Lost Empire Herbs Gynostemma Tea 100 Grams

Gynostemma Tea, the Herb of Immortality, a Strong Adaptogen with Ginseng-like Activity

Gynostemma pentaphyllum, or as the Chinese call it, Jiaogulan, is a climbing vine related to the cucumber or gourd family.

Many companies use the Chinese name, so it helps to know this herb as both. Gynostemma is growing in popularity in the West, where it is needed more than ever these days.

There is a legend that states that there was a Chinese Emperor by the name of Fu Shou (Lucky Immortal). He was a far-sighted ruler that decreed that all water should be boiled for hygienic purposes.

One day, while far away in a distant part of his realm, the servants began boiling water to drink. Some jiaogulan leaves fell into the pot, and the Emperor, ever inquisitive, tried the infusion. He liked what he tasted and brought the tea back to Northern China.

Did this actually happen? Who knows? This plant did grew wild and was used in Southern China where much of the medicine was ignored for a long time by the Northern Chinese. Because of this, gynostemma first showed itself in the historical record only in the 14th century! It is safe to assume it has been traditionally locally used for far longer.

Gynostemma received its nickname, The Herb of Immortality, in Chinese medical texts a couple of centuries after its first historical written appearance in the 16th Century.
How Gynostemma is Ginseng-like


To fully understand gynostemma we must talk a bit about the well-known plant, Panax ginseng, commonly called Chinese or Asian ginseng.

Everyone knows ginseng has been studied heavily and found to be beneficial for human health (though you have to get the good stuff, 95% of what’s on the market not being of any real quality).

Many of ginseng’s health effects come from compounds called ginsenosides. Panax was originally thought to be the only plant genus that contained these compounds. These ginsenosides are classed as saponin compounds, of which ginseng has 24 total. Gynostemma, of no relation to Panax sp., had about 82 different saponins!

Gynostemma has been found to contain these ginsenosides (all found in Panax ginseng):

     Rb1 – one study found that Rb1 increased luteinizing hormone. Necessary for male hormones production.*
    Rb3 – has been found to be highly hepatoprotective.*
    Rd – a study discovered that this ginsenoside attenuates oxidative damage related to aging in senescence-accelerated mice.*
    F2 – many studies point to this compounds ability to promote apoptosis.*


    Gylongiposide I
    Gypensapogenin A-D and gypensapogenin E-G
    Gypenbiosides A and B
    Gypenosides GC1 to GC7
    Gypenoside III at 0.9% dry weight (a glycoside of Ginsenoside Rb1), IV (a glycoside of Ginsenoside Rb3), VIII at 0.4% (Ginsenoside Rd), XII (Ginsenoside F2)
    Malonyl Gypenosides III and VIII (Malonyl Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rd, respectively)

Other well-known compounds include:

    Carotenoids
    Chlorophyll compounds
    Ombuine
    Allantoin
    Vitexin
    Quercetin
    Kaempferol
    Rutin
    3,5,3′-trihydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone (a flavonoid found in the leaves)
    Selenium, Calcium, Magnesium and other trace mineralsMany of ginseng’s health effects come from compounds called ginsenosides. Panax was originally thought to be the only plant genus that contained these compounds. These ginsenosides are classed as saponin compounds, of which ginseng has 24 total. Gynostemma, of no relation to Panax sp., had about 82 different saponins!

Gynostemma has been found to contain these ginsenosides (all found in Panax ginseng):

     Rb1 – one study found that Rb1 increased luteinizing hormone. Necessary for male hormones production.*
    Rb3 – has been found to be highly hepatoprotective.*
    Rd – a study discovered that this ginsenoside attenuates oxidative damage related to aging in senescence-accelerated mice.*
    F2 – many studies point to this compounds ability to promote apoptosis.*


    Gylongiposide I
    Gypensapogenin A-D and gypensapogenin E-G
    Gypenbiosides A and B
    Gypenosides GC1 to GC7
    Gypenoside III at 0.9% dry weight (a glycoside of Ginsenoside Rb1), IV (a glycoside of Ginsenoside Rb3), VIII at 0.4% (Ginsenoside Rd), XII (Ginsenoside F2)
    Malonyl Gypenosides III and VIII (Malonyl Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rd, respectively)

Other well-known compounds include:

    Carotenoids
    Chlorophyll compounds
    Ombuine
    Allantoin
    Vitexin
    Quercetin
    Kaempferol
    Rutin
    3,5,3′-trihydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone (a flavonoid found in the leaves)
    Selenium, Calcium, Magnesium and other trace minerals