When parasitic mushroom spores (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) infect and mummify a soil-dwelling ghost moth larva, it results in a unique fusion of caterpillar and fungus known as yarsagumba. Afterwards, a wiry fungus appears on the deceased caterpillar host's head. A little finger-shaped flag that the fungus projects two to six centimetres above its surface, which makes it easier for harvesters to recognize.
The most precious biological resource on the planet is this weird hybrid. Yarsagumba flourishes on the Tibetan Plateau, also referred to as the "top of the earth," as well as in Nepal, India, and Bhutan at elevations between 3000 and 5000 metres. Its Tibetan name, "Yartsa gunbu," which translates to "summer grass winter worm," is used for it.
Uses of Yarsagumba
According to Himalayan folklore, when yaks and goats were brought to graze in the high pastures, the animals consumed the Yarsagumba and felt refreshed, pursuing the opposite sex with renewed vigour. Subsequently, people who had tasted it reported having greater energy, feeling less tired, and having a stronger libido. Yarsa's price has skyrocketed as a result of its promotion as the "Himalayan Viagra", a cure for impotence.
Yarsagumba is most used in medicine. It is used as a supplement to give people's bodies more energy. Yarsagumba's benefits for the body include the increase in physical stamina and less fatigue. It helps red blood cells to expand and boost oxygen usage in the body, which is helpful in muscle work. Subsequently, this substance has grown in popularity among athletes and bodybuilders.
Yarsagumba is also thought to have abundant anti-aging components, which means it is beneficial to your skin and hair. The cordycepin's antioxidants aid in defending the skin against the damaging effects of ageing. It also helps the body to produce collagen, which is thought to improve the skin's suppleness and firmness.
It is believed to increase the effective functioning of the immune system. It aids in lowering your body's vulnerability to diseases and infections as well as inflammation. As a result, it supports your body's ability to combat conditions including asthma and arthritis.
Yarsagumba has significant benefits for cardiovascular health, controlling blood sugar, and enhancing brain function. This herb has been utilised for many years in traditional medicine as a rare and possibly strong natural cure. It aids in enhancing blood flow to the brain, which enhances cognition, memory, and focus.
Price of Yarsagumba
On the local market, harvesters in Nepal make about $18 per gram (a single dried specimen weighs less than half a gram). Nonetheless, yarsagumba can sell for up to $100 per gram in China, the most significant foreign trading hub for it. Because of this, it costs more per gram than gold. The market capitalization has been pegged at $5 to $11 billion on a global scale.
Dark side of Yarsagumba
It is difficult to collect Yarsa at a high altitude, and the workers frequently risk their lives. Every year, acute mountain sickness, swelling rivers, sheer cliffs, and slick snowfields claim lives. Yarsa boosts the economy but also creates tensions, like any valuable item. In fact, a local mob killed seven men from Gorkha who had been to the highlands to pick Yarsa in June 2009 in order to defend their territory.
Photo Credit: www.theadventuremedic.com, www.altitudehimalaya.com
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