Half Fungus, Half Insect: The new miracle drug??

Yarchagumba is causing havoc all over the Tibetan plateaus and Himalayan mountains, fighting, deaths, and all for this type of fungus found on a specific type of caterpillar. I was a little shocked to hear about all of this, seeing that I had never heard of it before, but it is used frequently in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  Two years ago it was made legal for export by the Nepalese Government, and now everyone is going bonkers for yarchagumba, the market is exploding, and people are starting to fight over "hunting" for it to make money.  But, is it really worth the insanity?

What is it??
Yarchagumba is also known as a vegetable caterpillar. It is merely a fungus, Cordyceps Sinensis, that grows on the larvae of Thitarode caterpillars.  The fungus acts like a parasite and it grows on the outside of the larvae, while they are burrowed underground during the winter months, as they travel up to the surface, they are killed by the fungus, and it sprouts spores from the head and they grow up on the ground. The spores of this fantastical fungus usually pop up during the summer months, and apparently now people are going bonkers for the stuff!

Why do people want it?
According to TCM, yarchgumba is useful for numerous ailments that may come upon you: headaches, nausea, and stomachaches, and it has been used since the 7th Century Tang Dynasty. It also is supposed to give you tons of energy and can have the same effects on men as Viagra, when soaked in an alcohol base dfor a few weeks, and a couple sips will have you raring to be in the sack   It has also been said to "cure" cancer because it is the ultimate yin and yang medicine as they call it both animal and vegetable in one.

Does it work?
Many of the Tibetan people claim that the fungus is a miracle drug and it cures all of their woes.  Interestingly, the fungus isolates have been shown in lab mice to protect the liver and bone marrow during radiation, but all of the rest of the supposed cures have not been studied in Western medicine.  But, I will keep you informed as I think this fungus will be studied more and more to find  as many treatments as we can!

There are many herbs that are mainstays of TCM that have not been "proven" to work by Western means, and end up being very beneficial over time.  I will keep my eyes and ears open for more information regarding this hot fungus that seems to have people going crazy to find, to treat their ailments....I have feeling there will be more benefits to come!

Yours in Good Health
B