An elderly farmer was very surprised when an expert said that the black “balls” he dug up were likened to precious “black gold.”
The Elderly Farmer Unearths Black “Balls”
An elderly farmer in Yunnan Province, China, often goes into the mountains to collect medicinal herbs. One day, he stumbled upon a particularly large termite mound in the mountains. The farmer thought that such a large mound must be filled with many termites, which would harm the trees. Therefore, he took his tools and began to dig into the mound. It was very deep, and he put in a lot of effort.
The elderly farmer found a gigantic termite mound and decided to dig it up to prevent harm to the trees. (Image: Sohu).
However, things did not go as the farmer expected. There were no termites to be found; only an abandoned mound remained. Unwilling to give up, he continued to dig to see how large this termite mound was. To his surprise, inside the mound were many black “balls.” At first glance, they looked like bombs with long tails, and when picked up, they were surprisingly light.
The farmer studied them for a long time but didn’t know what these “balls” were, so he brought them home. Neighbors heard about his find and came to see, but they also had no idea of their origin. Some suggested that the elderly man take them to the city for an expert evaluation.
Unexpectedly, inside the termite mound, the farmer discovered many black “balls.” (Image: Sohu).
The botany expert informed the farmer that the black “balls” he found were actually valued Cordyceps. This Cordyceps is incredibly rare, even compared to “black gold.”
The Elderly Farmer Discovers Rare Medicinal Herbs
It is not true ginseng, but due to its wonderful effects, it is referred to as such. Cordyceps is a type of fungus scientifically known as Xylaria nigripes (Klotzsch) Cooke. It usually grows in white ant hills or abandoned termite mounds, but it is not something you encounter frequently. This fungus grows deep, about 1 to 2 meters below the surface, making it very difficult to harvest.
“The ball” the farmer found is called Cordyceps, a rare medicinal herb. (Image: Sohu).
Cordyceps has a head that develops into a fibrous form resembling the velvet of a deer. The lower part has a circular shape, with a diameter of about 2 to 7 cm and a dark black color. The flesh inside is white. This is also the most valuable part of Cordyceps. When mature, the fibrous structures unite to form a mushroom mass. According to many studies, Cordyceps thrives in the provinces of Sichuan, Zhejiang, and Yunnan. In Vietnam, it is found in the provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong…
In traditional Eastern medicine, Cordyceps is described as having a mild sweet taste, a neutral property, and a fragrant aroma. It is said to nourish energy, calm the mind, strengthen kidney energy, improve sleep, and its value is comparable to ginseng and Cordyceps sinensis.
Cordyceps has many beneficial effects and is used to treat various diseases. (Image: Sohu).
Central Hospital in Shanghai, China, has used Cordyceps in research to treat depression and memory loss. The results of the studies show that Cordyceps helps reduce symptoms of depression within 12 weeks and is effective for patients with epilepsy. Moreover, it is also an effective and promising treatment for memory decline.
In modern medicine, the components of Cordyceps contain trace elements such as polysaccharides, proteins, iron, manganese, and selenium. The active compound Selenium can inhibit cancer cells and has anticancer properties. Additionally, Cordyceps is beneficial for the liver and stomach, calms the mind, treats insomnia, stops bleeding, lowers high blood pressure, and heals burns. Furthermore, the polysaccharide compound in Cordyceps has extensive health benefits for the human body, acting not only as a non-specific immune regulator but also exhibiting various physiological activities such as lowering blood sugar, reducing blood lipids, preventing blood clots, and combating nausea.
The quantity of Cordyceps that the farmer dug up is substantial and of high quality, thus very valuable. (Image: Sohu)
Cordyceps can be used in porridge, soups, tea, or even soaked in alcohol, all of which are very good for health.
According to the expert, the Cordyceps that the farmer found are top-grade with high quality, so they can fetch a high price. To classify Cordyceps, one can put them in a basin of water. If they sink to the bottom, they are top-grade; if they float in the middle of the water, they are grade two; if they float on the surface, they are grade three. Since the farmer’s Cordyceps sank in water, the expert affirmed their quality. The expert also mentioned: “Their price could reach hundreds of thousands of yuan. With this, he could exchange it for a house in the city.” The farmer was very pleased to hear this from the expert and repeatedly thanked him.
