There’s fierce, sometimes violent, competition over a simple fungus that’s been dubbed “Himalayan Viagra.” This odd, twig-shaped curiosity is causing quite a stir as harvesters race to stake a claim in this billion dollar market.
What is Himalayan Viagra?
Locals in the Himalayan region and Tibetan Plateau have long known the power of this fungus. Its formation is rather unsavory. Smithsonian Magazine describes the process like this:
“[It] looks a lot like a twig—that happens to be attached to a dead caterpillar. Underground, the fungus infects the larvae of moths in the Himalayas, consumes them from the inside out, and produces its twig-like fruit from the head of the caterpillar’s mummified corpse.”
It’s not quite the image we think of when we visual treatments for erectile dysfunction, but since the discovery of its power to treat ED, this fungus has been over-harvested as locals attempt to cash in.
Will supply meet demand?
The future of Himalayan Viagra already looks bleak. Political tensions between locals, harvesters, police, and state park officials have resulted in violence as each party attempts to profit. Additionally, as demand for this natural ED treatment increases, supply is dramatically falling across the Himalayan region.
Some countries are reporting a 30-50% decrease in harvest as the fungus disappears and fails to grow back from over-harvesting practices. Unfortunately, the bad news continues for those who continue to seek profits from selling their supplies of Himalayan Viagra.
Local ecosystems find themselves out of balance as harsh tools damage soil and there is not enough fungus to keep the moth population in check. What was once a regional treatment for ED has now become an expensive, scare commodity that only the wealthy can afford. Local ecosystems ultimately pay this high price.
What other options are available?
Of course, there in the U.S., more traditional medicinal avenues are typically taken. Most men suffering from ED turn to their doctor for a prescription of Viagra or Cialis. Oral medications are the safest, FDA-approved treatment for ED.
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