After lengthy and extensive study of a large variety of herbs, they singled out Jiaogulan as the most promising plant for further research. We provide references to a subset of the hundreds of scientific studies that support our claims, so you can examine them further if interested.
These saponins give Gynostemma its adaptogenic and antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to regulate Nitric Oxide production in the body. Adaptogens support normal metabolism, help restore balance to the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, and allow the body to maintain optimal homeostasis.
They usually also benefit the liver, cardiovascular system, kidneys, and pancreas. For a plant to be qualified as an adaptogen, it must meet the following 3 criteria as defined by Israel I. Berkhman, PhD, and Dr. Dardymov in An adaptogen is nontoxic to the recipient. It must cause minimal side effects on physical or mental health. This reserve is then used when an actual stressor arises, instead of depleting the cells of vital energy. This normalizing influence implies the capability of adaptogens for a bidirectional effect on physiological function.
They are capable of either toning down or strengthening the activity of multiple systems, including the neuro-endocrine and immune systems, depending on the need. For example, if a person with high blood pressure is given Jiaogulan, their blood pressure will drop. If on the other hand their blood pressure is below normal, it will raise. When Dr. Berkhman was studying adaptogens, he discovered that the active compounds in most of them were a particular class of chemical compounds called triterpenoid saponins, which had very low toxicity and little addictive potential.
Some of these triterpenoid saponins have been identified as having adaptogenic properties, while others were found to have anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective protecting the liver , adrenal gland strengthening, and immune system modulating effects. However, while Ginseng is often poorly tolerated and can cause insomnia, tachycardia and nervousness, Jiaogulan has the opposite effects because it is a superior adaptogen.
This is because while Panax Ginseng contains up to 28 different saponins 5 called panaxosides or ginsenosides , as of scientists have isolated of them from Gynostemma called gypenosides , nine of which are identical to those of Panax Ginseng.
In fact, Jiaogulan has the widest spectrum of saponins of any known plant in the world by far! Over 40 years of scientific research done so far on Gynostemma seems to support this possibility.
Few people realize it, but Nitric Oxide is probably the most important chemical compound for cardiovascular health. Simply put, adequate Nitric Oxide production is the first step in a chain reaction that promotes healthy cardiovascular function, while insufficient production triggers a cascade of destruction that eventually results in heart disease. Nitric Oxide has been called a double-edged sword — or the Janus molecule, after the two-faced god — since it can be both vital and detrimental to your health and normal functioning.
At normal body concentrations Nitric Oxide is critically important for the proper functioning of all major body systems, including the cardiovascular, immune, nervous, and reproductive systems. It enhances blood flow by dilating blood vessels, dissolving arterial plaques, and aiding in tissue recovery and regeneration.
It helps brain nerve cells to communicate with each other and is involved in their development and regeneration. It also plays an important role in the fight against invading bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Studies have now shown that Jiaogulan has the remarkable ability to both protect and stimulate the production of Nitric Oxide NO when your body produces too little of it 6, 57, 59, 60, 61 , or to limit its production when it is out of control 38, 62, 63, Here is a short video by one of the discoverers of Nitric Oxide explaining the benefits of this molecule for your health.
We will explore the effects of Nitric Oxide on the various body systems in more detail throughout the rest of this article. Heart and blood vessel disease is the 1 cause of death in the world, resulting in In the United States it killed almost , people in alone.
The majority of problems classified under the umbrella of heart disease are related to a process called atherosclerosis , or thickening and hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when plaque, mostly made up of white blood cells and blood fats like cholesterol and triglycerides, builds up in the walls of the arteries. This process starts when damage to the lining of the arteries — or endothelium — accumulates over time. First, it results in a lower production of Nitric Oxide, which in turn leads to constriction of the arteries, higher blood pressure, more plaque formation, further arterial damage, and as a consequence even less Nitric Oxide production.
