Authorities reported that at least three people were missing and 12 others were injured in an avalanche in northwest Nepal. The group had been collecting a fungus known as the “Himalayan Viagra,” Cordyceps sinensis, which grows on a caterpillar and is locally referred to as “yarchagumba.” Thousands of people collect this fungus parasite in Nepal and Tibet every year. In China, where it is used as a natural medicine, it can fetch astronomical prices. Moreover, it is only found in certain elevated areas at over 3,500 meters for a few weeks each year. While no definitive research has been published on the qualities of the fungus, Chinese herbalists believe it enhances sexual performance. Boiled in water to prepare tea or added to soups and stews, it is believed to treat various ailments, from fatigue to cancer.
The group of 15 people was searching for the prized fungus in Mugu district when they were hit by an avalanche on Saturday. Rescue teams traveled on foot to the remote location after a helicopter could not land due to poor weather conditions. “Yarchagumba” (“summer plant, winter insect” in Tibetan) is formed when the parasitic fungus lodges in a caterpillar, slowly killing it. The fungus is listed as a “vulnerable” plant species at risk of extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Last week, another avalanche killed three people in the western district of Darchula. They were also collectors of yarchagumba. The spring marks the start of the climbing season in Nepal, with nearly a thousand climbers attempting to summit Mount Everest.