One of the “herbs of immortality” from China. Jiaogulan does amazing things for our bodies. If I could take only one adaptogenic herb, I would choose Jiaogulan or garlic. It is often compared with Ginseng, and even called “Southern Ginseng.” However, it is not in the same family as the ginsengs.

It comes from the mountainous region of China, where people enjoy it daily as a tea. It is called the “herb of immortality” because those people live unusually long lives.

It works in several ways to prolong life:

• Regulates blood sugar
• Strengthens the heart
• Controls blood pressure
• Prevents heart attacks and stroke
• Dilates the arteries
• Regulates cholesterol and triglycerides (Hyperlipidemia)
• Balances hormones
• Aides in weight loss
• Optimizes brain function
• Protects DNA and telomeres
• Optimizes digestion and promotes nutrient absorption
• Boosts your immune system

Regulates Blood Sugar

Jiaogulan lowers blood glucose levels, and it improves insulin sensitivity. Many studies in both animals and humans have confirmed this. It is a great tool for those who are pre-diabetic. However, don’t take it if you are on a prescription drug to lower blood sugar without consulting with your doctor.

A joint study by scientists from Sweden and Malaysia showed that Jiaogulan regulates blood sugar by promoting increased insulin release by pancreatic cells.

If you are on drugs to lower your blood sugar, Jiaogulan may help you stop taking the drugs. However, taking both the drug and the Jiaogulan at the same time may lower your blood sugar too much. Seek the assistance of an herb-friendly health-care professional.

Cardiovascular Benefits

Jiaogulan provides exceptional cardiovascular benefits. It strengthens and regulates the heart muscles that pump blood out of your heart, assuring a strong, regular beat. Athletes use it to enhance endurance and long-term strength, both of which promote long life. It also prevents heart attacks and strokes by stopping platelets from sticking together.

Many studies show Jiaogulan’s ability to not only protect from heart attack, but to repair the heart muscle. A study at The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China showed that Gypenoside, a major constituent of Jiaogulan, protected heart muscle cells from the damage caused when the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen due to reduced blood flow, and then the additional damage caused when the blood supply to the heart is restored and it gets a rush of oxygen. This is what we call a heart attack.

The heart doesn’t just stop working, and then the oxygen level goes down. The oxygen level goes down first, causing damage to the heart muscle, which in turn causes the heart to stop pumping properly, or at all.

Jiaogulan protected the heart cells from damage during a heart attack, both in living rats and in the test tube, essentially stopping the damage heart attacks are known to cause. This could not only save your life, it could help restore it after a cardiac event.

It is the strongest natural blood pressure medicine known. Research has shown that it lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension by over 80 percent versus Ginseng at about 40 percent and Big Pharma’s drugs at around 95 percent. It does this by increasing nitrous oxide and dilating blood vessels, which also promotes healthy erections.

Perhaps more importantly, those of you with high blood pressure may be able to get off the drugs and use Jiaogulan instead. It is much safer (and less expensive).
Cholesterol and triglycerides

In a study of nearly 1000 people Jiaogulan lowered LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by about 90 percent, while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol.

In a cooperative study, researchers at the Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in China and the Boston University School of Medicine tested Jiaogulan against the statin drug, Atorvastatin in rats with induced high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. They discovered that Jiaogulan was as effective at regulating the fats in the blood as was Atorvastatin, but used a different pathway. The Atorvastatin controlled blood fats during metabolism (while they were being produced in the cell) the Jiaogulan controlled them by controlling the chemicals used during metabolism. This is important because it lowered the levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), of which excess levels were shown to be another cause of heart attacks in a 2013 study.

Balances Hormones

Jiaogulan balances the hormones all over your body, including estrogen and testosterone. It has not been shown to increase testosterone.

Because Jiaogulan balances hormones and increases metabolism, it aids in losing weight.
Optimizes Brain Function and protects against dementia.

Jiaogulan helps you be more alert and optimizes brain function by protecting against oxygen species and inflammation. Researchers at the Institute for Functional Brain Disorders, Tang Du Hospital in China induced brain damage in rats, then treated them with 100 mg/kg or 200mg/kg extract of saponins from Jiaogulan. The rats receiving the larger dose showed enhanced antioxidant abilities, decreased lipid peroxide products and oxidative DNA damage. They also had increased memory and spatial learning ability.

The rats receiving 100 mg/kg showed no improvement over control rats.

Exactly how the immune system functions in the brain and what relationship it has to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is very controversial, and has been for about 100 years. The controversy was temporarily resolved when scientists decided that microglial immune system cells changed polarity in order to perform their various tasks. Microglial cells are tube shaped cells (worms?) that are able to travel around in our brains and spinal cord ridding us of dead cells, oxygen species, plaque, invaders, and other nasty things.

Essentially, they take the place of the immune cells in the rest of the body, T-cells, B-cells, killer cells and others, because those cells are too big to transverse the blood-brain barrier. Microglial cells don’t have to cross the barrier because they are seeded while we are still embryos, and grow as we need them, already in the brain (Weird and amazing. Our brains are full of worm seeds!).

At any rate, modern scientists are questioning the idea that these cells change polarity. Many believe that was a great idea when it was proposed because it allowed scientists to move forward and study what the cells do, rather than what they are. However, new evidence suggests different possibilities.

It is known that microglial cells play a role in Alzheimer’s disease and some other forms of dementia, but the controversy clouds what that role actually is.

What is known is that Jiaogulan moderates the role microglial cells have in the diseases of dementia.

DNA and Telomere Protection

Jiaogulan is full of powerful antioxidants to protect against heart disease, cancer and strokes. But it goes farther than that. It has a special activity against free radicals, which protects the telomeres in your DNA, prolonging life.

In addition, many studies have been done that document Jiaogulan’s protective effects against oxidation-caused mitochondrial induced cell death. This not only protects against cancer and other diseases, it minimizes the need for new cells, which in turn reduces stem-cell differentiation. This whole process means that your stem cells aren’t used up as quickly, again, prolonging life.

Protects Against Ulcers

Jiaogulan protects against gastric ulcers. Scientists at the Chiang Mai University in Chiang Mai Thailand showed that Jiaogulan protects the digestive tract by enhancing the synthesis and secretion of the mucus that lines your stomach and intestines.

Enhances your Immune System and Protects Against Cancer

Like garlic, Jiaogulan boosts your immune system by promoting the production of superoxide dismutase, antibodies, phagocytes, lymphocytes, and white blood cells.

It also protects against cancer by boosting T-cell production. T-cells are killer cells that attack cancer cells, helping protect against many forms of cancer.

Undocumented Benefits:

• Protects the body against radiation
• Helps detoxify the body
• Moderates bronchitis

Dosage

Studies that found it was effective for diabetes gave study participants tea made from six grams of leaves, three times per day.

For supplemental use, herbalists recommend 60 to 180 mg of a standardized extract containing 85 percent gypenosides. Herbalists and other natural practitioners use this dosage. It is not proven by modern research.

Warnings and Side Effects

Diabetes patients shouldn’t use Jiaogulan without consulting their doctor.

While Jiaogulan has never produced dangerous side effects, it may cause nausea.

Jiaogulan has not been tested in pregnant women. One of the chemicals has been studied for possible links to birth defects.

Nursing women should not use Jiaogulan.

People with autoimmune diseases such multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions, HIV or others should use Jiaogulan with care. It may increase the immune response and make symptoms worse.

Jiaogulan may slow blood clotting. If you are on drugs that slow blood clotting avoid using Jiaogulan. Also avoid using Jiaogulan for two weeks before and after surgery.