This self-reinforcing cycle can spin out of control and lead to heart disease unless broken in some way. Second, when the arteries get damaged they become stiffer and stickier over time. The more cholesterol and fats there are in the blood hyperlipidemia , the easier it is for arterial plaque to form. Buildup of plaque narrows the arteries and makes it more difficult for blood to flow through.
This can eventually lead to the formation of a blood clot a process called thrombosis , which can completely block the blood flow and lead to heart attack, stroke, or embolism.
A heart attack or an ischemic stroke the most common type occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart or brain, respectively, is blocked by a blood clot. If this clot cuts off the blood flow completely, the part of the heart muscle or brain supplied by that artery will die.
This can lead to death or, in the case of stroke, to loss of ability to carry out normal functions like walking or talking. In another type of stroke — haemorrhagic stroke — a blood vessel within the brain bursts.
The most common cause is uncontrolled high blood pressure. Other complications due to atherosclerosis include peripheral arterial disease, kidney disease, and erectile dysfunction. What is truly remarkable about Jiaogulan is that it counteracts each of the individual causes of atherosclerosis mentioned above, and therefore at the very root it prevents and counters all the complications that come with it. As we already mentioned, damage to the arterial lining endothelium is THE key factor that leads to the development of atherosclerosis.
First, it neutralizes the oxidative damage to the arteries caused by free radicals and cholesterol through its powerful antioxidant effects 26, 27, 29 see Antioxidant section. The second way Gynostemma prevents endothelial damage is through its ability to regulate blood pressure, either lowering it 63, 65 or elevating it 63 depending on the need. The primary function of endothelial Nitric Oxide is to widen the blood vessels vasodilation , which increases blood flow circulation throughout your body, providing more of the oxygen and nutrients necessary for proper function of all tissues and organs.
Widening of the arteries has the effect of lowering blood pressure, since blood has more room to flow through and therefore less pressure is put on the arterial walls. Without Nitric Oxide arteries constrict and require a higher blood pressure to maintain adequate blood flow to the tissue.
In addition, lack of Nitric Oxide increases the number of smooth muscle cells, which can also lead to higher blood pressure. Since LDL cholesterol and blood fats are the main ingredients of arterial plaque, a reduction of their concentration in the blood will help prevent or slow down the progression of atherosclerosis.
Jiaogulan has demonstrated its ability to lower bad cholesterol LDL and triglyceride levels, while raising good cholesterol HDL levels in a number of studies. Lowering of the cholesterol levels also has a positive side effect of prevention of the formation of cholesterol gallstones. Plaques grow over years and slowly blocks blood flow in the arteries. When a plaque inside a coronary artery ruptures, platelets blood cells whose function is to stop the bleeding become sticky, develop tentacles and start to roam around in gangs platelet aggregation and quickly make their way to the damaged area and pile on it until they either partially or completely block the artery.
The sudden blood clot that forms over the ruptured area causes the blood flow to stop, which results in a heart attack or stroke. Furthermore, blood clots can detach and travel into the blood stream until they get lodged in other blood vessels, for example in the lungs, causing an embolism.
Jiaogulan helps against the formation of blood clots by preventing the platelet aggregation process described above by increasing Nitric Oxide production — which reduces the stickiness of platelets — and by inhibiting Tissue Factor TF — the main protein needed for the blood clotting process to initiate. The herb has been shown to prevent the platelets from sticking together and to the lining of arteries in the first place, and also to help them detach from each other, or deaggregate, in both human clinical trials 86 and animal studies 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, Jiaogulan reduces the affected area and the severity of injury to the brain and heart suffered as a consequence of a stroke or a heart attack, and accelerates the healing and recovery process.
The herb prevents heart muscle disease cardiomyopathy and protects heart muscles and their function from damage as a result of diabetes. Jiaogulan also helps protect against coronary spasms, irregular heartbeat arrhythmia , pressor response the increase in arterial blood pressure in response to various internal or external conditions, e.
