My first memory of traditional folk medicine involves drinking a pleasant-tasting soup, then peeking in the pot and recoiling in shock -- the soup was made from dried seahorses.

我關(guān)于中國傳統(tǒng)草藥的首次記憶源于一碗美味的湯，可當我一窺鍋內(nèi)卻依然嚇了個半死——那湯竟是用干的海馬做成的。

China has thankfully started regulating the TCM market to better control the use of certain ingredients, such as endangered animals and illegal substances. Though, unusual ingredients such as animal genitalia, baby mice, insects, and fungi are still found in a some traditional folk remedies. Here are a few with impressive staying power over the years.

感謝上帝中國已經(jīng)開始控制其中藥市場，嚴禁使用瀕危動物和非法物品入藥。不過傳統(tǒng)藥材中依然會用到許多不尋常的東西，比如動物鞭、幼鼠、昆蟲和真菌，看來短期之內(nèi)是無法消除了。


Korea: Baby mice wine

韓國：幼鼠酒

To make baby mice wine, stuff rodents no more than three days old into a bottle of rice wine and let stew for a year. The tonic is believed to be an all-purpose cure for everything from asthma to liver disease.

要制作幼鼠酒，你要把三天大的小老鼠泡入米酒里，靜置一年。這種補酒據(jù)說包治百病，包括哮喘和肝病。


China: Deer penis

中國：鹿鞭酒

The Chinese in Guangzhou eat tiger penis to boost sexual performance and stamina. Tiger penis has been banned for obvious reasons, so the equally impressive (in terms of heft) deer penis is more often consumed. Although the alcohol-soaked substance is legal, consumption is on the wane: Chinese athletes were banned from consuming it during the Beijing Olympics.

在中國廣東，人們吃虎鞭壯陽。在虎鞭被國家禁止之后，就飲鹿鞭酒代替。雖然據(jù)說功效不如虎鞭，但在北京奧運期間，運動員仍被禁止飲用。


Tibet: Caterpillar fungus

中國西藏：蟲草

The caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinensis) is highly coveted because it grows only in the high altitudes of the Himalayas. The fungus kills and mummifies a caterpillar, then sprouts a grass-like reproductive body -- hence its worm-like appearance. Tibetans have used it for centuries to treat cancer, fatigue, and other ailments. According to legend, locals once successfully resisted a Mongol attack because they ate copious amounts of the fungus.

冬蟲夏草只在喜馬拉雅地區(qū)生長，它的生長過程非常有趣：蟲草蝙蝠蛾幼蟲是每年7-8月在土壤中生長期間感染上蟲草孢子，孢子開始在幼蟲體上萌發(fā)菌絲，菌絲充分利用蟲體內(nèi)的營養(yǎng)大量繁殖并蔓延至整個體腔。約10月份幼蟲死亡成為僵蟲。這是一種異常名貴的草藥。在西藏，人們長期用它治療癌癥、疲憊和其他疾病。據(jù)當?shù)氐膫髡f，西藏人曾因吃了蟲草而擊退蒙古族的侵略。


Thailand and Vietnam: White ant soup

泰國和越南：白蟻湯

A soup made from ant parts -- eggs, larvae, bodies -- sounds like stomachache in the making. But according to , it’s delicious: “The eggs are soft and pop gently in your mouth with a wee bit of sour taste.” The high amino acid content also keeps muscle, hair, glands, and organs in top condition.

這種湯由白蟻的卵、幼蟲和身體熬制而成，據(jù)稱它非常美味，并能讓你的身體機能達到絕佳的狀態(tài)。

Indonesia: Bat hearts

印度尼西亞：蝙蝠心臟

In Jakarta, fruit bats are sold to passersby, not as exotic pets, but as a cure for asthma. The custom is to remove the heart while the mammal is alive, then cook and eat it.

在印度尼西亞，蝙蝠被當做治療哮喘的藥材出售、而非寵物。傳統(tǒng)的做法是生取蝙蝠心臟、再烹調(diào)吃掉。