Goji berries, also known as wolfberry or technically as Lycium barbarum, have been part of Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Goji berries are mild and tangy and look like a raisin. They can be consumed raw, brewed into tea, added to foods and drunk as a juice. The berries are not toxic, but interactions with the medicine warfarin have been noted. Centuries-old claims about the healing power of the berries are now being proven through scientific research.
Enhance Well-Being
Many people suffer from mood disorders and fatigue. A study published in May 2008 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine stated that daily consumption of GoChi juice for two weeks improved feelings of well-being. The study was conducted by Freelife International, a distributor of GoChi juice. A study conducted in March 2000 by the Department of Hygiene at Hubei Medical University in China looked at the effects of purified goji berry on exercise. Results demonstrated that goji increases glycogen storage and helps eliminate fatigue.
Improve Immune System
The immune system is composed of cells, tissue, proteins and organs that work to protect the body from foreign invaders. Antioxidants work with the immune system, fighting free radicals that cause degenerative damage to cells. In December 2004, a study by the Graduate Institute of Natural Products at Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan confirmed claims that goji berries are a source of antioxidants. T-cells play a significant role in the immune system by finding and destroying invaders, including viruses and tumors. In December 2008, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Immunology in Singapore determined that goji helped in the production and activation of T-cells. The same group published a study in Phytotherapy Research in August 2009, indicating that goji also activates macrophages, which eat foreign invaders.
Fight Cancer
Conventional cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which can damage healthy cells and cause side effects. Goji berry shows promise as an anti-cancer agent with no side effects. The School of Life Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, studied the effect of goji on leukemia cells. The results showed that goji induced apoptosis, or cell suicide, in the leukemia cells. Studies published in Life Sciences in March 2005 and Journal of Medicinal Food in August 2009 suggest that goji is capable of inhibiting growth of cancer cells. Always discuss treatment options with your physician before starting alternative or complementary medicine.
References
- Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi
- Journal of Hygiene Research: Isolation and Purification of Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides and Its Antifatigue Effect
- Phytotherapy Research: Antioxidant Activities of Some Common Ingredients of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Angelica Sinensis, Lycium Barbarum and Poria Cocos
- International Immunopharmacology: Activation of T Lymphocytes by Polysaccharide-protein Complex From Lycium Barbarum L
- Phytotherapy Research: Activation of Macrophages by Polysaccharide-protein Complex From Lycium Barbarum L
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