Jiaogulan

How It Works

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never met anyone who was both sick and happy. Your greatest wealth is good health. It is fundamental for a happy and fulfilling life.

All the money and success in the world are meaningless if you don’t have your health.

You need to be healthy to fully appreciate the truly important things in life; spending quality time with your family and friends, playing ball with your children on a Sunday afternoon, or going on a vacation to a foreign country.

If you are like most people, chances are you’re overwhelmed and exhausted by the stress of the ever increasing pace and demands of everyday life.

Unfortunately, sooner or later the combination of stress, poor diet, lack of exercise and sleep, and chemical toxins in the environment will affect you and your health will decline.

Maybe you’re already one of the many millions of people around the world who suffer from heart problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, low immune function, low libido, impotence, chronic fatigue, depression, mental decline and other neurological diseases?

If so, you’re probably taking expensive medications whose side effects are sometimes worse than the disease they’re supposed to control.

Maybe you’re worried that you’ll be one of the 30 something percent of people who are expected to get cancer in their lifetime?

Would you be interested in a natural and easy way to restore and maintain your overall health and well-being, to look and feel younger, relieve stress, have more energy, stamina, sexual vigor and mental clarity?

What if you could gain these benefits while at the same time preventing most of the diseases that plague our modern society?

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.Benjamin Franklin

Well, I have good news! A little known herb called Jiaogulan may just be your cup of healthy and delicious tea!

It can completely change life for you and your loved ones.

Keep reading to discover why many people say that if you had to pick just onesupplement that would have the greatest overall impact on your health, you should choose Jiaogulan.

Jiaogulan the Adaptogen

Adaptogens are rare and remarkable plants that increase the body’s ability to counter and resist physical, chemical, biological, emotional, and environmental stressors by raising nonspecific resistance toward such stress. They decrease the organism’s susceptibility to illness by allowing it to “adapt” to the stressful circumstances.

Adaptogens support normal metabolism, help restore balance to the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, and allow the body to maintain optimal homeostasis. They usually also benefit the liver, cardiovascular system, kidneys, and pancreas.

For a plant to be qualified as an adaptogen, it must meet the following 3 criteria as defined by Israel I. Berkhman, PhD, and Dr. I. V. Dardymov in 1968:

Nontoxic - An adaptogen is nontoxic to the recipient. It must cause minimal side effects on physical or mental health.
Increases Resistance to Stress - An adaptogen produces a nonspecific response in the body—an increase in the power of resistance against multiple stressors including physical, chemical, or biological agents in multiple nonspecific ways, including the building of a reserve of “adaptive energy”. This reserve is then used when an actual stressor arises, instead of depleting the cells of vital energy.
Has a Normalizing Effect - An adaptogen is “intelligent” in that it has a normalizing influence on physiology, regardless of the direction of change from the normal state caused by the stressor. This normalizing influence implies the capability of adaptogens for a bidirectional effect on physiological function. They are capable of either toning down or strengthening the activity of multiple systems, including the neuro-endocrine and immune systems, depending on the need. For example, if a person with high blood pressure is given Jiaogulan, their blood pressure will drop. If on the other hand their blood pressure is below normal, it will raise.

When Dr. Berkhman was studying adaptogens, he discovered that the active compounds in most of them were a particular class of chemical compounds called triterpenoid saponins, which had very low toxicity and little addictive potential.

Some of these triterpenoid saponins have been identified as having adaptogenic properties, while others were found to have anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective (protecting the liver), adrenal gland strengthening, and immune system modulating effects.

Jiaogulan is a premier adaptogen, and has been described as “Like Ginseng, but better than Ginseng” because of the energizing effect both plants have on the body.

However, while Ginseng is often poorly tolerated and can cause insomnia, tachycardia and nervousness, Jiaogulan has the opposite effects because it is a superior adaptogen.

This is because while Panax Ginseng contains up to 28 different saponins5 (called panaxosides or ginsenosides), as of 2015 scientists have isolated 174 of them from Gynostemma (called gypenosides), nine of which are identical to those of Panax Ginseng.

That’s over 6 times as many of these health-promoting and balancing chemicals!

In fact, Jiaogulan has the widest spectrum of saponins of any known plant in the world by far! This makes it a potentially more powerful and intelligent adaptogen with broader health effects than any other plant, and many have proclaimed it “The King of Adaptogens”.

Over 40 years of scientific research done so far on Gynostemma seems to support this possibility.

