Jiaogulan: Herb of Immortality

The following is a summary I produced using a book which google has out for limited public viewing called Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens by J. P. MD Saleeby. Bit of a pain as the book contains no copy & paste function, as such it was done manually. Given the time taken I thought I'd have it posted in public locations for easy viewing. I felt such a remarkable herb should be given more publicity, especially given its market potential and healing attributes.

Properties
- Adaptogenic
- Regulates Cholesterol^[1][9] & Blood Pressure
- Strengthens the immune system^[2][3]
- Effective in the Treatment of Hypertension^[4]
- Improves circulation & cardiovascular function^[11][12]
- Increases stamina^[11][12]
- Reduces stress
- Weight loss aid^[5]
- Increases Nutrient absorption^[5]
- Stimulates liver function^[6]
- Anti-Inflammatory^[6]
- Reduces blood sugar^[7]
- Antioxidant^[8]
- Increases SOD^[8]
- Promotes restful sleep
- Increases Vitamin D^[9]
- Lowers risk of heart attack^[9]
- Anti-cancer^[10]



Studies
"Nearly 300 scientific papers on Jiagoulan and its saponins have been published in respected scientific journals."

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¹ "In a number of studies, the effectiveness of treatment using gypenosides to lower total cholesterol was shown to be as much as 63 percent." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 55)

²"Jiaogulan strengthens the immune system by preventing stress hormones that weaken immunity from overpowering the body, making a person more vulnerable to illness." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 56)

³"Research suggests that a daily dose of Jiaogulan could lessen the risk of colds, flu and infection by increasing the production of infection-fighting blood cells. In one controlled study, young rats fed with jiaogulan extract showed an increase in the number of T-lymphocytes." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 57)

⁴ "In a clinical trial of patients suffering from hypertension, the effect of Jiaogulan were compared with that of ginseng. The results revealed that 82 percent of those taking Jiaogulan noted improvement in their condition as opposed to only 46 percent of those taking ginseng." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 54)

⁵ "Jiaogulan also appears to improve fat metabolism and increase the absorption of nutrients. It appears to also block the absorption of fat, depress lipid peroxide and fat sediment in the blood vessels." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 54-5)

⁶ "A number of studies[Lin, J (2000) & ChenJC(1999)] show that Jiaogulan may produce anti-inflammatory effects that protect the liver from various toxic chemical such as carbon tetrachloride. Jiaogulan (50 mg daily) was shown to activate DNA replication in liver cells, thus promoting liver regeneration." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 57)

⁷ "Clinical studies in lab animals show that Jiaogulan extract appears to stimulate rejuvenation of essential pancreatic Beta cells, the key cell responsible in the generation of insulin." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 58)

⁸ "Scientific studies illustrate that taking 40mg of Jiaogulan daily can triple the body's production of superoxide dismatuase, therby helping to neutralize damaging free radicals." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 60)

⁹ "Jiaogulan is thought to increase lipid metabolism, which includes the conversion of cholesterol to Vitamin D, bile acids and HDL. It also inhibits the production of free fatty acids, which leads to triglyceride synthesis by the body's fat cells. In lowering the LDL cholesterol, Jiaogulan can help prevent atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 54)

¹⁰"This herbal was also found to improve the Natural Killer (NK) cell activity in cancer patients, thereby helping their bodies to fight back against the invading tumors." (Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens, pg. 56)

¹¹ "By increasing the body's blood supply through enhanced cardiac output, Jiaogulan helps to nourish the internal organs by getting more oxygen to cells. Since oxygen plays a pivotal role in cellular metabolism and activity, more oxygen means greater endurance and increased stamina. Jiaogulan also contributes to a healthier heart because of its capacity to help the body cope with the harmful effects of stress, which can be a major element in the development of heart disease. Incidentally, improved cardiac output has been show to shorten recovery time from illness and injury." (Wonder Herbs: A guide to Three Adaptogen, pg. 55)

¹² "One trial studied 220 athletes as well as 30 healthy non-athletes taking Jiaogulan and showed a significant increase in cardiac output via ultrasound color doppler (ECHO) examination. This was achieved without an increase in blood pressure or pulse rate." (Wonder Herbs: A guide to Three Adaptogen, pg. 55)

Recommended Brand
This herb I myself take, it's rare to find it in Vitamin Shops. However, it is quite cheap over the internet. The brand I take is the following: