Gynostemma is an herbal nutritional supplement that originated in traditional Chinese medicine. It is also known as Jiaogulan (pronounced jow-goo-lawn).
The plant itself is a hardy perennial vine native to southern China and is also grown in parts of Korea and Japan. It has a wide variety of uses and has been nicknamed the “immortality herb” because of its widespread use in a region of China known for having people who, on average, live to be over 100 years old.
Its botanical name is Gynostemma Pentaphyllym, meaning Five Leafed Herb, and it is also known by the name of “Southern Ginseng” due to its relationship to ginseng and the southern part of China where it is most widely grown.
Gynostemma is in the cucumber family, but also closely related to ginseng. Both ginseng and gynostemma contain saponins, which are said to be the primary beneficial ingredient in this herbal remedy. Gynostemma has been gaining popularity since the 1960s as a replacement for ginseng because of ginseng being over-farmed, and also, the more varied benefits of gynostemma.
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Gynostemma Benefits Gynostemma is becoming more and more widely used because it has such a wide variety of benefits affecting all aspects of the body. Gynostemma is a powerful antioxidant that claims to restore balance to five systems of the body: Cardiovascular Digestive ... more
Gynostemma is becoming more and more widely used because it has such a wide variety of benefits affecting all aspects of the body. Gynostemma is a powerful antioxidant that claims to restore balance to five systems of the body:
Research has been done on gynostemma, proving its effectiveness at treating a range of ailments in both humans and laboratory animals. However, more research has been done for some disorders and less for others so it is always best to use caution when beginning to use this supplement, as it is with any natural remedies.
Gynostemma helps to open the heart valves and blood vessels and has been shown to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and increase your endurance during exercise. Benefits have also been seen in people with bronchitis and asthma as it moistens the lungs and reduces the presence of phlegm in the respiratory system. Other benefits to gynostemma include:
Gynostemma has even recently become popular for use as a weight loss supplement. Weight control programs using gynostemma began in Asia, but gynostemma weight loss tea is now gaining in popularity here in the United States. Gynostemma has the dual ability to lower weight in people who need to lose pounds, and increase weight in those who need to gain for athletic performance or because they are underweight.
While gynostemma is generally considered a very safe herbal supplement, it is still important to follow dosing instructions properly. Gynostemma comes in tea, pill, capsule, powder and liquid extract forms.
The typical strength is 5-12 grams for a pill and .75-1 gram for a powder. Most marketed brands recommend taking the supplement twice per day after meals. When using gynostemma in tea bag form, it is recommended to make a cup of tea with 1-2 teabags per day.
Gynostemma is not considered safe for children under the age of 18 in any dose. Doses may vary depending on what gynostemma is being used to treat and the brand of the supplement you have purchased.
Although Gynostemma is considered to be among the safest of herbal supplements there are still some possible side effects and safety precautions that you should be aware of. Gynostemma should not be taken by women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon due to the fact that research has shown it may cause the blood to take longer to clot. For this same reason, people taking blood thinners or with conditions that cause problems with clotting should not take Gynostemma. Mild side effects seen in rare cases include:
No severe reactions have been reported in people using gynostemma supplements in any form. However, there is little research into long term effects of the supplement. It is always best to consult a physician when contemplating beginning the use of any supplement to make sure it will not interact with any drugs you are currently taking or affect any medical conditions you may have.
For example, if you are taking cholesterol lowering medications or herbal supplements such as Red Yeast Rice, you need to be cautious about using gynostemma because it also lowers cholesterol. Also, some of the research for the effectiveness of gynostemma on certain conditions is limited. If the condition is severe enough your physician may instead recommend treatment with a more conventional form of medicine, proven through more extensive research and approved by the FDA.
Still interested in trying gynostemma? Learn more about it and other nutritional supplements by using the provided supplement finder now!
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| Dry Throat |
| Fatigue |
| Feeling Of Chest Pressure |
| Increased Heart Rate |
| Lethargy |
| Nausea |
| Rashes |
| Adaptogen, Amachazuru, Dungkulcha, Fairy Herb, Gynostemma, Gynostemma pedatum, Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Immortality Herb, Jiao Chu Lan, Jiao Gu Lan, Miracle Grass, Penta Tea, Southern Ginseng, Vitis pentaphylla, Xian Cao, Xianxao |
| Alertness |
| Anti-Aging |
| Asthma |
| Brain Function |
| Bronchitis |
| Cancer Cells |
| Gastrointestinal Issues |
| Immunity |
| Increased Endurance |
| Jet Lag |
| Liver Function |
| Lower Blood Pressure |
| Lowering Cholesterol |
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| Sexual Performance |
| Stress |
| Weight Gain |
| Weight Loss |