Collecting a parasitic fungus from lightning strikes is prized in traditional Chinese medicine as a fatal pursuit

In the distant Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, a rare fungus grows inside dead caterpillars. In traditional Chinese medicine, this parasitic fungus is valued for its Intended drug effects. Colloquially often known as caterpillar fungus or “Himalayan gold” – it might probably fetch astronomical prices within the herbal medicine market: as much as US$63,000 per pound.

The fungus is a parasite that targets caterpillars. Ghostworm larvae. This process begins in late summer to early fall, when the fungal spores infect the caterpillars. over time, Fungal filaments called mycelia. Slowly spread and eat the caterpillars inside, turning them into hard, mummified shells over winter. When spring arrives, the fungus enters its final stage: a grass-like fruiting body sprouts from the top of the protected caterpillar and pushes through the soil.

While many users of traditional Chinese/herbal medicine gravitate to the fungus for its health advantages, my interest lies in a dark side of its harvest: the deadly link between caterpillar fungus accumulation and lightning strikes. As a meteorologist, I study electricity. And its effects around the globe. Several aspects mix to make the situation on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau so dangerous.

A deadly crop

People suffer from this fungus during Late spring and summerexactly when lightning strikes in these mountains. Villagers often spend weeks searching the rugged mountains for this precious resource, sometimes as much as 16,400 feet (5 km) above sea level. It is greater than 3 miles high.

At these elevations, the weather can change right away, and there is no such thing as a protected place to cover from storms. Although the world doesn't experience as much lightning as some parts of Asia, it continues to be dangerous enough to pose a serious threat during these critical harvest months.

Tragically, the caterpillar fungus has killed at the least 31 lightning strikes and injured one other 58 prior to now decade, in line with Chinese Meteorological Hazard Yearbooks (China Meteorological Disaster Yearbook) and official web sites, incl China Meteorological Administration And National Disaster Reduction Center of China.

In May 2022, seven villagers in China, including a young child, were killed by lightning while harvesting mushrooms. The next yr there have been three people from Nepal. Injured by lightning After collecting the fungus and spending days stranded within the mountains, he needed to be rescued by helicopter.

i Our recent studymy partner Ronald Howell And I discovered that the population-specific lightning mortality rate in mushroom-collecting areas of Yushu and Garze counties in China's Sichuan province was staggering. 10 to 20 times more from higher rates than in China as an entire. This number is comparable to a few of Africa's most lightning-prone areas, where there may be little lightning-safe infrastructure or safety education.

But lightning isn't the one thing these villagers face within the mountains. They can withstand hail, heavy rain, strong winds and other severe weather. Complex terrain makes weather patterns very dramatic and unpredictable. Making matters worse, mobile phone signals and other communication options are limited or non-existent, leaving villagers cut off from weather threat warnings.

They might also face dangers from wild animals and dangerous mountain slopes. In a tragic incident, a collector was struck by lightning and fell to his death on steep ground. Medical care is never available. When accidents occur, help can take days to reach.

Why take the danger?

It all comes all the way down to the high-risk, high-reward nature of collecting caterpillar fungus.

For local villagers, the potential rewards of harvesting the caterpillar fungus are significant. With limited income opportunities on this distant area, many look to the fungus trade as their very own. Best hope for survival. They face a difficult alternative: risk their lives or sink into poverty.

Improving electrical safety education and infrastructure is significant but tough. Any real change would require an enormous investment.

While the local government manages. Some electrical safety educationThese mountain communities are isolated and knowledge is commonly outdated. And there is no such thing as a practical option to install a correct lightning protection system in large areas where the fungus accumulates.

A fragile pursuit

The environment can be affected. With many hunting fungi, they're damaging the delicate mountain soil, cutting down trees for firewood and leaving trash of their camps.

Years of overharvesting have forced collectors to spend more time within the mountains to seek out enough fungi, increasing lightning and fungal decay. Scientists have warned that if this aggressive harvesting continues The fungus may disappear completely in the following few many years.

There could also be some hope. Researchers are searching for Methods of Cultivation of Fungi as a possible substitute for wild-harvested varieties. Meanwhile, Govts China, India, Nepal And Bhutan Regulations have been put in place to guard the sustainability of caterpillar fungi.

But any solution will need to handle fundamental economic and academic inequities on this distant region, opening up recent livelihood opportunities for these communities to make their living chasing “Himalayan gold.” No must risk it.