Una scatola di premium caterpillar fungo è visto durante una parte della medicina tradizionale cinese fair a Lanzhou city, west Chinas Ningxia Hui Regione autonoma, 26
A box of premium caterpillar fungus is seen during a Chinese traditional medicine fair in Lanzhou city, west Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, 26 June 2012. The price of caterpillar fungus ª or dongchong xiacao, literally meaning, winter worm summer weed, ª has been climbing since May, the start of its collecting season, and skyrocketed since the first day of this month. The fungus ¨C grown in western regions including Qinghai, Sichuan and Tibet ¨C is believed by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine to give a person extra energy, though many men who take it are seeking to improve their sexual performance. That latter use has led to the fungus being referred to in some quarters as Himalayan Viagra. The China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine says on its official website that the average price of major types of the fungus has risen by 30% year-on-year, with prices ranging from $ 59, 660 per kilogram to $ 21, 970 per kilogram for different species, a 10-year high. Varieties grown in Tibet trade at the highest prices. The retail price of caterpillar fungus is getting even higher. Premium caterpillar fungus can be bought for 888 yuan ($139) per gram from Tongren Tang, one of Chinas most prominent traditional Chinese medicine-focused pharmaceutical companies, twice the current price of gold, which is running about 338 yuan per gram.
