Jiaogulan is a special, healthy tea with a delicious taste. It is a real green tea with deep taste sensations ranging from a slightly sweet stevia note to a soft licorice complexion. In a village in China where people drink this tea every day, there are a surprising number of people aged 100 and older. Jiaogulan has a range of health-improving properties. This medicinal plant is comparable in effect to panax ginseng. It works well for both the body and the mind. In addition to China, jiaogulan is also used in Japan and Vietnam. The leaves of this plant are edible as a vegetable. You can therefore incorporate the tea leaves into a meal after drinking the tea to benefit even more from the healing powers. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.
Contents:
- History
- Naming
- Medicine for diabetes
- In hyperlipidemia
- Obesity
- Good for the heart and coronary arteries
- Good for the gastrointestinal mucosa
- Good for the liver
- Stimulates immune system
- Better than ginseng
History
Jiaogulan was first described in 1406 as a medicine for malnutrition. At that time, jiaogulan was seen as food and not as a basis for a tea drink. You can eat the leaves of this plant. In 1578, jiaogulan was first described as a warm medicinal drink for sore throat, bleeding, edema in the neck, fever, tumors and trauma. Jiaogulan was a folk medicine that was not initially used by Chinese doctors. This was because this plant originally only grows in mountain areas and not in cities where there were many doctors who practiced traditional Chinese medicine. The tea was drunk before work to have more energy and after work to combat fatigue.
In China, jiaogulan is traditionally used for fatty liver, obesity and hyperlipidemia. In addition, it is a remedy for fatigue. It increases the performance of body and mind.
Jiaogulan in botanical garden in Beirut / Source: [email protected], Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)
Naming
The Latin scientific name of jiaogulan is Gynnostemma pentaphyllum . In Chinese, jiaogulan means ‘winding climbing orchid’. Jiaogulan is known as immortality herb in China. In Japan, where jiaogulan also grows in the wild, it is called amachazuru, which means something like ‘sweet tea vine’. Tendril in this case means ‘climbing plant’. Just like in China, this plant started out as food in Japan.
Jiaogulan contains 82 different types of saponins, mostly gypenosides.
Medicine for diabetes
Jiaogulan is used as a natural medicine for diabetes or diabetes mellitus type 2. In addition to a changed diet, jiaogulan can improve the effectiveness and sensitivity to insulin.
In hyperlipidemia
Scientific research from 2006 shows that jiaogulan prevents hyperlipidemia. This is a condition of the blood in which there are too many blood fats in the blood. It is a symptom of diabetes, but can also be caused by other abnormalities, for example due to an alcohol problem, an overactive thyroid gland or as a side effect of medications such as beta-blockers, diuretics and the contraceptive pill. A Chinese study from 2010 confirmed the anti-diabetes effect and also found that there are no adverse effects of jiaogulan on the vital organs.
Obesity
A 2013 Korean study showed that an extract of jiaogulan works well against obesity. The active substance is mainly actiponin. This substance appears to have no side effects. The substance was compared with a placebo in a double-blind study and jiaogulan reduces fat mass and body weight. The study was conducted over a period of 12 weeks.
When a fatty liver is not caused by alcoholism, jiaogulan is an excellent medicine.
Good for the heart and coronary arteries
Cardiac arrhythmias are counteracted with jiaogulan, according to Italian scientific research from 2005 conducted at the University of Messina. Spasms of the coronary arteries can also be remedied with this drug. In addition, blood pressure in the coronary artery system was reduced by this Chinese medicinal plant. Gypenosides III and VIII in particular are helpful for the heart and coronary arteries.
Good for the gastrointestinal mucosa
Jiaogulan is good for the stomach mucosa. Scientific research conducted in 2004 in Thailand showed that jiaogulan is an excellent means of repairing damaged stomach lining. An undamaged stomach mucosa remains in good condition for longer thanks to jiaogulan. This makes jiaogulan an ideal remedy for leaky bowel syndrome or other intestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. Moreover, food intolerances are always related to poorer functioning of the gastrointestinal mucosa; Jiaogulan can therefore even be good for reducing or curing a food intolerance.
Good for the liver
Jiaogulan is liver protective, some scientific studies conclude. In a 2000 study, scientists saw that a rat liver that had been deliberately poisoned recovered faster if the rats were fed jiaogulan. In addition, studies on humans have shown that these green leaves have a beneficial effect on hepatitis and other liver diseases.
The medicinal properties of jiaogulan are indisputable. Not only people’s experiences point to this; there have been many scientific studies that establish the medicinal properties of jiaogulan.
Stimulates immune system
Jiaogulan stimulates the production of nitric oxide by cells that are part of the immune system. Nitric oxide can, among other things, prevent malaria. It is a substance that controls many diseases in the body. People with arteriosclerosis, diabetes or high blood pressure have low nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide also plays a role in achieving erections. Furthermore, it is known that people who live at high altitudes need more nitric oxide. The cosmos is perfectly put together; jiaogulan grows naturally in the mountains.
Better than ginseng
Jiaogulan is a cheap alternative to panax ginseng. Panax ginseng is so expensive because the root has to grow for at least six years. Jiaogulan simply grows like a leaf on a climbing plant. Both ginseng and jiaogulan belong to the adaptogens. These are substances that increase humans’ adaptability. You can deal more easily with changing circumstances such as changes in the weather, stressful situations and emotional problems that suddenly arise. The Chinese people considered jiaogulan to be a better medicine than panax ginseng. Plus it’s a lot cheaper!
