The Secret Of Himalayan Goji Berries
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The Secret of Himalayan Goji Berries
Legend has it that in about 800 AD, during China’s Tang Dynasty, some unidentified berries were found growing on a vine near a well next to a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the Himalayas. As time passed, these goji berries dropped off the vine and into the well. The monks who drank the water were exceptionally long-lived and healthy.
Attributing their vitality to the goji berries, the monks spread the word about the health benefits of this fruit and travelers throughout Asia came to harvest vines for planting in their own villages. Through the centuries, goji berries became a staple among healing plants yet remained an unintentional secret from the Western world. Only in the past two years has the plant made its way to America and been subjected to scientific studies.
What are goji berries and how do they Work?
The Lycium Barbarum berry grows on a bush that bristles with vine off-shoots. The plant is found primarily in the Himalayan region of Central Asia. Traditionally, the goji berries are never touched by hands as this will cause them to spoil and turn black. They are shaken onto mats and then dried in the shade. The berries can be eaten “as is” like raisins, or they can be cold-pressed just off the vine and their juice extracted.
The goji berry contains powerful antioxidants that slow the aging process, strengthens the immune system and the heart, and has been used to treat ADD/ADHD, allergies, athletic performance, cancer, chronic fatigue, HIV, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia and anxiety. It contains essential amino acids, vitamin C, vitamin E, Omega 6 fatty acid, Linoleic acid, B-complex vitamins, and more beta-carotene than any other substance on earth, including carrots.
Goji berries have a devoted following of users that revere it for its enhancement of sexual performance and fertility. In Mongolia it’s used by first-trimester women to prevent morning sickness. Older Asian women found that the berry reduces symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and insomnia.
Study groups in Asia performed the first scientific research on goji berries. In these studies, which are being replicated in America and Europe, elderly subjects were given the berries once a day. 67 percent of the subjects were found to have doubled white-cell counts, greatly increasing their immune system. Appetite improved among 95 percent of the subjects, 95 percent reported more restful sleep, and 35 percent reported increased sexual energy.
Clinical trials in several countries are underway to test the goji berry’s impact on early-onset diabetes, tuberculosis, dizziness, blurred vision and chronic cough, and disorders of the immune system. In these trials, 8-10 grams of the fruit was eaten by the subjects three times a day.
Researchers found that the subjects’ bone marrow deficiencies were significantly improved; perhaps indicating that the goji berry increases the production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This finding, if successfully replicated and validated, could have significant impact on immune system disorders like lupus, fibromyalgia and HIV.
Are goji berries for you? It will cost you some money to find out as these products are a little expensive. First, remember to consult your physician before using any herbal or plant product.
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