderia mallei, Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Trichophyton rubrum, among others.
Medicinal Efficacy: Tonifies the kidney and nourishes the lung; replenishes essence and Qi; consolidates Lung Qi; strengthens the skin and subcutaneous tissues; supplements deficiency syndromes; stanch bleeding; resolves phlegm; and alleviates cough. It is indicated for: kidney deficiency with seminal emission; kidney Yang insufficiency manifesting as impotence (impotentia, asynodia) or spermatorrhea; spontaneous sweating; night sweats; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; lung deficiency with chronic cough and dyspnea; over-strained cough and hemoptysis (over-strained cough and spit blood, cough-induced hemoptysis); blood-tinged sputum; phlegm-damp retention; asthma; deficiency-type dyspnea; prolonged convalescence following chronic illness; and general debility.
Cordyceps is a unique entomopathogenic fungus—not a mushroom—that parasitizes the larvae of moths in the genus Thitarodes at high altitudes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Although difficult to locate and harvest, cordyceps remains one of the most highly valued medicinal substances in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Classical Chinese medical texts—including the Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Ben Cao Cong Xin (New Compilation of Materia Medica), and Si Bu Yi Dian (Medical Canon in Four Sections)—record that this herb "tonifies the lung and replenishes the kidney, treats all forms of deficiency, supplements Qi, and strengthens the Life Gate." It is also traditionally regarded as an immune-modulating agent with potential anti-aging and longevity-promoting effects.
Cordyceps is a TCM herb derived from the symbiotic complex of the fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. and its insect host. It is used to support lung function, nourish the kidneys, and regulate Qi—the vital energy underlying physiological balance. Though commonly called “Chinese caterpillar fungus,” it is not a saprophytic mushroom but an obligate parasitic fungus. The life cycle involves infection of Thitarodes larvae; the fungus consumes the host internally, eventually killing it and producing a stroma that emerges from the larval head. In modern commercial production, cultivated Cordyceps mycelium—grown on sterilized grain substrates such as rice or wheat—is widely used as a sustainable, ethical, and standardized alternative to wild-harvested specimens.
Cordyceps is also known as the deer fungus and the caterpillar fungus. In its native country, China, it is known as Dōnɡ Chónɡ Xià Cǎo, which means “winter worm, summer grass”. The fruiting body of the Cordyceps mushroom is grass-like in appearance. Herdsmen in the plateau region first discovered cordyceps over a thousand years ago. They noticed that when their sheep and yaks grazed on cordyceps, they became stronger and healthier.
Later, Chinese herbalists began to use Cordyceps for a host of human ailments. The mushroom was used as a cure-all but was especially thought to be an aphrodisiac and a supplement for healthy male sexual function. Recently, Cordyceps has been shown to stimulate the immune system and to possess antibacterial and antiviral properties. It has also been demonstrated that Cordyceps enhances blood circulation and can lower LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) while raising beneficial HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Cordyceps is still used in China as a support for sexual function and as an energy booster. Athletes use Cordyceps as a safe, natural alternative for enhancing athletic performance. Along with Reishi and Shiitake, Cordyceps is among the most beneficial mushrooms.
Administration of Cordyceps (Dōnɡ Chónɡ Xià Cǎo):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Cordyceps (Dōnɡ Chónɡ Xià Cǎo)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (about 4.5–9 grams); or prepared as pills or powder; (3) Internally: water decoction, 5–10 grams; or prepared as pills or powder; or stewed with chicken or duck.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Cordyceps should be used cautiously if long-term use is required.
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1.Introduction of Dong Chong Xia Cao: Chinese Caterpillar Fungus
✵The article provides records of the herb Chinese Caterpillar Fungus, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and botanical source—namely, the fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (family Hypocreaceae). It offers a detailed introduction to the morphological features of this fungal species, its growth characteristics and ecological environment, the characteristics of the dried herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Dōnɡ Chónɡ Xià Cǎo
Botanical Source: According to classical herbal works, Cordyceps (Chinese Caterpillar Fungus) refers to the dried stroma of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (family Hypocreaceae), parasitizing the larvae and dead caterpillars of insects in the family Hepialidae.
Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. is also known as Sphaeria sinensis Berk. It infects the larvae of certain moths in the family Hepialidae, such as Thitarodes armoricanus Oberthür. Cordyceps is defined as the symbiotic complex comprising the stroma of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. and its host larva (Thitarodes spp.).
Ecological Environment: Cordyceps sinensis grows exclusively on the larvae of Thitarodes moths and is typically found on high-altitude alpine meadows above 3,000–5,000 meters, especially in snow-retentive, well-drained arctic-alpine grasslands. It is primarily distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region of western and southwestern China. It is also reported in Nepal.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb consists of a larval body and a stroma emerging from the head of the larva. The larva resembles a silkworm, measuring 3–5 cm in length and 3–8 mm in diameter. Its surface is dark brown to yellowish-brown, bearing 20–30 annular ridges; the ridges near the head are narrower. The head is reddish-brown and bears eight pairs of legs, of which four pairs—located in the middle segments—are more prominent. The texture is crisp and brittle, fracturing easily; the fracture surface is relatively smooth and yellowish-white. The stroma is solitary, slender, and cylindrical, 4–7 cm long and approximately 3 mm in diameter. Its surface is dark brown to tan (chocolate brown), with fine longitudinal wrinkles; the upper portion is slightly enlarged, and no distinct differentiation exists between the fertile apex and the stipe. The stroma is soft and flexible, with an off-white fracture surface. The herb has a faintly fishy odor and a mild or slightly bitter taste. Higher-grade specimens exhibit a bright yellowish surface, plump and fleshy appearance, a yellowish-white fracture surface, and a short, stout stroma.
Medicinal Efficacy: Tonifies the kidney and nourishes the lung; replenishes essence and Qi; consolidates Lung Qi; strengthens the skin and subcutaneous tissues; supplements deficiency syndromes; stanch bleeding; resolves phlegm; and alleviates cough. It is indicated for: kidney deficiency with seminal emission; kidney Yang insufficiency manifesting as impotence (impotentia, asynodia) or spermatorrhea; spontaneous sweating; night sweats; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; lung deficiency with chronic cough and dyspnea; over-strained cough and hemoptysis (over-strained cough and spit blood, cough-induced hemoptysis); blood-tinged sputum; phlegm-damp retention; asthma; deficiency-type dyspnea; prolonged convalescence following chronic illness; and general debility.
Cordyceps is a TCM herb derived from the symbiotic complex of the fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. and its insect host. It is used to support lung function, nourish the kidneys, and regulate Qi—the vital energy underlying physiological balance. Though commonly called “Chinese caterpillar fungus,” it is not a saprophytic mushroom but an obligate parasitic fungus. The life cycle involves infection of Thitarodes larvae; the fungus consumes the host internally, eventually killing it and producing a stroma that emerges from the larval head. In modern commercial production, cultivated Cordyceps mycelium—grown on sterilized grain substrates such as rice or wheat—is widely used as a sustainable, ethical, and standardized alternative to wild-harvested specimens.
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