Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
August 27, 2007, Source: Xinhua Daily Telegraph
"In winter, it's a worm; in summer, it's a grass—Cordyceps sinensis is a treasure." As a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Cordyceps sinensis, often referred to as "soft gold," has seen its price skyrocket from 200 to 300 yuan per kilogram in the 1980s to 80,000 to 190,000 yuan today. Behind the soaring prices and its value rivaling gold, when will the "myth" of Cordyceps sinensis being as precious as gold be broken?
**Cordyceps Sinensis: Worth Its Weight in Gold**
Recalling the early 1980s when Cordyceps sinensis was harvested in Zadoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province—the main production area—Zhang Xiaofeng, a researcher at the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, still remembers vividly: "Back then, we purchased two large truckloads of Cordyceps sinensis in one go, nearly 10 tons, and the price was very low—just about 10 yuan per kilogram."
Statistics show that in the early 1980s, Cordyceps sinensis cost only 200 to 300 yuan per kilogram. Surprisingly, in less than 30 years, Cordyceps sinensis has transformed from an obscure resource "hidden deep in the mountains" into what people now call "soft gold," with its price climbing steadily.
Zhang Xiaofeng, who has long monitored the market development of Cordyceps sinensis, said its price began to rise gradually in the mid-1980s, with a significant surge in recent years. By 2006, the price had soared to 50,000 to 160,000 yuan per kilogram. This year, the top-grade Cordyceps sinensis, with 800 to 1,000 pieces per kilogram, fetched up to 180,000 yuan per kilogram at the source, while the mid-grade variety, with 1,000 to 1,200 pieces per kilogram, still commanded 120,000 yuan.
The rapidly rising prices and increasing demand have led to an exceptionally "booming" Cordyceps market.
Zhang Xiaofeng noted that in early 2006, there were over 400 Cordyceps specialty stores around Xining. With the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the number of such stores has likely surpassed that figure.
**Why the Skyrocketing Prices?**
Why has the price of Cordyceps sinensis surged so dramatically? Industry insiders attribute the continuous price hike to immense market demand.
Meng Qinghai, general manager of Qinghai Zangbao Resources Co., Ltd., who has been in the Cordyceps business for years, explained that prices typically peak after the Spring Festival each year. This is because old stock is depleted, and new Cordyceps has yet to mature—a period of scarcity—while demand surges as people seek health supplements in winter. Prices usually drop by late May. However, in recent years, declining yields and government-imposed harvesting restrictions have driven prices even higher.
Zhan Hongyan, associate researcher at the Economic Research Institute of the Qinghai Academy of Social Sciences, stated that the annual price surge is primarily driven by supply and demand. As living standards improve, people place greater emphasis on health. Cordyceps sinensis, as a rare health product with unique benefits, is increasingly valued, leading to growing demand. Meanwhile, production has not kept pace and has even declined in recent years. Consequently, rigid demand facing scarce resources inevitably results in soaring prices.Moreover, Zhan Hongyan believes that in recent years, many manufacturers have developed numerous new health products using cordyceps as a raw material. When promoting these new products, businesses first heavily market cordyceps as the primary ingredient, exaggerating its "miraculous" effects and rarity. Under such hype, cordyceps has been touted as a "panacea" capable of curing all ailments, with its effects described in almost supernatural terms—from fighting cancer to enhancing virility, from beautifying the skin to treating AIDS. This has inadvertently added fuel to the already "overheated" cordyceps market.
The Precarious Cordyceps Market
Experts have already expressed concerns about the continuously rising prices in the cordyceps market. Zhan Hongyan said, "This is an unsustainable development. Not only will it cause ecological damage, but it will also deal a severe blow to the entire cordyceps industry."
May is the season for harvesting cordyceps. On mountains like Heka, Laji, and Qingsha near Xining, farmers and herders can be seen crawling on the slopes to dig for cordyceps. Before 2000, people were unwilling to harvest cordyceps here because the specimens were relatively small.
