Dong Chong Xia Cao Leave a comment

I have a riddle: “In winter it is an insect; in summer it is a mushroom.”
Have you heard such a thing? Well, it’s not really a riddle for the thing indeed exist. They are called Dong Chong Xia Cao in Chinese or Cordyceps. It is usually cooked with Ba gua soup. It is kind of sad when we think of the insect, isn’t it? It is a caterpillar-like insect, in fact it is called ‘vegetable caterpillar’ after a fungi replaces the worm cells. Dong Chong means “in winter it is an insect; Xia Cao means “in summer it is a mushroom”. But this mushroom is not ordinary vegetable, as if it is not already. It is used for strengthening the immune system, promoting longevity and reducing the aging effects, as well as being good for the kidneys, liver, and even opium addiction. More of the herb’s usefulness here.