Botanical name: Gynostemma pentaphyllum
Jiaogulan
Other names:
Xiancao in china,
Amachazuru in japan
About this plant it has been told already 1400 n. Christus. Jiaogulan belongs to the plants used in the Traditionell Chinese Medicine (TCM).
The name " Xiancao" means Immortality Herb.
In the south of China people daily drink tee made of this herb and there are above average a lot of people in the region of Guizhou who reach an age over 100 years.
Description of the plant:
The climbing plant belongs to the family of cucumber, grows several years and is frost-resistent up to - 18 °C. You can grow it indoors as well as outdoors. If Jiaogulan grows outside, during the winter the herb above ground dies. In spring it sprouts again. Indoors Jiaogulan is evergreen. But sometimes nevertheless it dies during the winter and then sprouts again.
Jiaogulan grows rampant and needs a climbing help, loves a sunny to shady location and a normal well dunged soil, which should be not to dry.
Jiaogulan gets little green-white petals.
Healing power:
The special of this plant is the high content of gypenosides, which belong to the group of saponines.
Also it contains the same ingredients as ginseng, namely the ginsenosides. Further ingredients are polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
Jiaogulan has got the following curative healing power:
1) It lowers stress by calming down at nervous tension and by stimulating weak nerves. It helps persons who consume jiaogulan to perform better in sports and in tasks that require mental focus. Jiaogulan token before the competition makes you alert and vigorous, with less nervousness and quick reflexes. At the same time it ensures for faster recovery after sports.
2) Jiaogulan lowers blood fat and blood sugar and therefore it is useful against diabetes.
3) Jiaogulan ensures antioxidativly by stimulating the enzyme superoxiddismutase.
4) Jiaogulan strengthens the heart and the circulation of the blood.
5) Jiaogulan prevents thrombosis, stroke and heart attack.
6) Jiaogulan lowers the LDL-Cholesterol and the triglycerides which effects a lower weight.
7) Jiaogulan regulates the blood pressure.
8) Jiaogulan strengthens the immunesystem by strengthening of the lymphocytes.
9) Jiaogulan prevents stress diseases because of the adaptogene power of the gypenosides.
10) Jiaogulan accelerates the development of white blood corpuscles. This is important after a radiological or chemotherapeutical treatment.
11) Jiaogulan ensures cancer inhibition because of the glycoside Ginsenosid Rh2 which hinders tumours.
12) Jiaogulan is positive in due to the metabolism, because of better circulation of the blood.
13) Jiaogulan helps against insomnia, caused by worries and anxieties.
14) Jiaogulan helps against arteriosclerosis.
15) Jiaogulan increases vitality in case of tiredness.
16) Jiaoguan helps in case of liver diseases and hepatitis B.
17) Jiaogulan helps in case of chronical bronchitis.
Jiaogulan: Samen
How to use:
You make tee from fresh or dry leaves.
Fresh leaves also give your salads an exotic taste.
Propagation:
1) By seeds. You sow seeds indoors in a normal soil. Keep damp.
2) By layers. You cut the stem into pieces and then you lay the pieces into water. After 1 to 2 weeks you see the first new roots.
3) You dig out the bigger roots, seperate them and then you plant the singular pieces in the soil.
