Goji Health

Traditional Eastern medicine modalities, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Himalayan medicine and Ayurveda, foods are recognized for their medicinal qualities and have been used for centuries as medicine to treat imbalance and illness. Goji berries have garnered interest through their use in various diets and role in helping to improve certain imbalances

While many of the Goji berry’s health benefits are derived from the historical use of the plant as a medicine, it is uncontested that these tiny berries contain a wealth of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, phytosterols, prebiotic fiber, EFAs and amino acids. Goji berries also contain a rich supply of linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (LNA). The oil extracted from the goji seed is reported to contain 67.8 g LA and 3.4 g LNA per 100 g of seed oil. The standard American diet is sorely lacking in these important fats; prolonged deficiency of LA and LNA can result in hair loss, kidney and liver failure, miscarriage, tissue inflammation, high blood pressure and edema.

In a number of Asian countries, Goji has a lengthy history of treating allergies, chronic liver ailments, eye conditions, tuberculosis and rashes. Goji is known for its positive effects on hepatitis B, because of the physalin produced by the berries. It is also used to treat heart and blood pressure conditions, as a memory enhancer, a treatment for breast and cervical cancer, an anti-inflammatory, and an antifungal, antibacterial. Both the United States and Canada have reported they are yet to prove Goji has a primary benefit for most of these conditions. The few published studies that claim benefits have all been done in China.