"The higher the market price of cordyceps, the more severe the predatory harvesting becomes, to the point where even the smallest cordyceps are dug up. As cordyceps resources become increasingly scarce, prices rise even further. This abnormally high pricing will eventually make it difficult to balance supply and demand, creating a vicious cycle. One day, when prices skyrocket beyond what producers, middlemen, and consumers can bear, the industry chain in this vicious cycle will collapse, and the entire cordyceps industry will suffer severe damage," Zhan Hongyan said.
Debunking the "Miracle Drug" Myth of Cordyceps
The much-coveted cordyceps sinensis is actually a fungus that parasitizes the larvae of the "ghost moth." The fungus-infected larvae remain dormant underground in winter. By late spring or early summer, the fungus sprouts from the larva's head, growing above ground into a grass-like form, hence the name "winter worm, summer grass." Cordyceps sinensis is unique to China and is found only in the alpine meadows and shrublands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, at elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 meters.
In response to the near-"superstitious" consumer mentality surrounding cordyceps, experts argue that it is not a "miracle drug" and that consumers should approach it rationally. According to Zhang Xiaofeng, while cordyceps is indeed precious and unique, it is not a cure-all. Current evidence suggests its main benefits lie in moisturizing the lungs, relieving coughs, reducing phlegm, and boosting immunity.
Zhang Xiaofeng explained that cordyceps primarily targets the lungs and spleen, making it most effective for treating tuberculosis or patients with lung deficiencies. Recent studies indicate that cordyceps can also enhance immunity and provide some relief for cancer symptoms. However, it does not possess any unique "virility-enhancing" properties.
Other medical experts point out that while cordyceps can boost immunity, the mechanisms behind its effects are highly complex. Modern chemical analyses show that cordyceps contains various components, including fats, proteins, fibers, carbohydrates, cordycepic acid, cordycepin, and vitamin B12. To be effective, it must be consumed in specific doses. Therefore, expecting significant health improvements from just one or two doses of cordyceps is unrealistic. (Reporter Gu Ling)
Source: http:/ / big5. xinhuanet. com/ ga……07- 08/ 27/ content_6609307. htm
Pricier Than Gold: How Long Will the Cordyceps Myth Last?
"In winter, it's a worm; in summer, it's a grass—Cordyceps sinensis is a treasure." As a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Cordyceps sinensis, often referred to as "soft gold," has seen its price skyrocket from 200 to 300 yuan per kilogram in the 1980s to 80,000 to 190,000 yuan today. Behind the soaring prices and its value rivaling gold, when will the "myth" of Cordyceps sinensis being as precious as gold be broken?
**Cordyceps Sinensis: Worth Its Weight in Gold**
Recalling the early 1980s when Cordyceps sinensis was harvested in Zadoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province—the main production area—Zhang Xiaofeng, a researcher at the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, still remembers vividly: "Back then, we purchased two large truckloads of Cordyceps sinensis in one go, nearly 10 tons, and the price was very low—just about 10 yuan per kilogram."
Statistics show that in the early 1980s, Cordyceps sinensis cost only 200 to 300 yuan per kilogram. Surprisingly, in less than 30 years, Cordyceps sinensis has transformed from an obscure resource "hidden deep in the mountains" into what people now call "soft gold," with its price climbing steadily.
Zhang Xiaofeng, who has long monitored the market development of Cordyceps sinensis, said its price began to rise gradually in the mid-1980s, with a significant surge in recent years. By 2006, the price had soared to 50,000 to 160,000 yuan per kilogram. This year, the top-grade Cordyceps sinensis, with 800 to 1,000 pieces per kilogram, fetched up to 180,000 yuan per kilogram at the source, while the mid-grade variety, with 1,000 to 1,200 pieces per kilogram, still commanded 120,000 yuan.
The rapidly rising prices and increasing demand have led to an exceptionally "booming" Cordyceps market.
Zhang Xiaofeng noted that in early 2006, there were over 400 Cordyceps specialty stores around Xining. With the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the number of such stores has likely surpassed that figure.
**Why the Skyrocketing Prices?**
Why has the price of Cordyceps sinensis surged so dramatically? Industry insiders attribute the continuous price hike to immense market demand.
