CHAMOLI (UTTARAKHAND) : As snow starts melting in the upper reaches of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and nearby areas in the first week of May, the hunt for the “treasure” begins.Groups of people, mostly families, carrying basic utensils and ration, start pitching tents on the green pastures. Their stay there could range between 10 and 20 days, sometimes even more, depending on how soon they can lay their hands on ‘Keeda Jadi’ — a rare herb which can cure a variety of ailments, including impotency and, possibly, even cancer.
Several rare herbs and medicinal plants — particularly Keeda Jadi, a yellow-brown mummified caterpillar — that grow in the wild in the upper reaches of the hill state are fast disappearing with large-scale smuggling going on right under the nose of the state government.What is worrying is that it seems to be organised smuggling, with the rare herbs ending up in pharmaceutical companies, particularly in China and Nepal. Authorities suspect some Indian pharma companies too are buying them through middlemen.
Forest department officials told The New Indian Express that herbs like Keeda Jadi and Shilajit — a thick, tar-like substance obtained from steep rocks found in the Himalayas and containing 85 minerals in ionic form — are in huge demand.“More than Shilajit, it is Keeda Jadi which is in great demand. People in Tibet, China and Nepal have been using it to cure different ailments for several decades and the herb smuggled from here is reaching pharma companies across the border. There is reliable information to suggest that some Indian pharma companies are also purchasing this herb through middlemen, who are paid lakhs of rupees,” says a forest department official.
Also known as Himalayan Viagra, Cordyceps Sinensis or Keeda Jadi is known to cure various ailments, including impotency and fatigue. Besides, it is said to be very effective in fighting cancer. In Tibet and China, it is also used as an aphrodisiac. Due to its rare qualities, one kg of this herb sells for around `15-18 lakh in the international market.
What is Keeda Jadi?
It is a fungus which grows as a parasite on the larvae of a particular kind of caterpillar. It is known for its healing power. It is worth C18 lakh a kg in the international market
What is Shilajit?
It is a thick, sticky tar-like substance ranging from white to dark brown in colour. It is used in Ayurveda. It is known as an energy booster, is efficient in detoxification and balances blood sugar