Jiaogulan is beneficial for people who suffer from congestive heart failure because it improves the efficiency of the pumping action of the heart. This means the heart does not work as hard to produce the same amount of blood flow, helping it deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the body as a whole without causing additional stress.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, killing almost , people in alone. If you are an American, there is a one in three chance that you will get cancer during your lifetime. If you are a man, the odds are closer to one in two. Almost everyone in America either knows someone who currently has cancer or who has already died from cancer.
Arguably worse than the actual disease is the conventional treatment. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are based on the principle that by poisoning and destroying the body as a whole, including its natural defenses against the disease the immune system , the cancer will also be removed.
Because only the symptoms and not the root cause are addressed, multiple treatments will usually be necessary over the years, provided they work to begin with. To use another metaphor, imagine your body is an iron rod and the cancer is rust on that iron. After all, cancer cells are always present in our bodies and our immune system is usually perfectly capable of neutralizing them.
We believe this is a more sensible approach, and it seems mainstream science is starting to agree. Research has shown that Jiaogulan has many cancer fighting and prevention effects on a wide variety of cancers. Jiaogulan has been shown in studies to reduce tumor size, inhibit tumor growth and metastasis spreading , cause apoptosis tumor cell death by increasing free-radical damage to cancer cells, and inhibit energy production in cancer cells. For those who choose to use the traditional methods of cancer treatment — chemotherapy and radiation therapy — Jiaogulan has shown to be an invaluable ally.
This is because it provides a very strong protection against the damaging effects these treatments have on the immune system. Jiaogulan was also found to diminish the overall damaging effects of drug toxicity from chemotherapy , , while at the same time boosting its effectiveness , However, we wholeheartedly recommend that you use it for cancer prevention and as an add-on therapy to any treatment, conventional or otherwise.
Back to Top. While most people today choose anti-aging creams, surgery, and Botox, we believe in a more holistic approach to health and aging because youth, like beauty, is more than skin deep. Jiaogulan was first discovered in China because of the unusually long life spans and good health of so many of its users in the mountainous regions where it grows. When you drink Jiaogulan tea daily you will not only look younger, you will be younger and healthier.
The herb slows down aging from the inside out. It has a rejuvenating and healing effect on all organs and major systems due to its unrivaled ability to neutralize the free-radicals that damage and age your body by boosting production of the two most important endogenous antioxidants — superoxide dismutase SOD and glutathione.
These two antioxidants are crucial in preventing aging and promoting longevity. Please see the section on the Antioxidant properties of Jiaogulan for details and more scientific evidence. In human clinical studies, administration of Jiaogulan three times daily for two months was beneficial for all patients in the study in reducing general signs and symptoms of aging, such as fatigue, lack of energy, aversion to cold, diarrhoea, poor memory, decreased balance, insomnia, and excessive dreams.
Studies with aging animals have shown that Jiaogulan improves their memory and learning ability , and rejuvenates their skin 47, 48, It was also found that the herb increases the thickness of the skin, boosts synthesis of collagen, and protects elasticity For extra skin benefit, you can also apply Jiaogulan tea topically, for example as a face rinse. In addition, there have now been several studies that support claims the herb increases longevity.
In one study, a group of old mice were divided into two groups. Numerous human and animal studies have shown Jiaogulan to protect and strengthen the immune system function. Similar benefits are also seen when combined with 20 grams spirulina given twice per day.
Jiaogulan is considered an adaptogen meaning it can alter the stress response to disease, infection, or exercise. The saponins within jiaogulan can potentially dampen the response to high levels of the hormone ACTH and lower cortisol release from adrenal glands.
More research is needed to understand this effect in horses. It is possible that by lowering cortisol levels during stressful situations, jiaogulan could support mood, ease of handling, and anxiety in horses.
This could be particularly beneficial for horses in competition that can experience stress and anxiety during transportation and competition. Horses might benefit from the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of this herb. The gypenosides found in jiaogulan can protect cells of in the immune system, liver, and blood vessels from damage due to oxidative stress.
