寧夏枸杞? Wolfberry? Goji berry!

Wolfberry, commercially called goji berry, is the common name for the fruit of two very closely related species: Lycium barbarum (Chinese: 寧夏枸杞; pinyin: Níngxià gǒuqǐ) and L. chinense (Chinese: 枸杞; pinyin: gǒuqǐ), two species of boxthorn in the family Solanaceae (which also includes the potato, tomato, eggplant, deadly nightshade, chili pepper, and tobacco). It is native to southeastern Europe and Asia.^[1]

It is also known as Chinese wolfberry, mede berry, barbary matrimony vine, bocksdorn, Duke of Argyll’s tea tree, Murali (in India),^[2] red medlar, or matrimony vine.^[3] Unrelated to the plant’s geographic origin, the names Tibetan goji and Himalayan goji are in common use in the health food market for products from this plant.

Safety issues

Two published case reports described elderly women who experienced increased bleeding, expressed as an elevated INR, after drinking quantities of wolfberry tea.^[38][39] Further in vitro testing revealed that the tea inhibited warfarin metabolism, providing evidence for possible interaction between warfarin and undefined wolfberry phytochemicals.^[38]

Atropine, a toxic alkaloid found in other members of the Solanaceae family, occurs naturally in wolfberry fruit. The atropine concentrations of berries from China and Thailand are variable, with a maximum content of 19 ppb, below the likely toxic amount.^[40]

 

Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species, in which it functions as a vitamin. In living organisms, ascorbate is an anti-oxidant, since it protects the body against oxidative stress. It is also a cofactor in at least eight enzymatic reactions, including several collagen synthesis reactions that cause the most severe symptoms of scurvy when they are dysfunctional. In animals, these reactions are especially important in wound-healing and in preventing bleeding from capillaries.

Links

Vitamin C a brief fact sheet on vitamin C and human health, and the forms and relative values of synthetic and natural vitamin C
URL: http://medical-library.net/sites/_ascorbic_acid_ascorbate_vitamin_c.html

The vitamin C site discusses everything about vitamin C. It is fair to say that it is ‘pro vitamin C’!
URL: http://www.cforyourself.com/

Benefits of Medical Plants for you!

Medicinal plants have always been considered a healthy source of life for all people.

Therapeutical properties of medical plants are very useful in healing various diseases and the advantage of these medicinal plants is being 100% natural.

Nowadays people are being bombarded with thousand of unhealthy products, the level of sensibility infront of diseases is very high and that’s why the use of medicinal plants can represent the best solution.

GYOD Roots/Echinacea ice lollies

To make the tincture:
20 g fresh echinacea root
80 ml vodka

For the ice lollies:

2 medium-sized red chillis
8 cm root ginger
240 ml honey
1 sachet fruit gelatine
800 ml cranberry juice
Juice of 2 large lemons
80 ml Echinacea Tincture (see above)

1. 1. Wash and chop the echinacea root, then put in a jar and pour over the vodka to cover completely. Leave for 2-4 weeks.
2. 2. Wash and slice the chillis. Peel and thinly slice the ginger.
3. 3. Combine the chillis, ginger, honey, gelatine and cranberry juice in a saucepan, then stir and simmer for 5 minutes. Take off the heat and leave to cool. Sieve into a bowl.
4. 4. When the drained liquid is cool, stir in the lemon juice and Echinacea Tincture. Pour into ice lolly moulds and freeze.

NB. Contains alcohol so not suitable for children.

Use: Take during colds and infection – 1 a day for up to 2 weeks. Each lolly contains one typical dose of Echinacea.

STORAGE: The lollies keep in the freezer for 3 months.