Adaptogenic Herb

Latin Name: Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Common Name: Jiao Gu Lan

Gynostemma is a powerful adaptogenic herb used by the Chinese for centuries as a "cure-all" herb. Belonging to the cucumber family, this anti aging herb and more is also referred to as "southern ginseng" where it is grown traditionally in the mountainous region of South Central China. Gynostemma is widely used in China as an anti aging herb, or a tonic to treat bronchitis, strengthen the body, reduce fatigue, improve sexual vigor, and reinforce overall health.

Gynostemma contains many amino acids, vitamins and minerals that are healthful to the human body, including selenium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, and more. Order this wonder herb today!

Gypenosides-The Active Ingredients

Gynostemma contains a 82 saponins known as gypenosides. The structure of the gypenosides is very similar to ginsenosides found in ginseng. There are 3-4 times as many saponins in jiaogulan as there are in ginseng. Some of those saponins are turn into Ginsenosides when taken into the body. This greater number of gypenosides maybe why Gynostemma is more powerful than panax Ginseng as an adaptogen.

Environmental pollution, poor nutrient, and stress can all lead to liver deficiency where the body is not able to convert food into energy, and instead convert them to triglycerides and stored as fat. Gynostemmamay may help regulate fat metabolism, maintain normal cholesterol levels and maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Benefits of Gynostemma:

• Anti-aging: Gynostemma provide antioxidant protection for cells and membranes, and may help slow the aging process. Gynostemma has been shown in several studies to increase the production of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or glutathione peroxidase, lowering levels of oxidized lipids, decreasing free radical damage and proliferation, and inhibits the effects of UV radiation damage. A 1993 study from Loma Linda University found that Saponins from Jiaogulan decreased the production of free radicals in immune cells, protected biomembranes from oxidative injury, and improved the functioning of vascular cells.

• Potent Immunomodulator: Research has shown Gypenosides isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum as a potent immunomodulator and may help maintaining healthy immune and system and other stress-related symptoms. In a research conducted by University of Sydney, Gypenosides derived from Gynostemma pentaphyllum suppress Nitric Oxide synthesis by inhibiting iNOS enzymatic activity. Inhibition of iNOS protein expression appears to be at the transcriptional level, since gypenosides decreased the NF-kappaB activity in a dose-dependent manner.

• Maintain normal cholesterol and triglyceride levels: Scientific studies have show jiaogulan's ability to lower serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL (bad cholesterol), while increasing HDL (good cholesterol). Crude Gypenosides were tested for their effect on lipid metabolism in rats fed with high-sugar, high-fat diets. It was found that Gypenosides reduced levels of serum triglycerides (as important a marker as cholesterol), total cholesterol, phospholipids and lipid peroxidation.

• Maintain healthy blood pressure and cardiovascular health: Gynostemma has been widely reported to be effective in maintaining healthy blood pressure. Research has indicated that the Gypenosides-treated animals had significantly lowered blood pressure; markedly decreased vascular resistance; and increased coronary blood flow throughout the body. Studies have shown that Gynostemma improves cardiovascular health by releasing nitric oxide in the body, which helps to relax the coronary blood vessels. Gynostemma also improve HDL level which may metabolized cholesterol more effectively, thereby maintaining good cardiovascular health.

• Adaptogen: Gynostemma is a powerful adaptogen. This regulatory effect on bodily functions can help bring balance to the body under a wide range of stressful circumstances. enhance physiological functions, aiding the body to recover from illness, stress and fatigue, restore homeostasis to the body's various systems, which includes the cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, immune and reproductive systems.

• Mainatain healthy digestion and regulate weight: By improving and strengthening digestion, Gynostemma may regulate weight by effectively metabolize the food into energy and block the conversion of sugar into stored fat. Gynostemma may also help reduce weight in overweight people by accelerating the body's metabolism, allows an underweight person to increase absorption of nutrients and gain weight in the form of lean muscle mass.

• Improve Energy and Sports Performance: The saponins in Gymostemma increase strength, endurance, and may help gain lean muscle mass.

• Radioactive protectant: An research published in American Journal of Chinese Medicine has found that Gynostemma pentaphyllum helped preserve immune function in rats receiving gamma-ray bombardment, suggesting that the herb may help cancer patients who are undergoing radiation therapy.

• Sexual Enhancement: Gynostemma's ability to stimulate nitric oxide release, which elicits vasodilation maybe useful in sexual enhancement.

• Maintain healthy brain function: Studies have indicated that Gynostemma has a double-direction, regulating, adaptogenic influence on the central nervous system. It is calming when one is overexcited and stimulating when one is depressed. Gynostemma maybe useful in simple depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

Recomended Dosage for Gynostemma:

For lowering Cholesterol, take 10mg to 20mg of 100% Gypnosides, 3 times a day. For maintainance of health take between 30mg to 150mg per day, depending on individual needs. Gynostemma appear to be safe even at large quantity. However, no scientific documentation is available to confirm a maximum dosage.

Risk and Side Effects of Gynostemma:

Not recomended for pregnant women, small children and breast-feeding women since so little is known about its possible long-term effects. Possible minor side effct is nausea.

Avoid taking Gynostemma if you taking taking blood thining medications or drugs to prevent organ transplant rejection.