Jiaogulan as a Nitric Oxide Regulator

Nitric Oxide (NO) is a gas and free radical produced in the body that is deemed so important in human physiology that it was named “Molecule of the Year”by the journal Science in 1992.58

Few people realize it, but Nitric Oxide is probably the most important chemical compound for cardiovascular health.

The President of the American Heart Association called it “the most important discovery in the history of cardiovascular medicine”, and in 1998, the Nobel Prize for Medicine was given to the three scientists who discovered the role of Nitric Oxide as a cardiovascular signalling molecule.

Simply put, adequate Nitric Oxide production is the first step in a chain reaction that promotes healthy cardiovascular function, while insufficient production triggers a cascade of destruction that eventually results in heart disease.

Nitric Oxide has been called a double-edged sword – or the Janus molecule, after the two-faced god – since it can be both vital and detrimental to your health and normal functioning.

At normal body concentrations Nitric Oxide is critically important for the proper functioning of all major body systems, including the cardiovascular, immune, nervous, and reproductive systems.

It enhances blood flow by dilating blood vessels, dissolving arterial plaques, and aiding in tissue recovery and regeneration. It helps brain nerve cells to communicate with each other and is involved in their development and regeneration. It also plays an important role in the fight against invading bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

However, Nitric Oxide concentrations that are too low or too high can result in a number of serious conditions and diseases like heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and many more.

Studies have now shown that Jiaogulan has the remarkable ability to both protect and stimulate the production of Nitric Oxide (NO) when your body produces too little of it 6, 57, 59, 60, 61, or to limit its production when it is out of control 38, 62, 63, 64.

Since diseases arise when Nitric Oxide levels are either too high or too low, the regulatory effect of Jiaogulan on its production is crucial in maintaining good health through balance, and is further testament to the herb’s adaptogenic properties.

Here is a short video by one of the discoverers of Nitric Oxide explaining the benefits of this molecule for your health.

Jiaogulan and Cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, killing almost 600,000 people in 2013 alone.

If you are an American, there is a one in three chance that you will get cancer during your lifetime. If you are a man, the odds are closer to one in two. Almost everyone in America either knows someone who currently has cancer or who has already died from cancer.

Arguably worse than the actual disease is the conventional treatment. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are based on the principle that by poisoning and destroying the body as a whole, including its natural defenses against the disease (the immune system), the cancer will also be removed.

This is akin to deciding to carpet-bomb New York City, including its anti-terrorism and police departments, because there were “terrorist cells” discovered.

There are several problems with such a strategy:

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are so devastating to our body that the majority of people die as a result of the treatment and not the cancer itself.
The root cause of the problem is not being addressed, so even if conventional treatments do succeed in removing the cancer, it will usually reappear in due time.
It is extremely expensive financially, costing up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Because only the symptoms and not the root cause are addressed, multiple treatments will usually be necessary over the years, provided they work to begin with. How many of these “treatments” can your body survive?

To use another metaphor, imagine your body is an iron rod and the cancer is rust on that iron. If you don’t address the root cause of the rusting process, which is the presence of oxygen reacting with the iron, and only focus on removing the rust with a heavy-duty industrial grinder, how many times can you repeat this process before snapping the rod in two?

The answer of course depends on how thick the rod is, or how strong your body’s constitution is. Regardless, I’d bet the house you don’t want to find out.

Wouldn’t it be more sensible to apply a coating on the rod so that rust wouldn’t develop in the first place?

Wouldn’t it be better to instead strengthen the body and its defenses so that it can naturally prevent or fight the disease? After all, cancer cells are always present in our bodies and our immune system is usually perfectly capable of neutralizing them.

We believe this is a more sensible approach, and it seems mainstream science is starting to agree. So much so, in fact, that the journal Science has designated “Immunotherapy of Cancer” as its Breakthrough of the Year in 2013.

Research has shown that Jiaogulan has many cancer fighting and prevention effects on a wide variety of cancers.

It works on several levels to prevent and heal cancer:

It enhances the body’s own defenses by protecting and boosting the immune system. A strong immune system is important for preventing the formation of tumors.
With its exceptional antioxidant effects, Jiaogulan scavenges free radicals within the body, minimizing DNA mutations that lead to tumors. (See the Antioxidant sectionfor more information)
Its chemical components like saponins (gypenosides), flavonoids and polysaccharides have direct anticancer action.

Jiaogulan has been shown in studies to reduce tumor size, inhibit tumor growth and metastasis (spreading), cause apoptosis (tumor cell death) by increasing free-radical damage to cancer cells, and inhibit energy production in cancer cells.

