Have you ever seen termites? These tiny insects, even though they're tiny, can make people tickle when they lift them. They are like small "worms", as long as they are wood, they are not immune to being eaten by them. The beams and pillars of the house, the wooden furniture, and even the trees could not escape their clutches, and they were hollowed out and made to pieces. Even our hard concrete buildings can be gnawed by termites to create gaps and holes from the inside. So many people stay away from this creature and talk about ant discoloration.
However, have you ever thought that this little creature that people hate and fear, and in their nest actually hides a treasure that is rare for thousands of years? It looks ordinary on the outside, but its value is much higher than that of gold! It can really be described as the "king of fungi." Let's find out, what is this sacred?
First of all, let's get to know this kind of treasure, which is Wuling ginseng. Don't be fooled by the word "ginseng", it is not ginseng, but a rare fungus that grows in termite nests. Outwardly, it takes on a black, flat shape, with a rough and wrinkled surface, like a black and shiny egg, and its color is getting darker and darker as it ages.
You may ask, "What's so unusual about a black egg?" Don't underestimate this black ginseng, you must know that although it is ordinary on the outside, it is a priceless treasure on the inside! You can see the clues from the cut section, revealing the brown-yellow mushroom flesh, exuding a unique bitter smell.
"Isn't this just an ordinary fungus, what's the big deal?" you might think. But if you think about it, this kind of black ginseng can't be grown casually, and its requirements for the environment are quite harsh and special.
First of all, it loves to grow exclusively in termite nests buried several meters underground. Don't look at termites as craving, but their nests are excellent "bacterial breeding rooms". The reason for this is that the carbon dioxide concentration is as high as 20% or more, and the warm environment is about 25 degrees Celsius, which can be said to be a tailor-made growth environment for Wuling ginseng. If it is outdoors, it does not even have a chance to survive.
Secondly, Wuling ginseng is still very "capricious", its generation process is extremely complicated, and it needs to go through several stages before it finally transforms into the "black pearl" underground. And every time there is a little fork in the stage, it will die. You see, Wuling ginseng was originally a chicken fir fungus, and after being transported into the nest by termites, in that nutrient-deficient environment, it will regrow downward and enter the sclerotia stage. Once termites come back, if they are still young, they will definitely be eaten by termites.
Therefore, without termites, a "labor-intensive enterprise", constantly moving and providing a suitable environment in time, Wuling ginseng would not be able to form at all. But even so, the possibility of successfully breeding a complete black ginseng over a long period of time is very small. Think about it, how many other organisms can survive in such a harsh environment with low nutrients and high concentrations of carbon dioxide?
Therefore, Wuling ginseng not only has a special living environment, but also the growth process is a life of death, how difficult it is to come along the way! No wonder it will be so scarce, become the treasure of the fungus, and be crowned with the reputation of "immortal medicine".
You must ask, "No matter how precious and scarce it is, what is the use of it, is it worth the price?"
Wuling ginseng has been known as a life-saving "elixir" since ancient times. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, it tastes bitter and warm, has the effect of nourishing qi and nourishing blood, strengthening the spleen and kidneys, not only enhancing the body's immunity, but also has a miraculous effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, insomnia and burns. It is really hard to find a medicine, and the effect of the medicine is miraculous, and it is not an exaggeration to be respected as the "king of medicines".
You may also ask, "But aren't wild ginseng, lingzhi and other precious medicinal materials also extremely rare, and why can't they compare to black ginseng?"
According to the statistics, the annual output of Wuling ginseng in the world does not exceed 200 catties! Moreover, the quality is uneven, and the price of the real kind of "high-grade submerged and fine flowers" is even more outrageous, with a pound reaching 100,000 yuan, which is dozens of times more expensive than gold! Ordinary defective products are also sold for tens of thousands of yuan a catty. Therefore, it can be said that Wuling ginseng has become a well-deserved "king of bacteria" and "king of medicine".
Seeing this, you may finally understand why the Wuling Conference is so expensive and mysterious, right? But just when you are convinced, I want to ask you a new question: If you are lucky enough to dig this kind of treasure in the deep mountains and old forests, will you not hesitate to sell it at a high price?
Don't be in a hurry to answer, listen to me slowly. Although the ginseng is invaluable, not all discoverers choose to sell it. Many people keep it in good condition and consider it a treasure in their home for emergencies. After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime medicine, a "life-saving straw" to cure all diseases, and it will not be a catastrophe if it is used in the future?
There are also some people who are out of the expectation of "getting rich", thinking that as long as they wait for a while, the price of Wuling ginseng will definitely rise, and the profit from selling it will be even greater. Do you think, if a single Wuling ginseng plant can multiply a hundred times in the future, wouldn't those who are generous today lose a lot? So they would rather keep it away for the time being and wait patiently for the best time.
Of course, there are also some enthusiasts who have a soft spot for this rare treasure, and they have a different kind of love for Wuling ginseng, which they regard as a pearl in their palms, and they do not hesitate to buy it for millions of yuan. Playing with it day and night, for fear of a slight injury, it is really more ordinary to continue, and there are some people who have a different attitude towards Wuling ginseng. They have a different kind of love for this rare fungus, which they regard as a pearl in their palms and money as dung. Even if the price is millions or tens of millions, they will not hesitate to pay a lot of money to buy it.
For these enthusiasts, owning Wuling ginseng is like treasured an extremely rare work of art, and they will play with it day and night for fear of being slightly damaged. Some people will even buy a special safe for their "baby" of Wuling ginseng, and ask experts to check and maintain it regularly. It can be said that they are real "fungus idiots".
You see, in the face of the same treasure, different people have completely different trade-offs. Some people see it as a life-saving medicine, others see it as an opportunity to get rich, and some people simply love the house and the black and regard it as a treasure of life. These seemingly contradictory attitudes illustrate the unique value and significance of Wuling ginseng to human beings.
However, whatever the reason, there is a common premise behind the choice to collect or sell: such rare treasures are destined to be uncaught. As the old saying goes, "I am born to be useful", whether you are an enthusiast or an opportunist, if you don't have the chance to get Wuling ginseng at all, it will always be just a rainbow on the horizon for you.
In fact, even the villagers who specialize in digging Wuling ginseng, every time they go out of the mountain, they may be able to dig up dozens of grams when they are lucky, but they find nothing when they are bad, and even the existence of Wuling ginseng cannot be confirmed. An old digger once said with emotion: "Wuling ginseng is a qi thing, and whoever you want to let find it will be discovered, and it has nothing to do with people." ”
Yes, it seems that the appearance of Wuling ginseng is like a lucky encounter, fate has not arrived, no matter how hard you pursue, it will be nothing in the end. Even the discovery of the termite nest where the black ginseng is located is already difficult.
So, is there any remedy for this rare item that is in short supply, and what choice do we have but to wait for that opportunity?
The answer doesn't seem so desperate either. Recently, researchers have begun to try to domesticate and grow Wuling ginseng. Although the success rate is still low, it at least opens up a glimmer of hope for us. Maybe one day, this "elixir" will become a regular guest on the table like other mushrooms, the supply is abundant, the price has fallen, and it is no longer so unattainable.
It remains to be seen whether the ginseng will continue to retain its magical color by that time. But at least for now, it is still a precious gift from nature to mankind, a treasure worthy of our cherishment and curiosity.
Let's wait and see, maybe this "medicine king" will show a new magic and charm in the near future.
Disclaimer: The information in this article comes from the Internet, which is not guaranteed to be completely correct and is for reference only.