About Yarchagumba
Yarchagumba (Latin name Ophiocordyceps Sinensis formerly known as Cordyceps Sinensis and its prominent name yartsa-gunbu or yarsha-gumba) , the fragile, mummified form of the Himalayan bat moth Caterpillar fungus, found in the high altitude of Himalayan ranges in Nepal, Tibet (China). We source the best quality yarchagumba from Dolpa, Nepal. Dolpa- a remote district in western Nepal with high, steep valleys and dry climate. With the aim to remain swadeshi by sourcing and producing in Nepal with a wish to give back to our beautiful country.
A tiny mushroom grows out of the head of a moth caterpillar. Thousands of people spend their summers crawling around remote hillsides searching for these elusive phenomenon. Chinese middlemen fly in by helicopter and offer thousands of dollars per kilo. Businessmen part with great amounts of money and consume the product for the apparently excellent aphrodisiac properties.
Yarchagumba (Cordyceps sinensis) is actually a combination of one of Nepal’s most famous flora and fauna. Caterpillar fungi are the result of a parasitic relationship between the larva of the ghost moth and the fungus Cordyceps sinensis. The fungus germinates within the larva of the ghost moth, killing and mummifying the insect. Over time the fungus will grow out of the insect’s body and then grow into a small mushroom that can be used in many types of medicinal concoctions.
RARITY AND REMOTENESS
The larva is only available at high altitudes, between 3,000 and 5,000m, Yarchargumba is a rare herb that is quite hard to find and difficult to harvest. Yarchagumba is so valuable, that during the Nepali Civil War the government and the Maoists fought to control areas where it could be harvested. In 2008, a kilogram of high quality yarchagumba could sell for over $35000 to $45000 in foreign markets.
Even today control over yarchagumba-rich land and harvesting rights is a point of contention for villages and communities.
USES IN MEDICINE
Yarchagumba is widely used in Nepalese Vedic medicinal traditions. It is known to have an excellent balance of Yin and Yang since it is both “vegetable” and animal. Most commonly it is used as an aphrodisiac but can be used to treat a wide variety of ailments.