These effects have been demonstrated in several types of cancer, including:

Liver (hepatoma)104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113
Lung114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120
Prostate121
Colorectal122, 123, 124, 125
Esophageal 122, 126
Oral127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135
Brain136
Stomach 137, 138
Skin (melanoma)139, 140
Uterus/cervix141, 142, 143
Leukaemia 144, 145, 146, 147
Sarcoma 147, 148

For those who choose to use the traditional methods of cancer treatment – chemotherapy and radiation therapy – Jiaogulan has shown to be an invaluable ally.

This is because it provides a very strong protection against the damaging effects these treatments have on the immune system.149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154

Jiaogulan was also found to diminish the overall damaging effects of drug toxicity from chemotherapy137, 148, while at the same time boosting its effectiveness125, 148.

Jiaogulan Protects and Strengthens the Nervous System

Jiaogulan protects and enhances the function of the central and peripheral nervous systems, mainly through its antioxidant properties and its ability to regulate Nitric Oxide production.

Nitric Oxide plays an important role in learning and memory by helping nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other.197, 198 It is involved in neurotransmitter release, neural development and regeneration, synaptic plasticity and regulation of gene expression.199

At normal concentrations, Nitric Oxide protects the nerve cells from damage and cell death. However, at high concentrations it becomes toxic to the nerve cells and can cause cell injury and cell death.200

Overproduction of Nitric Oxide in the nervous system has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s disease, and depression.201

In addition, free radical damage has been shown to play a major role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.202, 203

In light of this, it’s not surprising that Jiaogulan has been shown to help prevent both Alzheimer’s 204, 205, 206, 207 and Parkinson’s 37, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, which are the 6th and 14th leading causes of death in the United States respectively. It may also be effective against optic neuritis, although further studies are needed.213

In both human and animal studies, Gynostemma was shown to improve brain functions like memory, concentration, and learning, especially with the elderly.156, 214, 215, 216

The herb also helps protect against and recover from brain and memory damage induced by alcohol217, 218 and free radicals31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 49, as well as damage and cognitive impairment from ischemia-reperfusion and hypoxia due to stroke and other causes.34, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227

A study with elderly cerebral infarction patients (a type of ischemic stroke) showed that administering Jiaogulan for a 12-week period improved their cognitive functions to a level close to that of normal elderly subjects who had not suffered a stroke. In addition, the improvements were better than that of a control group that was given Piracetam, a popular nootropic and brain-enhancing drug.228

A second clinical study using different evaluation methods showed identical results, and further improvement when treatment was continued for 12 more weeks (24 weeks in total).229

Jiaogulan can also prevent brain and nervous system damage caused by consumption of the popular flavor enhancing food additive Monosodium Glutamate (MSG).230, 231, 232, 233

Lastly, the herb was found to increase the excitability and stability of the brain during athletic competition. A Guiyang Medical College research group carried out testing on more than 300 professional athletes, including athletes of the China National Skating Team. All of the tested athletes reported that a Jiaogulan/Danshen recipe taken before the competition made them vigorous and alert, with quick reflexes and less nervousness. A control group taking Danshen alone did not feel increased stability and excitability of the nervous system during competition, although they also felt increased energy and endurance.234, 235

Other Health Benefits of Jiaogulan

Anti-Anxiety and Anti-Stress

Being an adaptogen, Jiaogulan reduces mental and physical stress. It has also been shown to have a significant anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effect and to help recover dopamine and serotonin levels back to normal.6, 211, 251, 252, 253, 254 One double-blind placebo-controlled human clinical trial demonstrated the herb’s ability to significantly reduce anxiety and stress in groups of high anxiety and normal individuals by over 20% and 10% respectively, as evaluated by standard anxiety and stress tests.255 Jiaogulan has also shown promise in the treatment of depression.256

Promotes Weight Loss

Jiaogulan helps reduce weight in overweight people, at least in part by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK).257, 258 In addition, the herb’s ability to increase insulin sensitivity in the body also has beneficial weight-stabilizing or weight-loss effects.259 A 12-week, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was done with 80 participants who were considered obese according to Asia-Pacific guidelines. 40 subjects were given an extract of one of Jiaogulan’s active ingredients and 40 were given placebo. The subjects made no changes to their lifestyle. Body weight in the Jiaogulan group dropped by 1.35kg, fat mass dropped by 1.25kg, and waist circumference dropped by 2.62 centimeters on average. None of these changes were observed in the placebo group.260 A second randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 56 subjects who were diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver also found statistically significant effect of Jiaogulan extract on Body Mass Index (BMI), as well as improvements in other parameters over the placebo group.261 Jiaogulan has also been reported to help those who are underweight to gain mass by improving metabolism and nutrient absorption. However, no studies have yet been done to test this claim.

