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We carry a number of herbs which are highly beneficial to the maintainence of
health and vitality. In the coming months, our selection will expand to
include Hoodia Gordia and other interesting herbs and herbal concoctions.
At the moment our offerings include:
1) Goji or Wolfberry: Nature
bestowed upon us a profound gift in offering the Goji berry, one of the most
nutritionally-rich foods found on the planet. The Goji or Wolfberry as it’s
sometimes called tastes of cherry, cranberry and pomegranate with notes of fresh
mown hay.
The Goji berry, is the fruit of the shrub Lycium chinense, which grows
throughout Tibet and China. The flavorful berries have long been esteemed as the
food of immortals and renowned for building longevity, sexual vigor, and
strength. Legendary Chinese herbalist Li Qing Yuen is said to have lived 252
years, and attributed his longevity to tonic herbs including Goji berries.
Examining their nutrient profile, Goji berries look like an engineered
super-food. They have tremendous antioxidant properties and contain 500 times
more vitamin C by weight than oranges. They also contain vitamins B1, B2, B6 and
vitamin E. Inside you’ll find 18 different amino acids including all 8 essential
amino acids (including tryptophan). Goji berries are nature’s densest source of
carotenoids including beta-carotene.
Goji berries have both immuno-enhancing and liver-protecting properties. A
series of compounds known as polysaccharides are responsible for fortifying the
immune system and promoting the secretion of the rejuvenating human growth
hormone. Similar polysaccharides can be found in some of the powerfully immuno-enhancing
mushrooms that have been a source of much recent research.
In traditional Chinese medicine, goji berries are considered one of the major
tonic herbs. They are first mentioned the herbalist’s text called Shen’nong
Bencaojing written in the first century AD. The berry is classified as a blood
tonic. It improves circulation and absorption of nutrients. It will help with
dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus and wasting syndrome. Goji is said to have
cooling properties which makes it suitable for treating fevers, sweating,
irritability, thirst and nosebleeds. It can also soothe coughs due to excess
heat. Goji berries are indicated as an eye and liver tonic. In traditional
Chinese medicine the liver is closely associated with the eyes, and thus they
are used for failing eyesight.
Goji berries make an ideal snack food. They are delicious eaten straight out of
hand or combined with chopped nuts, chocolate, fruits or an addition to
smoothies. Use your imagination and incorporate them into a variety of recipes.
And if you have kids they’ll make a stealthy super nutritious snack food that
they’ll really enjoy. It is sweet in taste and has many known therapeutic
benefits. The herb is valued throughout Asia. In Iran it is cooked with rice and
saffron. This is a delicious variation to rice. In China it is used as a
medicine to prevent diabetes and to treat blurred vision and poor eyesight
caused by weak liver and kidney function - often a side effect of onset
diabetes. In China, the herb is also often mixed with Chrysanthum flowers and
drank as a tea.
2) Chysanthemum flowers: Chrysanthemum tea
is well-known for its purported medicinal properties. According to Chinese
medicine Chrysanthemum tea can aid in the prevention of sore throat and promote
the reduction of fever. The Chinese also often mix Chrysanthemum and Barbary
Wolfberry Fruit together to make a tea to ward against diabetes and to promote
good eyesight.
3) Hawthorn Fruit or Shazha: is the dried ripe
fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida. In Chinese it is known as Shanzha. It is rich in
vitamin C and contains many medicinal compounds highly valued in Chinese
herbology for the relief of indigestion and to aid in the function of the liver.
It lowers blood pressure by dillating the blood vessels and works to dissolve
cholesteral deposits in the lining of blood vessels. It has been used for
thousands of years by the Chinese. It is taken as a tea. Use the fruit in
amounts that accord with individual taste. It makes a delicious tea!
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