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冬蟲夏草 Dongchongxiacao
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Chinese Name |
冬蟲夏草 |
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Chinese Pinyin |
Dongchongxiacao |
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English Name |
Chinese Caterpillar Fungus |
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Latin Pharmaceutical Name |
Cordyceps |
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Category |
Others |
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Origin |
The combination of the stroma of the parasitic fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (Clavicipitaceae), and the larval corpse of its host insect from the Hepialidae family. |
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Production Regions |
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan. |
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Macroscopic Features |
The insect body is similar to a silkworm, 3~5cm long, 3~8mm diameter; Externally yellowish-brown to deep yellow, rough, with obvious rings. Head is reddish-brown with stroma; ventral portion is deep yellow to yellowish-brown, 3 thoracic segments and 3 pairs of thoracic legs, 10 uromeres and 5 pairs of uromere legs, middle 4 pairs are obvious; externally has 20-30 segments; brittle texture; fractured surface is pale yellow. Stroma is thin cylindrical and slightly twisted, generally longer than the insect body. Externally grayish-brown to brown with thin longitudinal wrinkles; head is slightly enlarged. Soft and pliable texture; fractured surface is off-white and slightly fibrous. faintly fishy odor; slightly bitter taste. |
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Quality Requirements |
Superior medicinal material has intact with full and large insect body, a bright yellow outer color, a white fractured surface, and a short atroma. |
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Properties |
Sweet; neutral. |
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Functions |
Supplements the lung, boosts the kidney, stops bleeding, transforms phlegm. |
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Remark |
Chinese Caterpillar Fungusis (Cordyceps sinensis / Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is listed as "Vulnerable" in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. |
| Link |
 Medicinal Plant Images Database
Phytochemical Image Database
Chinese Medicine Specimen Database
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Permanent URL：https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/cmed/mmid/detail.php?pid=B00414 |
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