Cleanses the Body From Toxins

Jiaogulan has been widely reported to protect and cleanse the body from toxins.294, 295, 296 The herb is able to do that by stimulating the production of the antioxidant glutathione, which plays a vital role in detoxifying the body by binding to pesticides, heavy metals and other toxins until they are excreted.

Protects the Liver

Jiaogulan was found to completely cure Hepatitis B in a 5.5 years long clinical trial with an effective rate of 77.5%.262 In short-term clinical studies (3 months or less), Jiaogulan was also found to have positive effect on patients with a chronic hepatitis B infection.263, 264 Prevents liver fibrosis – a scarring process that represents the liver’s response to injury – which can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer.45, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270 Effective both as a stand-alone treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by high fat and cholesterol diet271, and as an add-on treatment in a 6 month long human clinical study261. Jiaogulan prevents liver fatty degeneration in fatty liver disease by modulating fat metabolism, ameliorating liver dysfunction, reducing oxidative stress272, and protecting liver cells from injury and death61. Protects against liver damage and cell death caused by ischemia/reperfusion via its antioxidant activity.273

Protects and Improves Kidney Function

Three separate clinical studies with hundreds of patients suffering from chronic renal failure showed that Jiaogulan can decrease blood fats and improve kidney function, anemia, and the nutritional situation in these patients.274, 275, 276 Protects the kidneys from damage due to toxins.277 Suppresses the development of renal fibrosis.278, 279 Protects against kidney failure and gout by lowering blood uric acid in cases of hyperuricemia (abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood), which can cause both of these conditions.280

Fights Respiratory Issues and Supports the Lungs

Jiaogulan is effective against respiratory issues, such as cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic tracheitis (inflammation of the trachea).191, 196, 281, 282, 283, 284

In a clinical study of 86 patients with chronic bronchitis, Jiaogulan was found to effectively treat 93% of the cases.285 In another clinical study of 96 cases, Jiaogulan was effective 92% in treating chronic bronchitis.286 The herb is used traditionally as an expectorant and decongestant since it helps clear mucus from the airways, lungs, bronchia and trachea.196

Protects the Gastro-Intestinal System

Jiaogulan protects the GIT from damage due to toxins277 and improves digestion and metabolism. It protects against and heals gastric ulcers46, 287, as well as chronic atrophic gastritis288. It improves bowel movement function and alleviates constipation. Helps regulate the gut microbiome ecosystem by increasing the number of symbiotic bacteria. This may in part contribute to the anticancer effect of Gynostemma, since the gut ecosystem can play an important role in diseases such as cancer, autism, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergies.289

Balances Hormonal Function

Jiaogulan normalizes and regulates the endocrine/hormonal system, especially adrenal function.2, 300

Protects and Benefits the Reproductive System

Jiaogulan improves sexual function and helps with Erectile Dysfunction because it regulates Nitric Oxide production. Nitric Oxide plays a key role in developing and maintaining penile erection due to its ability to dilate the arteries and increase blood flow to the whole body, including the penis.209, 290, 291

Increasing Nitric Oxide production is the biological basis of how the popular drug Viagra works. Nitric Oxide is also important in sperm production and motility, ovarian function and ovulation, oviduct (the tube that links the ovary to the uterus) function, formation of the placenta, pregnancy, labor, sexual behavior, and generation of steroid hormones.292 Jiaogulan has been shown to protect the sperm from damage due to toxins39 and high blood fat content293.

Treats Insomnia

Gynostemma has been used as an effective treatment for insomnia in folk medicine, especially when it occurs because of excessive stress or anxiety. This is because it soothes the nerves and has anti-stress and anxiety effects on the body. A Guiyang Medical College study with 112 patients showed that Jiaogulan could improve sleep with an effective rate of 89 – 95%.297

Protects the Skin From Sun Damage

Jiaogulan has been shown to protect from UV radiation when applied directly to the skin.157, 298, 299 Even if consumed only as a tea, the herb will still have a protective effect against sunburn because it’s a powerful antioxidant. This is important in the prevention of melanoma (skin cancer) and premature aging of the skin.

Helps Against Psoriasis

Jiaogulan has shown promise in the treatment of Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disorder.301

Anti-Viral, Anti-Fungal and Anti-Bacterial
Headaches and Migraines - Jiaogulan has been shown to alleviate headaches and migraines.306
Hangover - If you ever find you’ve had a few too many drinks the night before, have a couple of cups of Jiaogulan tea in the morning – you’ll be pleasantly surprised!