Harvest of Himalayan Viagra continues to plummet
By Tsering Choephel
DHARAMSALA, 14 June: The harvest of the prized caterpillar fungus, locally known as Yartsa Gunbu (summer grass, winter worm) – found only in Tibet and its neighbouring Himalayan country of Nepal and Bhutan – has been declining continuously for years, reported Radio Free Asia(RFA) on Saturday.
The dwindling harvest of this mummified caterpillar, Ophiocordyceps sinensis (scientific name), is due to the twin effect of climate change and excessive harvesting buoyed by burgeoning demand, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science journal.
“Production is already on the decline every passing year,” a Tibetan from Derge in the traditional Tibetan province of Kham has told RFA.
“Before, collectors would easily gather at least 100 pieces of caterpillar fungus, but now the most they can collect is 40 in a day. Some even say they can collect only 10 a day.”
Yartsa Gunbu is used in Chinese and Tibetan traditional medicine for centuries to treat various ailments like heart, liver, lung problems, and asthma.
It is also believed to boost libido for which it has been called ‘Himalayan viagra.’
Harvested during the month of May and June at highland meadows (above 3500 meters) and bought by middlemen, a pound of Yastsa Gunbu can fetch US$9,000 to US$18,000 when it’s finally sold to rich Chinese clients.
In rare cases, a pound of the best quality Cordyceps will fetch more than US$ 50,000.
The lucrativeness of the Cordyceps business draws a larger number of harvesters each year from nomadic and semi-nomadic communities in Tibet as well as people from the plains in Nepal to its northwestern highlands.
Now, because of unchecked harvesting over the years in addition to the changing global climate, the fate of Yatsa Gunbu and the people who rely on its harvest to meet their ends is changing for the worse.
A Tibetan from Tsongon in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo has said “Until 2016, one could easily harvest 15 to 20 pieces of caterpillar fungus in a day, but these days one can hardly collect eight to 10.”
The highly valued medicinal fungus can be consumed directly, added to food or liquid, or ground up for use in traditional medicine production.
