Discover the Amazing Wolfberry Fruit

The latin name of Wolfberry fruit is Fructus Lycii.Wolfberry fruit has the effects of enhancing
Wolfberry fruit is used extensively in Chinesephagocytosis (uptake of material, such as
herbalism. The fruits are the berries of Lyciummicroorganisms or cell fragments into a cell) of
chinense and more commonly Lycium barbarum.the reticuloendothelial system (including the fixed
The roots also have healing properties. Native tomacrophages of tissues, liver and spleen),
East Asia and Europe, it grows wild on hillsides inincreasing peripheral white blood cells, enhancing
the cooler regions of northern China and Europe.humoral and cellular immunity and promoting
However, it is also grown as a cultivated plant inhematopoietic (give rise to distinct daughter blood
almost all parts of China and in some othercells) function.
regions of Asia, as well as naturalized in Britain,Betaine, a biological stimulant, has the effects of
the Middle East and North America.stimulating growth, reducing blood sugar and blood
Wolfberry fruit is a shrub that grows to about 2.5lipid, inhibiting the fat deposition in liver cells and
m by 2 m at a medium rate. It is in flower frompromoting the regeneration of liver cells. The herb
June to August, and the seeds ripen from Augusthas the cholinomimetic effects of reducing blood
to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (havepressure, inhibiting the heart, exciting intestines,
both male and female organs) and are pollinatedand has estrogen-like effects.
by bees. The plant can grow in semi-shade (lightIt was demonstrated that this fruit yields a
woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil. Theprominent action in protecting the liver from lipid
plant can tolerate maritime exposure.accumulation. When mice were poisoned with CC1
In China, the best wolfberry fruits are produced inin the laboratory, those receiving administration of
the provinces Ningxia, Gansu and Qinghai. Itsextracts from this fruit yielded no liver function
tender leaves are edible and the fruits and rootsimpairment, while the control group, which
are used as medicinal foods. The bright redreceived no protection, were mostly poisoned and
berries are usually harvested in late summer orkilled.
early autumn when the fruit is mature, dried inIn Chinese medicine, the liver is associated with
the shade until the cortex is wrinkled, and dried inthe function of the eyes. Wolfberry fruit is used
the sun until the fruit is crusted with the pulp stillas a liver tonic to brighten the eyes, improve
soft. It is used unprepared. The roots are usuallypoor eyesight, treat blurred vision, sensitivity to
harvested in the spring, although they can be duglight, and other general eye weaknesses.
any time of the year. The roots can be usedOne of the qualities ascribed to wolfberry root is
either fresh or dried.that it "cools the blood." It is used to reduce fever
It is also called Lycium Fruit, Matrimony Vine Fruit,and to treat other conditions of "excess heat."
Chinese Desertthorn Fruit, Box Thorn Fruit andThese include traditional uses to relieve excess
Chinese Wolfberry Fruit.sweating, stop nosebleeds, reduce vomiting, and
It has sweet in flavor, mild in nature; it is relatedtreat dizziness.
to the liver, kidney and lung channels.Some herbalists use a tea made of wolfberry
The first recorded use of wolfberry fruit as aroot and Scutellaria (skullcap or Huang Qin) to
medicinal herb is from the first century A.D. Fortreat morning sickness in pregnant women.
thousands of years it is used as both a yin tonicWolfberry is also used to treat certain types of
for liver and kidney, and as a blood tonic.coughs and asthma.
Wolfberry fruit possesses an action antagonisticWolfberry fruit has been shown to inhibit gene
to fat deposition, especially in the liver. So it ismutation and the growth of cancer cells.
often applied in obese patients and in liver diseaseOther studies from China show an extract from
with lipidosis. It lowers the level of blood sugar andwolfberry fruit inhibits the gene mutation induced
is beneficial to diabetes.by TA98 and TA100 (16). Some scientists believe
It has the properties to treat aching and generalthat wolfberry fruit may be a very good
weakness due to deficient kidney, manifestingsupplement to prevent liver cancer because it
dizziness, impaired eyesight, tinnitus (ringing noiseexerts liver protection and anticancer effects at
in the ears), impotence, weak waist and knee; tothe same time.
treat weak or blurred vision due to yin deficiencyAnother study from China found wolfberries
of the liver and kidney.exerts hepaprotection through inhibiting the lipid
Wolfberry fruit is often used in combination withperoxidation of liver cells in aging mice.
rehmannia root, dodder seed, dogwood fruit andWolfberries help to repair liver cell injury induced
other herbs for tonifying the liver and kidney.by CCl4 and facilitate recovery from hepatic
The food-herb is often used in combination withnecrosis.
chrysanthemum flower, rehmannia root, ChineseA study in China showed wolfberries facilitated
yam and other herbs for nourishing yin andstem cell proliferation and increased the number
improving vision, such as Qi Ju Dihuang Pill.of monocytes in bone marrow. Wolfberries help
To treat diabetes mellitus (relative or absolutethe monocytes to convert to matured
lack of insulin leading to uncontrolled carbohydrateleukocytes.
metabolism)Wolfberry fruits were very popular for their vision
Wolfberry fruit is rich in carotene, vitamins B1,improvement properties in ancient China. Modern
B12 and C. The fruit also contains amino acids,Chinese scientists found wolfberry fruits reduce
zeaxanthin, betaine, physalien, B-ergosteriod, iron,dark adapting time and improve vision under
and trace elements essential to the body, includingsubdued light.
zinc, copper, selenium, calcium, and phosphorus.