It all started when the Sherpa people of the Tibetan highlands noticed that their herd of buffaloes and cows had more energy, had higher stamina and strength when they grazed on certain areas. Finally, they discovered, it is the fungus that is parasitic on insects, at first they were shocked because this strange fungus has a very strange shape.

This parasitic fungus begins life as a spore, it eats nutrients from the caterpillar, begins to grow, and fills the entire caterpillar with mycelium until the entire caterpillar is only skin outside and was replaced with caterpillar fungus.

The Sherpa decided to try it and immediately sensed their bovine-like phenomenon, from which the "caterpillar mushroom" quickly spread throughout China, where it is revered for its beneficial properties. for health. Also since that time, the fungus of caterpillars are called the cordyceps. The scientific name for this type in nature is Cordyceps Sinensis. It is seen as a rare medicinal herb that has been introduced into traditional Tibetan medicine.

 

The name "Cordyceps Sinensis" (Tibetan: yartsa gunbu or yatsa gunbu, Chinese: 冬虫夏草, doong xi cǎo) is derived from the observation in reality when the Cordyceps Sinensis mushroom grows from the head of the worm in summer protruding from the ground. In winter they look more like worms (insects), and in summer they look more like a plant (herb).

This ugly little mushroom can cost up to 20,000 USD. Because it is rare that makes it expensive. Cordyceps Sinensis or "Tibetan Gold" is prized for its health benefits. Cordyceps grows only at an altitude of 3,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level in specific areas, mainly around the Greek mountains.

Many places advertise for cordyceps, but in fact not as rumored. This weird little mushroom is so expensive that a bottle of drops will cost hundreds of dollars. So wild Cordyceps Sinensis cannot be cultivated and therefore cannot be used for commercial use, it is not sustainable for large global demand. 99% of all products claim to use Cordyceps Sinensis, instead to use "fiber grain products", which have no association with Cordyceps or fungus.

 

Formation process in nature

According to https://kenh14.vn/kham-pha/dong-trung-ha-thao-va-qua-trinh-tu-au-trung-thanh-nam-20120720074457430.chn

In Vietnamese, this value herb is known as "cordyceps", while in Tibetans call it "yartsa gunbu". The name "cordyceps" is derived from the actual observation that in winter, this individual resembles a worm (insect), and in the summer they look more like a plant (herb).

In winter, some underground caterpillar larvae are attacked by the parasitic fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis. The larvae die leaving only the outer shell, while the mold continues to grow using nutrients from the worm's body. By spring, a portion of the mushroom's brown tissue emerges from the ground, resembling the shape of a grass tip.

This miraculous process of converting from a larva to a mushroom occurs only on the harsh highlands of the Tibetan highlands and the Himalayan mountains at an altitude of 3,000-5,000m. This fungus lives in the ground smoldering for more than 5 years before emerging from the ground.

To be able to find cordyceps, people must have good eyes and patience and persistence. Many children also participate in this practice in the harsh meadows. During the harvesting season of cordyceps, many children drop out of school to follow their families to work.

In Tibet, "yartsa gunbu" has become one of the most profitable resources in the impoverished rural areas. The value of cordyceps has increased dramatically, especially since the late 1990s and twentieth centuries.