Jiaogulan is a longevity herb. This
jiaogulan is call the"immortality herb".
Teas and capsules are made from jiaogulan.The
chinese herb jiaogulan has been used by the people in
the mountainous regions of Southern China as an energizing
agent. They would take it as a tea before work to increase
endurance and strength, and after work to relieve fatigue.
It has also been taken for general health and has been
recognized as a rejuvenating elixir.
Jiaogulan has been described "Like ginseng but better
than ginseng."
Another story states that in a village near Fanjing Mountain
in Guizhou province, the inhabitants would drink jiaogulan
tea instead of the more common green tea and as a result
many people there were living to be 100 years of age.
Thus jiaogulan gained notority as "the herb of immortality.
A famous doctor discovered that jiaogulan contains four
kinds of saponins exactly like those in Panax ginseng
and seventeen other kinds of saponins very similar to
those in Panax ginseng. His research team has identified
and named eighty-two saponins from jiaogulan, whereas
Panax ginseng has been found to have up to 28 saponins.
Although these two plants are not related, they contain
the same major components: saponins, a substance that
has the unique quality of dissolving both in water and
oil, and when mixed with water and shaken, will foam up.
In Panax ginseng the saponins are called ginsenosides,
in jiaogulan, or amachazuru, they are called gypenosides.
While doing research the team saw that jiaogulan increased
the activity and strength of mice in a swimming test,
showing the herb's ability to improve endurance. Another
study on mice showed the herb's effectiveness as a neoplasm
or tumor inhibitor, and a third showed the herb's ability
(adaptogenic) to prevent the unpleasant side effects of
dexamethasone (hormone treatmen).16
These studies used mice as subjects; nevertheless having
been tested on mammals, they were a significant marker
for the herb's possible effectiveness on humans. This
was borne out by subsequent studies on humans. Jiaogulan
would prove, in studies, to enhance endurance, inhibit
tumors and help protect the cellular immunity in humans,
as well as provide many other health-promoting benefits.
Results of a nationwide population census in China taken
in the 1970s revealed that, in small regions in the south
central portion of China (some villages of Guangxi, Shicuan
and other southern provinces), high rates of people per
capita were living to 100 years of age. Cancer incidence
was extremely low among the inhabitants as well. Scientists
from the Chinese Academy of Medical Science in Beijing
and other institutions began to research these regions
and discovered that the people living there were regularly
drinking a tea made from the herb jiaogulan. Because of
the significant results of the census taken in China during
the 1970's, and then the boom of scientific interest in
jiaogulan (amachazuru) in Japan during the 1980s, many
research studies on jiaogulan were undertaken in China,
and they have been continuing up to the present. Various
pharmacological and therapeutic effects of jiaogulan were
investigated and proven by tests on animals and human
beings. Tonics and recipes made of jiaogulan have been
developed and are being used in Chinese medical institutions.
Surveys of the resources of jiaogulan in various portions
of China have been made and cultivation techniques investigated.
Nearly 300 scientific papers on jiaogulan or its saponins
have been published in respected journals, and information
about the herb has been formally collected and published
in the modern Dictionary of Chinese Materia Medica.18
Jiaogulan has been recognized and accepted by ever-increasing
numbers of Chinese people. From the time of the Qin Dynasty
(221 B.C.), the Emperors of ancient China would send various
envoys overseas to search for the "elixir of life",
but their efforts were always fruitless. Perhaps, the
"elixir" has been found by descendants of the
Emperors, growing in their own homeland!
Jiaogulan enhances endurance, lowers cholesterol and blood
pressure, inhibits tumors and help protect the cellular
immunity as well as providing many other health benefits.
Health Benifits of Jiaogulan
Jiaogulan improves the metabolism of
the heart directly as well as enhancing the release of
nitric oxide in the body, which helps to relax the coronary
blood vessels. (Tanner, M.A., et al. "The direct
release of nitric oxide by gypenosides derived from the
herb Gynostemma pentaphyllum." Vanderbilt University
Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. Nitric Oxide
1999 Oct; 3(5):359-65.)
What makes Jiaogulan unique is the
wide variety of therapeutic effects that scientists have
demonstrated through their research; i.e., antioxidant
protection, enhancing cardiovascular function, blood pressure
and cholesterol regulation, positive influence on blood
elements,
strengthening immunity, etc.
In other words, getting these benefits
by taking Jiaogulan might eliminate the need for taking
an array of other supplements.
1. Cholesterol - Jiaogulan lowers total
cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and raises HDL cholesterol.
More than 20 papers have been published on the subject
with effectiveness reported as ranging from 67 to 93%.
It also inhibits platelet aggregation which lessens the
chance of a stroke or heart attack.
2. Antioxidant - This herb has been shown in tests to
lower the amount of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide
in certain white blood cells, an excellent indicator of
antioxidant activity. Jiao gu lan also has the remarkable
property of increasing endogenous SOD (Superoxide Dismutase)
in the body. SOD is one of the body's most important antioxidants
and studies show that charting SOD levels in various animal
species is a reliable indicator of their longevity. Trials
in humans showed that SOD levels returned to youthful
levels after taking 20 mg of Gypenosides (active principle)
daily for one month.
3. Adaptogen - Jiaogulan modulates the nervous system.
It calms an overexcited nervous system and stimulates
a depressed one. 300 professional athletes were the subject
of a study. All the athletes reported that taking this
herb before competition made them vigorous and alert with
quick reflexes. Yet, it also made them less nervous.
4. Insomnia - 112 cases of insomnia
reported a sleep improvement of 89 to 95 percent.
5. Blood Pressure - 223 patients were
divided into three groups. One group took Ginseng, the
next took Jiaogulan and the last took the blood pressure
medication, Indapamide. The effectiveness was rated at
46% for Ginseng, 82% for Jiaogulan and 93% for Indapamide.
This herb modulates blood pressure, lowering it when it
is too high and raising it when it is too low.
6. Cardiac function - Jiaogulan increases cardiac function.
In a study combined with some other herbs heart stroke
volume increased 37% and cardiac output increased by 21%
on the average. Ejection fraction increased by 13%. Subjects
had normal blood pressure which did not change although
heart rate decreased by 10%.
7. White Blood Cells - Jiaogulan increases the production
of white blood cells in white cell deficient patients
such as those who have recently undergone chemotherapy
or radiation treatments.
8. Immuno-stimulant - This herb modulates lymphocyte formation
and increases lymphocyte activity. It was also found to
greatly enhance the activity of NK (Natural Killer cells)
in cancer patients.
9. Diabetes - A study of 46 patients with Diabetes Mellitus
showed an improvement of 89% in their condition. Another
study also showed satisfactory results.
10. Hepatitis B - 100 patients were given Jiao gu lan
for 3 months. Effectiveness was rated at 89%. Another
study of 200 patients yielded similar results. Other studies
showed the ability to protect the liver from various toxic
chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride.
11. Bronchitis - A study of 86 cases of chronic bronchitis
had an effectiveness rate of 93%. Another study of 96
cases had a 92% effectiveness rate.
No toxic effects have been noted.
It does not over stimulate like Ginseng.
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