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Produced in Hualinping, Jiangyou County, Sichuan, it appears as a herb in summer and as an insect in winter. It is about three cun long, with six legs underneath. Its overall appearance is very similar to that of a silkworm (Jiangcan). The Qiang people collect it as a superior medicinal material. Its efficacy is the same that of Renshen (Ginseng Root).

Cheng Congxin stated: It is produced in Yunnan and Guizhou. In winter, it is underground, alive like an old silkworm, with movable hairs. By summer, the hairs emerge from the soil, and the entire body transforms into a herb. If not harvested, it transforms back into an insect by winter.

*Records of Sichuan Province* states: Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps) is produced in Bolangong Mountain, Litang. It has a warm nature and benefits essence and marrow.

*Qian Nang* states: Xiaocaodongchong (Summer Herb Winter Worm) is produced beyond Wumeng. In hot weather, it grows above ground as a herb; in winter, it hibernates underground as an insect.

*Qingli Yuzhao* states: Xiaocaodongchong is produced in Sichuan. The root resembles a silkworm, with movable hairs. In summer, a sprout emerges from the top, growing several cun long. By winter, the sprout withers, leaving only the root. In severe cold and snow, it often moves on the ground surface.

*Wenfang Sikao* states: In recent years, it has been available in Suzhou. Its qi is yang and its nature is warm. Kong Yutang narrated that his younger brother suffered from severe sweating due to deficiency-cold. Even in midsummer, staying in a closed room with curtains, he feared wind severely. After three years of ineffective medical treatment, his condition became critical. A relative returning from Sichuan gifted him three jin of Xiaocaodongchong. He stewed it daily with meat and vegetables. Gradually, he recovered. Thus, it was believed that this substance protects Lung qi and solidifies Couli (the interstices of skin and muscles), with verified efficacy.

*Xicheng Wenjian Lu* from Qichunyuan states: Xiaocaodongchong grows in snow mountains. In summer, leaves branch out resembling garlic chives, while the root resembles rotten wood. After winter, when leaves dry up, the root wriggles and transforms into an insect. When used medicinally, it is extremely hot in nature.

Xu Houshan's *Liuya Waibian* states: Dongchongxiacao is a single entity. In winter, it is an insect; in summer, it is a herb. The insect resembles a silkworm, slightly yellowish. The herb resembles garlic chives, with finer leaves. Entering summer, the insect buries its head in the ground, and its tail naturally grows into a herb, mixed among creeping weeds, unnoticed as an insect. Entering winter, the herb withers and turns yellow, emerging from the ground to move slowly, its tail still trembling with remnants of the herb. This is likely due to the transformation of Qi. Stewing it with duck meat provides great tonification. Mr. Ping Caizhong of Shaoxing said: His father served as Sima (Magistrate) in Zhongdian, Lijiang Prefecture, Yunnan. That area produces Dongchongxiacao. The herb is an insect in winter; upon spring, the insect sheds its skin and flies away. Locals know this and harvest it within a specific period; after the period, it is useless.

Zhu Paishan's *Ganyuan Xiaoshi* states: Dongchongxiacao grows in Da Jianlu. In winter, it lives underground like a silkworm. In summer, a sprout forms on the head, about one cun long, slightly yellowish, smaller than a silkworm, resembling a silkworm in its third sleep stage, with mouth and eyes, twelve legs, exactly like a silkworm shape, with no more than three or four leaves on the sprout. Soaking a few pieces in wine and consuming them treats pain in the waist and knees and benefits the Kidney. Storing it with Safflower (Honghua) prevents insect damage. Some say: Boiling it with a male duck is suitable for the elderly.

Pan Youxin stated: Opium pills in Guangdong are made by combining Xiaocaodongchong with Opium and Renshen, serving as a sexual tonic. This herb's ability to promote Yang indicates its entry into the Kidney channel. It is sweet and neutral, protecting Lung and benefiting Kidney, supplementing essence and marrow, stopping bleeding and resolving phlegm, curing consumptive cough, and treating dysphagia/chest obstruction effectively. Cheng Congxin considered it sweet and warm, securing essence, boosting Qi, and specifically tonifying Mingmen (Gate of Vitality). *Yaoxing Kao* records this.

Note: Transformations of things must result from the mutual agitation of Yin and Yang. Yin is quiet, Yang is active; this is the fundamental principle. However, there is Yin within Yang and Yang within Yin; Yin and Yang serve as roots for each other. When formless matter transforms into sentient life, it is Yin overcoming Yang; when sentient life transforms into formless matter, it is Yang overcoming Yin. Thus, transformations that do not return to the original form occur when Yin overcomes Yin. For example, field mice transforming into quails and vice versa, doves transforming into hawks and vice versa, all can return to their original forms because Yang overcomes Yang. Alum transforming into Cinnabar, and broken pine turning into stone, do not revert to their original forms because Yin overcomes Yin. Xiaocaodongchong is born from sensing both Yin and Yang Qi. At Summer Solstice, Yin begins to generate, so it becomes static and transforms into a herb. At Winter Solstice, Yang begins to generate, so it becomes active and transforms into an insect. It cycles through these changes continuously. It is not comparable to rotting grass producing fireflies or old wheat transforming into butterflies, which are caused by damp-heat Qi. Therefore, when used medicinally, it can treat various deficiencies and hundred damages, because it possesses complete Yin and Yang Qi. However, one must harvest the insect in winter and not the herb in summer, precisely because it contains the generative Qi of Yang.

Zhang Zirun stated: If the summer herb of Xiaocaodongchong is taken, it can cause infertility. This is contrary to the interaction between Huangjing (Polygonatum Rhizome) and Gouwenzi (Abutilon Seed), likely reflecting profound natural laws. Zhou Jianshi stated: It is warm in nature and treats Gu Zhang (abdominal distension with masses). It is recently used in Zhongzi Dan (Seed-Determining Pill).

Method for Stewing Old Duck: Use three to five pieces of Xiaocaodongchong and one old male duck. Remove the internal organs. Split the duck's head open, insert the medicine inside, and tie it securely with thread. Steam it with soy sauce and wine until tender, then consume. The medicinal Qi penetrates the entire duck body directly from the head. For patients recovering from illness with deficiency, one duck per serving is equivalent to one liang of Renshen.