1872 and a bundle collected b\ Thaxter in 1932 (both on deposit 

 at the Farlow Herbarium) are virtually identical to the bundles 

 sold toda\ in Boston's Chinatown. The handful of this fungus 

 bought from the Yung by Chinese wholesale merchants make 

 their wa\ to all parts of China and to expatriot Chinese com- 

 munities throughout the world. 



Throughout China and especially in the tropical lowlands, 

 Conlyccps .sinensis is a much valued tonic and medicine. In 

 Kwantung Pro\ince, it is served as a health food; elsewhere it is 

 prescribed as a medicine, in Canton, it is considered indispensa- 

 ble as a tonic to prepare the body for the changing seasons. In 

 earh spring and in early winter, as the temperature of the sea- 

 sons change, wealthy individuals buy a lixe chicken and two to 

 four bimdles of the fungus. The fungus and the chicken are 

 boiled together and the broth is consumed. The fungal body 

 itself is ne\er eaten. Clsewhere in China, the fungus is dispensed 

 pharmaceuticall\ from all the medicinal shops as a treatment for 

 anemia. For men, it is used popularly as an aphrodisiac. The 

 head of an old duck is split open, and five stroma of Contyceps 

 sinensis are put inside before the head is tied up. One half of a 

 cup of gin, and one quarter cup of soy sauce are poured over the 

 head of the duck, which is then steamed for many hours, until it 

 is tenderly cooked. The meat of the duck may be eaten and is 

 believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac. If 0.5 to I.O o/. of Cor- 

 dxceps is cooked in pork and the meat eaten, the individual will 

 be blessed with frequent and pleasurable nocturnal emissions. 



If antiquit\' oi use is a reflection of value, then Cordyceps 

 sinensis must be considered an efficacious aphrodisiac. The first 

 written reference to i"ts medicinal use appeared in 200 A.D. in the 

 famous herbal of Pentsao — Shen Nung Penis ao Clung— The 

 Classie Ilerhal of the Divine Plowman. Yet, even today, the 

 fungus may be bought in Boston. Quite remarkably, this humble 

 ascomycete has been used continually for several thousands of 

 years and may in fact represent one of the earliest and most 

 primitive forms of plant husbandry. 



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