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What is the
Difference between
Wolfberry and Goji
Berries?
Wolfberry Fruit (Fructus
Lycii) This herb is
the ripe fruit of
Lycium barbarum L.
(family Solanaceae),
which is chiefly
produced in Ningxia,
Gansu and Qinghai
provinces. It is
picked in summer and
autumn, dried in
shade till the skin
is shrunk and then
exposed to strong
sunlight till the
fruit is crusted
with the pulp still
soft. This herb is
used unprepared. It
has the property of
strengthening the
kidney, replenishing
the vital essence,
nourishing the liver
to improve the
acuity of vision,
and nourishing yin
to moisten the lung.
The plant is used
for deficiency of
the kidney and vital
essence with
symptoms of
lassitude of the
loins and legs and
seminal emission,
wolfberry can be
used together with
Siberian solo-minseal
rhizome; for
deficiency of both
the liver-yin and
kidney-yin marked by
dizziness and
blurred vision, it
is often used with
chrysanthemum
flower, prepared
rehmannia root,
dogwood fruit and
Chinese yam, as in
Rehmannia Bolus of
Six Herbs Plus
Wolf-berry and
Chrysan-themum (Qi
Ju DihuangWan), for
yin deficiency with
phthisical cough, it
can be given with
lily bulb,
anemarrhena
rhizomeand
fritillary tuber.
Besides,
steam-cooked and
eaten after chewing,
it can be used to
treat diabetes.
Dosage and
administration:
5-10g, decocted in
water for an oral
dose.
Scientists in modern
China have
extensively studied
wolfberry fruits,
their nutrients and
their medical
benefits. They have
further
substantiated the
ancient medical
applications such
as: maintain healthy
immune system
(including specific
and non-specific
immune response),
improving eye
conditions, support
healthy liver
function, maintain
healthy blood
pressure and blood
sugar. Wolfberry is
also an excellent
herb for
anti-oxidant and
anti-aging.
Many studies have
shown wolfberry
fruits support a
strong immune system
by increasing the
lymphocyte
transformation rate
and improve the
macrophage
phagocytic function
in animals (uptake
of waste material,
such as
microorganisms or
cell fragments into
a cell). Wolfberry
assists spleen
lymphocyte
transformation
induced by
Concavalin A. It
increases the
antibody reaction to
T cell-dependant
antigen (SRBC) which
means that wolfberry
fruit selectively
strengthen the T
cell immune
response.
Wolfberry enhances
the T cell immune
response by
increasing the
number of E
receptors on the
surface of T cells
or increasing the
numbers of T cells
directly. One study
was done on seniors
in China. This study
showed after taking
wolfberry, lysozyme,
IgG and IgA in serum
increased in all
participants. The
activities of
interleukin 2 (IL-2)
were found to
increase 2.26 fold
in two-thirds of the
participants.
Wolfberry fruit also
can be used to
reduce lead toxicity
because it inhibits
the reduction of T
cells and delayed
allergy activity
induced by lead.
Wolfberry fruit have
been traditionally
regarded as
longevity,
strength-building
and sexual potency
food of the highest
order. In several
study groups with
elderly people the
berry was given once
a day for 3 weeks,
many beneficial
results were
experienced and 67%
of the patients T
cell transformation
functions tripled
and the activity of
the patients’ white
cell interleukin-2
doubled. In
addition, the
results showed that
all the patients’
spirit and optimism
increased
significantly,
appetite improved in
95% of the patients,
95% of the patients
slept better, and
35% of the patients
partially recovered
their sexual
function.
Wolfberry fruit
functions to
maintain normal cell
growth and improve
DNA restoration and
repair, plus the
function of anti-peroxidation
of free radicals,
therefore changing
the electrical
parameters of cell
membranes to the
normal range.
In one study in
China, a 48%
increase of Super
Oxide Dismutase and
a 12% increase of
hemoglobin were
found in serum for
all senior
participants. A 65%
decrease of LPO in
serum was found in
the same study. This
indicates wolfberry
fruit is a potent
anti-oxidant, which
may slow the aging
process.
Wolfberry fruits
have a higher
antioxidant status
than most foods ever
studied. According
to a new laboratory
test known as the
ORAC (Oxygen Radical
Absorbance
Capacity), developed
by researchers at
Tufts University,
here is how some
common foods rate in
their ability to
neutralize free
radicals:
Top Antioxidant
Foods ORAC
Wolfberry Juice
3,472
Vitamin E oil 3,309
Pomegranates 3,037
Blueberries 2,400
Noni fruit 1,506
Raspberries 1,220
Modern herbalists
use wolfberry roots
to treat high blood
pressure. There is
some scientific
basis for this
treatment, since
extracts from the
root have been shown
in laboratory
experiments to relax
the involuntary
muscles, including
artery muscles. This
relaxation lowers
blood pressure.
Other modern
scientific studies
have shown that
extracts of
wolfberry root can
reduce fever,
including fever
associated with
malaria. One Korean
study published in
1999 looked at the
effect extracts from
the berries and
roots had on the
blood of mice that
were exposed to
whole body X rays.
They concluded that
the mice that
received doses of
root extract
replaced leukocytes,
erythrocytes, and
thrombocytes faster
than those that did
not receive the
extract. This effect
may account for
wolfberry fruit's
reputation for
creating good
health, vigor, and
long life.
Wolfberry fruit is
traditionally
believed to have
many different
effects upon the
body. In addition to
being a general
longevity herb, it
is said to raise the
spirits, fight
depression, and
increase
cheerfulness.
Berries are made
into a blood tonic
that is given for
general weakness, to
improve circulation,
and increase the
cells' ability to
absorb nutrients.
When blended with
more yang
herbs, wolfberry
fruit is used as a
sexual tonic.
People who have a
fever due to
infection or who
have diarrhea or
bloating are advised
not to take
wolfberry fruit.
Although no records
of toxicity have
been seen, some
caution should be
exercised with this
species,
particularly with
regard to its edible
leaves, since it
belongs to a family
that often contains
toxins. However, use
of the leaves is
well documented and
fairly widespread in
some areas. The
unripe fruit might
also be suspect
though the ripe
fruit is wholesome.
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