For the past ten or eleven years, my health and overall well-being have been one of the main focuses of my life. Through this new exploration, my extensive herbology library and experiences with many herbs came to fruition. Whether through tea, tincture, or pills, I try many variations, but only a few produce actual positive effects. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP), or jiaogulan, is a Chinese herb that grows in Asia. While it is relatively safe with few side effects, there are many benefits. For seven months, gynostemma has been part of my daily supplement ritual. During that time, my husband has been noticeably sick at least three times, as I did not get sick at all.
After some research, I found that Gynostemma seems to boost the immune system in different ways — mainly by helping important immune cells work better and by controlling the chemicals they use to communicate. It might also help indirectly by improving gut health. Gynostemma also shows a wide range of health benefits, such as assisting in reducing obesity by regulating fat metabolism and activating key proteins like AMPK and SIRT1. GP also shows promise in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels, offering antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects. It supports the liver and may benefit cardiovascular function. There is potential for gynostemma to work synergistically with Omega 3’s and other lipid-lowering agents such as red yeast rice and hibiscus, indicating that combining these supplements works better than taking them on their own. If any of this sounds appealing, feel free to give gynostemma a try and, as always, be well.
*Note: I get vaccinated and keep up to date with my vaccines. If you have any preexisting conditions or autoimmune diseases, consult your primary care physician before starting any new treatments.