Guest essay by Eric Worrall
What could be worse than a climate threat to an endangered aphrodisiac fungus?
Climate threatens ‘Himalayan Viagra’ fungus, and a way of life
Published on 26/07/2017, 3:17am
A valuable fungus reputed to be an aphrodisiac has been disappearing from the mountains of Nepal, taking with it a valuable source of income
By Sameer Pokhrel
A Himalayan fungus used in Chinese medicine, which underpins the livelihoods of communities of harvesters in Nepal, is under the threat due to climate change.
Harvesting the Cordyceps sinensis fungus, called ‘yarsha gumba’ in Nepal, provides a livelihood for Himalayan dwellers. The fungus fetches up to Rs 2,800,000 (£20,000) per kg in raw form. During the peak season of yarsha collection, locals drop everything to pursue fungus hunting, including their usual profession. Even schools remain closed during yarsha collecting seasons.
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Bibek Jhakri, who has also collected the fungus for eight years, said: “I used to find 50-60 yarshas a day during my earlier years, while now finding four to five per day is a matter of luck for me.” He said he was afraid his major source of income won’t last.
Most of the yarsha hunters in Thabang, the western district where Jhakri is from, are worried about their seasonal source of income. They could, a decade before, rely almost exclusively on income generated by yarsha collection. Collectors in hilly areas typically lack academic education and production from agricultural land in those areas is marginal.
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Read more: http://www.climatechangenews.com/2017/07/26/climate-threatens-himalayan-viagra-fungus-way-life/
This ghastly little fungus is real – Ophiocordyceps sinensis infects living ghost moth caterpillars, eventually sprouting from their bodies.
The fungus is a health risk to whoever eats it. According to Wikipedia the fungus manages to concentrate so much arsenic and other toxic heavy metals that sales of the fungus are heavily regulated in China. But the fungus also contains Cordycepin, a powerful, fast acting antidepressant with possible anti-cancer properties.
The fungus is a major source of income for poor rural people living in the Himalayas – so much so, inter village feuds and skirmishes have occurred in some areas, over access to grasslands where the fungus is collected.
Over-exploitation, over zealous collection by villagers eager to earn some hard cash, is likely more of a threat than climate change.
theres a few cordyceps and i doubt the useful properties are just in this one re cancer
Paul Stamets has done work worth a Nobel(when the Nobel was Noble not trashed)
Ive used his product for pets with cancer etc and as preventatives to it
and i suspect its worked well due to unusual longevity in my present hound, really really wellpast even the longest die by limits for breed.
Or the hound could just have great genetics.