Jiaogulan
Jiaogulan is known and appreciated in Asia as the “herb of immortality”. It is used as a food and medicinal plant. Jiaogulan belongs to the gourd family and cultivation is simple and uncomplicated.
General overview
The easy-to-cultivate climbing plant Jiaogulan is a pumpkin plant, which has recently attracted attention as a medicinal herb . The effect of the medicinal herb is compared to that of ginseng . The valuable ingredients of the herb were only discovered by chance in the mid-1970s. At that time Jiaogulan was discussed as a sweetener and its components were examined in this regard. The plant is fast growing and easy to cultivate. The tea can be prepared from fresh and dried leaves and has a pleasant taste.
Occurrence and cultivation
Jiaogulan comes from Asia. Its use is documented as early as the 2nd century. Especially in the mountains of southern China, residents use an infusion of jiaogulan leaves daily as an invigorating and rejuvenating drink. The Chinese province of Guizhou has a particularly high proportion of residents over the age of 100. This is attributed to regular consumption of Jiaogulantee. The “sweet tea tendril” has also been known in Japan for a long time.
Recently, the plant has also been deliberately cultivated in the USA, as it is seen as a cheap alternative to ginseng. In the Asian rainforests, the plant forms sprawling tendrils. The root area lies in the shadow of the thicket. The plant needs a bright location, but does not like to be in the blazing sun.
In its natural range, the climbing plant grows at altitudes of more than 3,000 meters. Jiaogulan therefore survives mild winters in a sheltered place outdoors. The root area of the plants should be in the shade. Too much sun will cause the leaves to curl. In midsummer, rather inconspicuous green-white flowers form. For ideal growth, the soil should be nutrient-rich and loose. The soil must always be kept moist. Avoid waterlogging at Jiaogulan.
application and effect
In the mountainous regions of central China, jiaogulan is part of the daily diet . The plant has a slightly sweet taste reminiscent of liquorice. The leaves can be eaten raw or made into a tea . The leaves contain valuable ingredients that can slow down the aging process. Dried jiaogulan leaves contain all valuable ingredients and can be stored for up to a year.If you keep Jiaogulan as a houseplant, you can prepare the tea all year round. Entire tendrils are always cut from the plant and then poured over with boiling water. In Germany, there are still no meaningful long-term studies. Nevertheless, the effect of the plant has already been sufficiently proven. Jiaogulan can reduce the risk of suffering from cardiovascular problems.
The gypenosides contained in the plant have a positive effect on stress. Taking it stimulates the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which protects the body from free radicals. Blood pressure is balanced and blood circulation is improved. Clinical studies have also been carried out proving that the plant prevents thrombosis and can also help with weight loss. The intake of Jiaogulan runs completely without side effects.
What does Jiaogulan help against?
importance to health
With its balancing and balancing effect, Jiaogulan is extremely well tolerated. Women in particular respond very well to the “women’s ginseng”. The saponins , some of which are identical to ginseng, can prevent stress-related illnesses. The pumping capacity of the heart is also improved by Jiaogulan. Diabetics benefit from the blood sugar-lowering effect. With the glycoside ginsenoside Rh2, Jiaogulan contains a substance that has an anti-cancer effect. Tumors cannot be eliminated, but the side effects of chemotherapy can be significantly reduced by taking them .
The positive effect on the central nervous system can help with depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. If the general performance decreases in older people, the plant is a way to increase fitness and mobility and to find a way back to general well-being. The medicinal herb can also improve strength and endurance in athletes.
In patients with chronic gastritis, 28 out of 151 cases were cured by the administration of Jiaogulan. The condition improved in 57 patients. Simultaneously existing tumors could be made to disappear in 25 cases.Overall, it can be said that the studies resulted in a positive course of the disease in more than 90% of the patients. Jiaogulan is available in tea or capsule form.
The plant is now also available in numerous nurseries. A book entitled “Jiaogulan – China’s Plant of Immortality” has also been on the market for several years. Jiaogulan is also used successfully in veterinary medicine.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.