Introduction - Gou Qi Zi
Gou Qi Zi is a highly revered and sought after herb in Chinese Herbology. Scientific experiments have shown Gou Qi Zi has the ability to protect the liver, reduce blood sugar and tonify the kidneys. It has shown beneficial results for dizziness, vertigo, and lumbago caused by kidney deficiency, as well as for dizziness and vertigo, from liver deficiency and is nourishing to the liver which improves and sharpens vision.
It is generally used to Nourish and Tonify the blood which in turn has a multitude of benefits, including fortifying immunity and improving microcirculation to the sensory organs and brain. One of its best known qualities is sharpening vision, which is a result of improved microcirculation in the eyes.
Although the whole plant is reportedly beneficial, the berries are the most effective and most used.
Stories and Legends
A wandering monk was passing through a village when he encountered a young girl beating a grey-haired old man with who looked to be in his 80’s or 90’s. The monk intervened and the girl explained that her grandfather had not been taking his longevity herbs and that was why he looked so old and grey. She explained that she was 372 years old herself. Surprised, he asked her how she had managed to live that long, and she replied that she consumed Gou Qi Zi all year around.
In 1578, Shih Chen Li, one of China's greatest herbalists, Shih-Chen Li, published his famous, “Outline of Materia Medica”, where he mentions the people in the village of Nan-Qiu who regularly ate Gou Qi Zi and the great majority lived extraordinary long lives.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a famous poet by the name of Yu-Xi Liu wrote a poem about this wonderful herb, where he declares the just drinking the water from a source near the plant will bestow the gift of health and longevity.
Gou Qi Zi is also associated with promoting youth and beauty as well. In one account, a beautiful woman attributed her daily use of this herb as the source of her astounding beauty and radiance. She reportedly looked 20 years younger than her actual age.
There is another account of a scholar who spotted a section of plants with beautiful flowers and was so intrigued that he decided to make a tea out of the roots, flowers and berries he picked. After taking the tea, he felt a great sense of well-being, energy and lightness, as if he could float in the air.
Use:
Like a majority of Chinese herbs, Gou Qi Zi is primarily used as a decoction. There are also liquors made from the berries. The best form for highest effectiveness and bioavailability is as an extracted Tincture.
Summary Information & Properties:
Chinese Name: Gou qi zi
English Name: Chinese Wolfberry
Dosage: 6 g.
Flavor: sweet.
Energy: neutral.
Class: 16, herbs to correct deficiencies.
Meridians: liver, lungs, and kidneys.
Actions: tonify kidneys, nourish the liver, nourish blood, and sharpen vision.
Indications: blood deficiency with dizziness and blurred vision, lumbago, seminal emission, and diabetes.
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