Yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis)

Yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is a highly regarded alpine herb, used by the Amchi and local healers in the traditional medicine system of Nepal and adjoining areas of China, Bhutan, and India. Yarsagumba is a fungal outgrowth from the anterior part of the dead moth larvae (Thitarodes spp.) after natural infection of the larvae by fungus. The fungal part is dark brown to black, 4-10 cm long, while the larva is golden yellow to light brown, 3-4 cm in length, buried under soil. It is naturally distributed in alpine grasslands and pastures in the range of 3000-5000 m above sea level. It is the most expensive commodity collected from nature, costing as much as 2 times that of gold; hence, known as Himalayan Gold. Due to its over-collection, it is urgent to save this species by protecting the natural vegetation, practicing rotational collection, prohibiting from collection ofimmature specimens, etc. Here, some preliminary work on Yarsagumba