The aphrodisiac power of yarsabumba

Although it sounds more like something against which you should be vaccinated than an ingredient of love, yarsagumba is fast becoming one of the most talked-about aphrodisiacs in the world.

Its notoriety hasn’t sprung from some new scientific study proving the ingredient’s power in black and white terms. No, yarsagumba is the new “it” food because its transport and sales have become as legally controlled as drugs. Yes, there are yarsagumba busts. People go to prison for this aphrodisiac. (In fact, there were several murders linked to the plant!)

Why? Because this Asian fungus is most typically found in the ancient homeland of the Manang people. Only a select few are permitted to harvest yarsagumba. But because it is considered the one of the most expensive ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, poaching has become big business.

This rare ingredient only grows above approximately 11,000 feet and is found in Nepal. It is the spore of a particular mushroom which-I wish I was kidding-settles on the heads of caterpillars, grows through the head and sucks out the caterpillar’s energy, eventually killing its host. By spring, when they are harvested the yarsagumba resemble mummified caterpillars and are transported whole. To serve, they’re crumbled over cereal, rice, whatever.

Leave it to the scientists at Stanford to examine the fact behind this fable. In a controlled study they found an increase in the 17-ketosteroid in the urine of men who had eaten the fungus. (This indicates a possible improvement in sexual function among caterpillar mummy fungus eaters.) In another, slightly less scientific poll, 64% of users claimed noticeable improvement in sexual function.

The more industrious among the believers have tried to cultivate the fungus phenom. But thus far, efforts have proved fruitless and the value of yarsagumba, as its reputation reaches further and wider, continues to drive up both price and allure of what has to be one of the aphrodisiac world’s least savory ingredients.

Regulation and royalties

Yarshagumba has been collected by communities for centuries but a 'gold rush' was first triggered in the spring of 2002 when people from neighbouring districts began to risk their lives by camping on the mountain slopes. Until 2001, collection of the fungus had been illegal but in response to its rising popularity and lobbying from various organisations, the government attempted to regulate the industry by lifting the ban and imposing a substantial tax, or "royalty fee", of 20,000 Nepali Rupees (Rs) (US$280) per kilogram collected.

At the same time the trade was legalised, the market price of yarshagumba soared to over NR100,000 per kilo (US$1560), leading to thousands of hopeful harvesters heading to the hills in 2002. However, enforcement of the royalty fee proved ineffective as much of the trade went unreported. The market price of the fungus currently stands at between US$3,000 per kg for the lowest quality to over US$15,000 for the biggest, highest quality larvae.

Yarshagumba: protecting a potent trade

Unsustainable harvesting frequently threatens non-timber forest product (NTFP) enterprises. But in Nepal, despite government intervention, increasing demand for yarshagumba, a rare and unique fungal herb, is threatening forests high in the steep, remote valleys of the Himalayas.
In May this year (2007), 16 harvesters were reported killed in heavy snow storms in the Dolpa district of western Nepal, although local reports claimed that fatalities were much higher. Each year thousands of Nepali villagers trek to Dolpa's high pastures, hoping to share in the harvest of this lucrative commodity, and the bodies buried in the snow were the latest victims to succumb to the potent lure of the yarshagumba trade.

Legalized in 2002

The Nepal Government legalized the yarsagumba trade in 2002, but the transactions already existed since long ago, the fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic, remedy illnesses and aphrodisiac.
Although they certainly crush the fungus to treat diarrhea or the bruises, own villagers in Rukum say they have no news of those overall effects and ensure that make aphrodisiac effects need at least consume it regularly.
And Furthermore, its market value is such that they have more account sell it that consume it, as explained. “Something must have the fungus so the Chinese are paying so much,” says Lacchi Pun Magar, also of the Committee of Rukum, whose members are these days in Kathmandu.
With the increase in demand, the new concern is own sustainability of production, because a few years ago the villagers managed to collect 200 kilos and now, just 60 or 70 kilos.
The Nepal Government has no plans in this regard and villagers in Rukum assume that little can be, apart from diversification initiatives to find alternative to the revolution of the yarsagumba life means.
“There was a time ?recuerda Gharti Magar? that the shepherds fell with the fungus from the heights of the mountains, and deep it as if any other outside plant”.

People searching yarsa gumba

Research

chemical structure of cordycepin

Some work has been published in which Ophiocordyceps sinensis has been used to protect the bone marrow and digestive systems of mice from whole body irradiation. An experiment noted Ophiocordyceps sinensis may protect the liver from damage. An experiment conducted with mice noted the mushroom may have an anti-depressant effect. Researchers have noted that the caterpillar fungus has a hypoglycemic effect and may be beneficial for people with insulin resistance. There is also experimental evidence of the supposed energizing effect of the fungus, as it has been shown to increase endurance through heightened ATP production in rats^.