What is Jiaogulan?

One herb that is growing in popularity in the US is known as Jiaogulan.  Also known as Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, "Poor Man's Ginseng" or "Southern Ginseng" because of the similarity of some compounds found in both ginseng, and jiaogulan.  Jiaogulan is a twisted, twining vine that defies cultivation because of it's tangly growth patterns and wild nature.  When translated from Chinese to English, the name "絞股藍" means "Herb of Infinite Blue Entanglement".

jiaogulan extract

It's definitely a tangly plant.  The vines grow long and quick, with a leaf group every 6 inches or so.  Each leaf has a single growth node that usually includes a tendril that is tenacious at grasping onto fences, wires or other plants.  The plant also grows with very little light.  It prefers partial shade, and grows quite well in the understory of a forest without any direct light at all.  

Jiaogulan is touted as an adaptogen, helping the human body to recover from stress quicker.  It has also been used to help people who have trouble regulating their blood sugar levels.  In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we could say that it has a balancing effect on the Chi.  It helps the body to regulate it's own energy levels, so that theoretically, an overweight person who consumes jiaogulan would tend to have a more balanced metabolism, which would result in a healthier body weight.

Long distance runners use jiaogulan to increase their stamina.  Horse owners use it to help treat laminitis in their horses.  It is known for helping people to regulate body weight and for regulating bad cholesterol levels in the blood.  It also contains saponins that have been known to improve heart health and colon health.  

While I have no personal experience with ingesting jiaogulan, I am growing it fairly successfully and am interested to learn more about how it can benefit people.  I have found many positive references to it and not a single negative comment about it's effectiveness.

Common herbs with uncommon properties

There are many common herbs that you can find at most supermarkets, that have really amazing properties.  Herbs like rosemary and thyme are easy to grow, easy to find at the store and can have some really awesome health benefits.  Some organic livestock operations even use them to improve the health of their animals.

Sage - By Jonathunder - Own work, GFDL 1.2

• Rosemary -  Rosemary contains compounds that have proven anti-oxidant effects.  Traditionally, rosemary has been used for a wide variety of ailments, including improving memory, reducing stress and soothing the digestion.  
• Thyme - Compounds in thyme have been shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.  In fact, thymol, an oil found in thyme is a major ingredient in mouthwash, giving it the strong, medicinal flavor that helps to keep your mouth clean and feeling fresh.
• Oregano - Traditionally used to help improve digestion, oregano has a slightly spicy flavor and contains compounds that are anti-bacterial and sanitizing.
• Parsley - A common ingredient in many italian dishes, parsley contains some important nutrients and is able to improve the smell of a person's breath, especially if they've been eating raw garlic.
• Sage - Culinary varieties of salvia, or sage can have a variety of benefits for people.  

Herbs have been used for centuries to improve the flavor of food, and for their medicinal benefits.  Now, modern research is gathering more and more information regarding the specific compounds in the plants and how they can be used to help improve our health.

Herbs that can benefit your health

With the proliferation of information that has occurred around the globe via the internet, it has become much easier to learn about herbs in different cultures and how they are used.  Here is a list of a few herbs that have been used in different cultures for various purposes and are now being used in the US.

• Jiaogulan - Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, or jiaogulan, is a wild vining herb that is often used to make a tea.  It is also known as "Southern Ginseng", or "Poor Man's Ginseng" because chemically it bears some similarity to ginseng, the popular root tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Jiaogulan is currently being used by long-distance runners to increase endurance and for treating horses suffering from laminitis.
• Moringa Oleifera - Leaves from the moringa tree contain a high density of nutrients such as calcium, iron, vitamin C etc.  and have proven effective as an organic nutritional supplement around the world in impoverished tropical areas, where it is being grown to help improve the health of children and nursing mothers.
• Gynura Procumbens - Also known as Sabungai or Longevity Spinach, Gynura is a plant that high levels of saponins, and when included in a healthy diet, it can help to moderate blood sugar levels and improve the cleanliness of the digestive system.  Also, studies have shown that it does have some anti-inflammatory properties.
• Wild Yam - Traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory and to sooth cramps, there is very little scientific evidence that it has any actual benefits.  Scientific research into this plant may one day produce some reason for it's traditional use since it is well known for it's traditional ability to reduce rheumatism and sooth muscles and cramps.

Herbs are used for various purposes around the world in different cultures and have been utilized for centuries in some cases to help people to live healthier lives.  In some cases, plants such as these are being studied at Universities around the world to discover why they are so effective at helping to improve people's health in various ways.