Meng Qinghai, general manager of Qinghai Zangbao Resources Co., Ltd., who has been in the Cordyceps business for years, explained that prices typically peak after the Spring Festival each year. This is because old stock is depleted, and new Cordyceps has yet to mature—a period of scarcity—while demand surges as people seek health supplements in winter. Prices usually drop by late May. However, in recent years, declining yields and government-imposed harvesting restrictions have driven prices even higher.
Zhan Hongyan, associate researcher at the Economic Research Institute of the Qinghai Academy of Social Sciences, stated that the annual price surge is primarily driven by supply and demand. As living standards improve, people place greater emphasis on health. Cordyceps sinensis, as a rare health product with unique benefits, is increasingly valued, leading to growing demand. Meanwhile, production has not kept pace and has even declined in recent years. Consequently, rigid demand facing scarce resources inevitably results in soaring prices.Moreover, Zhan Hongyan believes that in recent years, many manufacturers have developed numerous new health products using cordyceps as a raw material. When promoting these new products, businesses first heavily market cordyceps as the primary ingredient, exaggerating its "miraculous" effects and rarity. Under such hype, cordyceps has been touted as a "panacea" capable of curing all ailments, with its effects described in almost supernatural terms—from fighting cancer to enhancing virility, from beautifying the skin to treating AIDS. This has inadvertently added fuel to the already "overheated" cordyceps market.
The Precarious Cordyceps Market
Experts have already expressed concerns about the continuously rising prices in the cordyceps market. Zhan Hongyan said, "This is an unsustainable development. Not only will it cause ecological damage, but it will also deal a severe blow to the entire cordyceps industry."
May is the season for harvesting cordyceps. On mountains like Heka, Laji, and Qingsha near Xining, farmers and herders can be seen crawling on the slopes to dig for cordyceps. Before 2000, people were unwilling to harvest cordyceps here because the specimens were relatively small.
"The higher the market price of cordyceps, the more severe the predatory harvesting becomes, to the point where even the smallest cordyceps are dug up. As cordyceps resources become increasingly scarce, prices rise even further. This abnormally high pricing will eventually make it difficult to balance supply and demand, creating a vicious cycle. One day, when prices skyrocket beyond what producers, middlemen, and consumers can bear, the industry chain in this vicious cycle will collapse, and the entire cordyceps industry will suffer severe damage," Zhan Hongyan said.
Debunking the "Miracle Drug" Myth of Cordyceps
The much-coveted cordyceps sinensis is actually a fungus that parasitizes the larvae of the "ghost moth." The fungus-infected larvae remain dormant underground in winter. By late spring or early summer, the fungus sprouts from the larva's head, growing above ground into a grass-like form, hence the name "winter worm, summer grass." Cordyceps sinensis is unique to China and is found only in the alpine meadows and shrublands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, at elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 meters.
In response to the near-"superstitious" consumer mentality surrounding cordyceps, experts argue that it is not a "miracle drug" and that consumers should approach it rationally. According to Zhang Xiaofeng, while cordyceps is indeed precious and unique, it is not a cure-all. Current evidence suggests its main benefits lie in moisturizing the lungs, relieving coughs, reducing phlegm, and boosting immunity.
Zhang Xiaofeng explained that cordyceps primarily targets the lungs and spleen, making it most effective for treating tuberculosis or patients with lung deficiencies. Recent studies indicate that cordyceps can also enhance immunity and provide some relief for cancer symptoms. However, it does not possess any unique "virility-enhancing" properties.
Other medical experts point out that while cordyceps can boost immunity, the mechanisms behind its effects are highly complex. Modern chemical analyses show that cordyceps contains various components, including fats, proteins, fibers, carbohydrates, cordycepic acid, cordycepin, and vitamin B12. To be effective, it must be consumed in specific doses. Therefore, expecting significant health improvements from just one or two doses of cordyceps is unrealistic. (Reporter Gu Ling)
Source: http:/ / big5. xinhuanet. com/ ga……07- 08/ 27/ content_6609307. htm