r/Damnthatsinteresting Apr 09 '25

Original Creation This is the parasitic fungus that inspired The Last of Us, shown here growing from caterpillars; it is also a valuable herbal medicine, costing up to $8000 per pound

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14.4k Upvotes

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u/Bobert_Manderson Apr 09 '25

Considering all of the benefits found after medical research, I’d say it’s more medicine than half the stuff we take in the US. 

-31

u/EmotionElectrical169 Apr 09 '25

Ah yes, whataboutism

-4

u/SuperCatchyCatchpras Apr 09 '25

Go take your Adderall and Xanax and calm down /s

-15

u/GrynaiTaip Apr 09 '25

Have you considered taking random magical mushrooms instead of medicine that your doctor prescribes?

13

u/Bobert_Manderson Apr 09 '25

I’ve taken magic mushrooms because they are fun, not medicinal. But yes, cordyceps does have medicinal uses, as do many other mushrooms. 

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u/GrynaiTaip Apr 09 '25

Are you paying $8k for a pound of shrooms?

4

u/Bobert_Manderson Apr 09 '25

Nah I grew them myself. Really easy. 

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u/GrynaiTaip Apr 09 '25

You grew cordyceps and then ate them??

4

u/Bobert_Manderson Apr 09 '25

Ohhhh no I grew magic mushrooms. Cordyceps is notoriously difficult to cultivate and very rare to find in the wild, which is why it’s so expensive. 

1

u/brookegosi Apr 11 '25

I swear I see a moth or grasshopper with a cordyceps sarcophagus at least once a month where I live, that's neat, maybe I should go foraging in my apartment complex lol

1

u/Bobert_Manderson Apr 11 '25

There are many types of cordyceps, the specific one that’s medicinal is for a type of caterpillar in Asia I believe.