Pour 500
ml boiling water on to 1 teaspoon Jiaogulan leaves and let steep for a
moment. The active ingredients contained in this amount of leaves will
remain potent up to a dilution of approx. 1 l water..
This tea can be drunk hot or at room temperature. Do not mix with ice,
as the cold of the ice may inhibit the effectiveness of the active
ingredients.
Contents: Jiaogulan 100% dried leaves 100 g
7.00
Jiaogulan has positive effects on the
cardiovascular system (the heart and blood vessels). Gynostemma may
have a direct strengthening effect on the heart, possibly causing the
heart to beat more powerfully. It may also have a number of secondary
cardiovascular effects, such as reducing the stickiness of blood
components called platelets. Created in the bone marrow, platelets
circulate in the blood. In a process called "platelet aggregation", they
stick to injured tissue, beginning the blood clotting process and
promoting wound healing. Because it is an antioxidant, gynostemma may
also have potential as an anticancer and immune-stimulating
agent,
Pour 500 ml very hot water
on to 1 - 2 teaspoons dried Jiaogulan leaves and let steep for a
while. The active ingredients of this quantity of leaves will remain
active up to a dilution with
1 l of water. Jiaogulan tea can be taken hot or at room temperature. Do
not mix with ice, as
the cold would restrict Jiaogulan's effect.
Pour 500 ml very hot water on to 1 - 2 teaspoons
dried Jiaogulan leaves and let steep for a while. The active ingredients
of this quantity of leaves will remain active up to a dilution with 1 l
of water. Jiaogulan tea can be taken hot or at room temperature. Do not
mix with ice, as the
cold would restrict Jiaogulan's effect.
Pour 500 ml very hot water on to 1 - 2 teaspoons dried Jiaogulan leaves
and let steep for a while.
The active ingredients of this quantity of stems will
remain active up to a dilution with 1 l of water.
Remark: The tea made from Jiaogulan shrub stems is
bitterer than the one made from the leaves. It is said to contain a
considerably higher concentration of the active ingredients, i.e.
saponins and anti-oxidants than the leaves. These active ingredients
play an important part in giving this tea its health benefit reputation.
Jiaogulan tea can be taken hot or at room temperature. Do
not mix with ice, as the
cold would restrict Jiaogulan's effect.
Other Names:
Amachazuru, Miracle Grass, Southern Ginseng,
Vitis pentaphyllum, Xianxao
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma
pentaphyllum), is a plant that grows
wild in China, as well as many other countries throughout Asia.
In China, it has been used for many years as a medicinal and
energizing tea in the local regions where it grows. Jiaogulan is
sometimes called "Southern Ginseng",
since it grows in south central China and because of its
similarity to ginseng in chemical composition and function. It
is also praised as Xiancao,
"Immortality" Herb, because it grows wild and has many
health-enhancing qualities and anti-aging effects.
In the late
1970s, Japanese scientists began discovering jiaogulan's
illness-prevention and therapeutic qualities. What they
uncovered was an herb very similar in quality to ginseng, yet in
some ways superior. They found jiaogulan to function as both an
adaptogenic herb and as an antioxidant herb, containing many
health-giving saponins (chemical compounds having a soapy
characteristic), as well as trace minerals, amino acids,
proteins, and vitamins.
Jiaogulan
contains a large quantity of these saponins, known also as
gypenosides. The structure of the gypenosides is very similar to
the panaxosides (also known as ginsenosides) found in ginseng.
There are four times as many saponins in jiaogulan as there is
in ginseng. Some of those saponins are identical to the
panaxosides in ginseng and some of them turn into panaxosides
when taken into the body. This results in a greater number of
saponins than ginseng, which may translate into a more powerful
regulatory effect on a number of bodily systems; like blood
pressure, the reproductive system, the digestive system, the
immune system, mental functions and more.
Scientific
research studies in China have shown that jiaogulan decreases
cholesterol by improving the liver's ability to send sugar and
carbohydrates to the muscles for conversion to energy instead of
turning the sugar into triglycerides which the body stores as
fat. It lowers LDL's (bad cholesterol) while raising HDL's (good
cholesterol). It improves fat metabolism, reduces blood fat
levels and depresses lipid peroxide and fat sediment in the
blood vessels.
While it is
great for rectifying high cholesterol and obesity problems, it
can also improve and strengthen the digestion, allowing an
underweight person to increase absorption of nutrients and gain
weight in the form of lean muscle mass. This regulatory effect
on bodily functions is the hallmark of an adaptogen. A study at
Guiyang Medical College in China has shown that a jiaogulan
recipe increased strength and endurance in the body. Considering
the above statements overall, jiaogulan becomes the perfect herb
for anyone who wants to improve their competitive edge in any
field of athletic performance.
Adaptogenic
functions of jiaogulan are demonstrated in its biphasic effects
on brain functions, which energize or calm the system depending
upon the bodys need. Jiaogulan also aids the regulation of
hormonal functions in both men and women. The healthy
maintenance of these physiological actions plays a major role in
the body's ability to cope with stress. Jiaogulan has also
shown its effectiveness, in clinical research studies, in
helping the body resist depression of the immune system and
other stress-related symptoms. It increases the production of
Lymphocytes, Phagocytes and serum IgG, but not to an excess.
Jiaogulan
has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities through its
many saponins. Jiaogulan also helps the body to resist
depression of the immune system and other stress-related
symptoms. Furthermore
there are other clinical research studies, which indicate
jiaogulan's ability to reduce tumor size. It can even lower
high blood pressure. 15
In studies,
gynostemma has been shown to increase the time blood needs to
clot. When it is taken with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs,
the effect of the drug may be increased, resulting in
uncontrolled bleeding.
Antiplatelets
include clopidogrel and Ticlid
Anticoagulants
include heparin and warfarin
Because it can
affect immune system function, gynostemma may interfere with the
effects of drugs used to suppress the immune system after organ
transplants or in other conditions. Taking gynostemma is not
recommended for patients who take drugs such as:
azathioprine (Imuran)
CellCept
cyclosporine (Neoral,
Sandimmune)
Prograf
Rapamune
Zenapak
b) with Herbal
Products
Theoretically,
if gynostemma is used with other herbs that affect blood
clotting, bleeding may occur. Some of the most common herbal
products that might inhibit blood clotting are:
