野山参为什么这么贵 | 为什么这么贵 | Business Insider：英语精读讲义

Hong Daesik has stumbled upon something truly rare. 短語動詞

Hong Daesik 偶然发现了一件极其罕见的东西。

It's a ginseng root that grew naturally in the wild

这是一根在野外自然生长的人参，

and it will sell for tens of thousands of dollars. 短語搭配

可以卖到数万美元。

But most other classes of ginseng won't sell for anywhere near this much. 短語搭配

但其他大多数种类的人参，售价都远远达不到这个水平。

So what makes this root so special? 語法

那么，这根人参究竟有什么特别之处？

And why is wild ginseng so expensive?

野山参为什么这么贵？

Ginseng is one of the most popular herbs in the world, 語法

人参是世界上最受欢迎的草药之一，

but there's a wide range for what it'll cost you.

但价格差异非常大。

On average,

平均而言，

a single ginseng root found growing naturally in the wild in South Korea 語法

在韩国野外自然生长的一根人参，

can cost thousands of dollars depending on its age. 短語搭配

根据参龄不同，可能价值数千美元。

Farmed ginseng, on the other hand, 表達脈絡

相比之下，人工种植的人参

could only cost about $25 for 10 roots in South Korea.

在韩国10根可能只卖约25美元。

The third category is in the middle.

第三类的价格则介于两者之间。

It's called wild simulated ginseng, 文化背景

它叫作仿野生人参，

and it can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.

价格从数百美元到数千美元不等。

For 28 years, 語法

28年来，

Hong Daesik has been growing and harvesting wild simulated ginseng in the mountains around Suncheon,

Hong Daesik 一直在顺天周边的山区种植和采收仿野生人参。

South Korea.

顺天位于韩国。

Wild ginseng used to grow here naturally, 語法

过去，这里曾自然生长着野山参，

but demand for the herb has led to overharvesting, 短語搭配

但人们对这种草药的需求导致了过度采挖，

making it incredibly rare to find today, 語法

如今已经极难找到，

which is why harvesters have moved to growing the similar-looking but less expensive wild-simulated variety. 表達脈絡

因此，采参人转而种植外形相似、但价格较低的仿野生品种。

In order to harvest wild-simulated ginseng, 語法

为了收获仿野生人参，

Daesik has to plant seeds.

Daesik 必须先播下种子。

But growing this type of ginseng may not be worth the hassle. 短語搭配

但种这种人参可能不值得如此大费周章。

In fact, 表達脈絡

事实上，

90% of the wild-simulated plants Daesik grows won't survive.

Daesik 种下的仿野生人参有90%都无法存活。

This is partly due to the plant's need for ample shade 短語搭配

部分原因是这种植物需要充足的遮阴，

and its sensitivity to high temperatures,

而且对高温、

over humidity, and disease.

湿度过高和病害都很敏感。

When grown in forests, 語法

在森林里种植时，

ginseng is also vulnerable to hungry animals. 短語搭配

人参还很容易遭到饥饿动物的啃食。

After 8 years,

8年后，

Daesik can begin harvesting the ginseng he's planted.

Daesik 才能开始采收自己种下的人参。

Harvesting these roots requires special attention and care.

采挖这些参根需要格外专注和小心。

Daesik must dig around the root,

Daesik 必须从参根周围开始挖，

being careful not to damage any part of it. 語法

小心避免损伤它的任何部位。

어.

呃。

Roots that grow in forests are often much smaller,

生长在森林中的参根通常小得多，

knobbier, and have more growth scars.

表面更疙疙瘩瘩，生长疤痕也更多。

Similar to trees, 表達脈絡

和树木类似，

growth scars on ginseng can be used to determine its age. 語法

人们可以根据人参的生长疤痕判断它的年龄。

And the more scars, 語法

疤痕越多，

the higher the price.

价格就越高。

So why are older and wilder ginseng roots so valuable anyway?

那么，参龄更长、野生程度更高的人参为什么如此珍贵？

Older roots are believed to have higher concentrations of ginsenosides, 語法

人们认为，年份更久的参根含有浓度更高的人参皂苷，

the all-star bioactive ingredient of ginseng that many believe gives it medicinal benefits. 習語

这是人参中最重要的生物活性成分，许多人认为人参的药用功效正源于此。

Higher concentrations of these compounds are believed to make the root more potent.

人们认为，这些化合物的浓度越高，参根的功效就越强。

But not all of ginseng's benefits have been scientifically verified. 語法

但人参的功效并非都得到科学验证。

While some studies suggest ginseng has medicinal benefits, 表達脈絡

一些研究表明，人参具有药用功效，

like reducing pain and improving learning,

比如减轻疼痛和提高学习能力，

other studies debate its effects.

但另一些研究则对其效果提出质疑。

This study suggests ginseng is no more effective than a placebo in enhancing physical performance. 語法

这项研究表明，在增强体能表现方面，人参的效果并不优于安慰剂。

And this larger study suggests that the clinical efficacy of ginseng remains to be established. 用詞

而这项规模更大的研究则表明，人参的临床疗效仍有待证实。

Once harvested, 語法

人参采收后，

ginseng spoils quickly at room temperature.

在室温下会很快变质。

So fresh roots are typically consumed immediately,

因此，新鲜参根通常会立即被食用，

brewed in tea,

或用来泡茶，

or preserved in liquors.

也可以浸泡在酒中保存。

Because of its short shelf life, 講解

由于保质期很短，

a majority of the ginseng products you'll find in stores are sold in liquid, 語法

商店里大多数人参产品都以液体、

dried, or powdered forms.

干品或粉末的形式出售。

Since 2011, 語法

自2011年起，

wild simulated ginseng has been listed as a special forest product in South Korea, 文化背景

仿野生人参被韩国列为特殊林产品，

with everything from cultivation to distribution controlled by the Korean government. 短語搭配

从种植到流通的所有环节都由韩国政府监管。

And like other labeling certifications,

和其他标签认证一样，

wild-simulated products in Korea need to pass inspections to guarantee their quality and authenticity. 短語搭配

韩国的仿野生人参产品必须通过检验，以确保其品质和真实性。

This helps ensure the product is high quality and sustainable

这有助于确保产品优质且可持续，

while giving ginseng harvesters like Daesik the opportunity to profit from the crop. 短語搭配

同时也让 Daesik 这样的采参人有机会从中获利。

And as demand for alternative medicines and healthy foods increases,

随着人们对替代医学和健康食品的需求不断增长，

the pressure to supply wild and simulated ginseng will also likely grow,

野山参和仿野生人参的供应压力也可能随之加大，

which is why creating a sustainable market for ginseng is more important than ever. 短語搭配

因此，建立可持续的人参市场比以往任何时候都更加重要。