Caterpillar Fungus New Viagra? Discovery Raises Price of Traditional Chinese Medicine (VIDEO)
Known as an aphrodisiac in traditional Chinese medicine, caterpillar fungus may be the next wave of medicine to compete with more popular brands like Viagra.
The caterpillar fungus, named "yartsa gunbu" in Tibetan but better known as the Himalayan Viagra, has become vastly popular over the past decade in areas like Tibet and Shanghai. While it is used to treat a variety of ailments, such as fatigue or cancer, and has even been effective as an athletic performance enhancer, it has mostly gained popularity for its Viagra-like side affects.
The fungus is created when caterpillars from the Ghost Moth species are infected by a parasitic fungus. The fungus causes the caterpillars to mummify underground, but their bodies can later resurface and have become a symbol of wealth to some.
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"One study says 500 grams of top quality yartsa gunbu can sell for up to $13,000 in Lhasa, Tibet, or up to $26,000 in Shanghai," CNN reported.
Numbers which could explain why harvesting for the mummified bodies has increased over 900 percent since 1997. While the medicine has been known for years, its popularity has increased since being promoted as the Himalayan Viagra.
"Police in Dolpa expect 40,000 people to migrate to the district this year. The influx of migrant harvesters speaks volumes to the increasing global commodification of yartsa gunbu," CNN reported.
While good for some however, others worry that the land is being ravaged by harvesters on the hunt for the newly in-demand substance.
"Look at the hills," Gyalpo Thandin, a student in Dolpa told CNN, "they're all torn up from people digging. By next year they'll be deserts."
Daniel Winkler, a leading expert on Himalayan caterpillar fungus, ecologist and geographer has stated that such a problem can only be solved with education.
"Centuries of collection indicate that caterpillar fungus is a relatively resilient resource," he stated, adding that the over-harvesting of the fungus is responsible the decreased amounts of available fungus the next year.