In humans, it has been shown to increase levels of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase and decrease indicators of oxidative stress both during infection and aging. By supporting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant status, jiaogulan helps keeps cells and tissues healthy which might be observed as less frequent illness and better recovery to exercise. The saponins in jiaogulan could be used to support healthy gut function. In animals with gastric ulcers due to NSAID treatment, jiaogulan extract supports gastric mucous production and secretion.
Jiaogulan has broad benefits for hoof health, respiratory function, and connective tissue , meaning that most horses could benefit from supplementation with this herb.
In particular, horses that are prone to laminitis, chronic respiratory issues or seasonal allergies can be given jiaogulan to support blood flow to the hooves and lungs. Jiaogulan is not a cure and is unlikely to prevent laminitis if the primary causes remain present. Addressing the diet as a whole and having proper hoof care in place are the most important factors to support healthy hooves in horses. Kellon notes that jiaogulan will likely not be beneficial for hoof health if the primary cause of laminitis is not treated.
For example, horses with uncontrolled insulin resistance are less likely to benefit from supplementation for improved hoof health unless additional measures are implemented to first improve insulin sensitivity. Horses that are more tired than normal or reluctant to exercise might benefit from the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of jiaogulan to support their general well-being. Anecdotal evidence suggests the combination of jiaogulan and AAKG arginine alpha-ketoglutarate can support connective tissue function in horses with DSLD degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis also known as ESPA equine systemic proteoglycan accumulation.
It might help ease the pain and slow the progression of this disease. Early detection of DSLD is crucial to helping your horse live comfortably with this condition. To diagnose DSLD, veterinarians can use a combination of clinical signs, blood tests, and ultrasounds of the hoof and tendons. Management changes like exercise on alternating days, shoeing to support the suspensory ligament, and minimizing weight bearing could be beneficial for horses with DLSD.
The leaves and seeds of jiaogulan contain many active ingredients that have beneficial effects on health. Active ingredients include: [8]. Jiaogulan is typically fed in amounts ranging from grams twice a day for a kg horse. It is commonly combined with spirulina , arginine alphakeotglutarate AAKG or chasteberry.
When used in conjunction with spirulina, a recommended serving size is 20 grams of spirulina powder for a kg horse , given twice daily. It is recommended to start with a low dose of jiaogulan powder and gradually increase the feeding rate over time. Vasodilation of the gums and tongue can be used to determine the correct dose. Pinker gums and tongue indicate that blood flow has improved and you have found the appropriate dose of jiaogulan for your horse. Be careful when using this herb with any other products that have vasodilatory effects, such as isoxsupine — a drug used to increase blood flow to the hooves.
Consult with your veterinarian about which product is appropriate for your horse. Horses with laminitis might have draining abscesses during the first weeks of jiaogulan supplementation. This is because there are often pools of blood and immune cells within the hoof that need to drain out to allow the hoof to heal. There are many more potential health impacts that are under study.
For now, the herb is considered safe to use, but some people—such as those with immune and blood conditions—need to do so with caution or avoid it altogether. It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before adding a supplement to your diet. It is too soon to recommend jiaogulan for the treatment or prevention of any health condition. If you are thinking about trying it, you may want to consult an alternative medicine practitioner. The herbal remedy is available without a prescription, but an expert in the field can help to guide you through your options.
Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Antidiabetic effect of gynostemma pentaphyllum tea in randomly assigned type 2 diabetic patients.
Horm Metab Res. Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea improves insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. Anti-diabetic activity evaluation of a polysaccharide extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. J Hum Nutr Diet. Supplementation with extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves reduces anxiety in healthy subjects with chronic psychological stress: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Anxiolytic effects of herbal ethanol extract from Gynostemma pentaphyllum in mice after exposure to chronic stress. Antiobesity effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract actiponin : A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Obesity Silver Spring. Chinese herbal extracts SK as a potential candidate for the therapy of the metabolic syndrome.
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