Lightning strikes make amassing a fungus for conventional Chinese language drugs a lethal pursuit
Within the distant Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a uncommon fungus grows inside useless caterpillars. In conventional Chinese language drugs, this parasitic fungus is prized for its purported medicinal results. Referred to as Ophiocordyceps sinensis – colloquially, caterpillar fungus or “Himalayan gold” – it could possibly fetch astronomical costs on the natural drugs market: as much as US$63,000 per pound. Ophiocordyceps sinensis fungus…