It takes something truly extraordinary to last for 5,000 years. While Egyptians built the ancient pyramids and 2,200 years before Hippocrates became the father of western medicine, Chinese physicians began using their newly developed alphabet to carefully record and advance their treasured medicinal legacy.
Throughout these ancient medical writings, three superior and legendary health tonics consistently emerge: ginseng, ling tzi, and wolfberries. Ginseng was too expensive and too powerful for daily use, and ling tzi was difficult to find. But wolfberries were readily available and mild enough for daily use by people of all ages for a variety of symptoms.
The most frequent references to wolfberries in early Chinese medical texts extolled wolfberries for strengthening the eyes, liver, and kidneys, as well as fortifying the "qi" (chi) or life force. The well-respected medical book, Shen Nung Ben Tsao (475-221 B.C.), noted wolfberry benefits ranging from replenishing vital essences to strengthening and restoring major organs. Li Shiz Hen, regarded by many as the greatest herbalist of all time, compiled the well-renowned physicians handbook (Ben Cao Gang Mu A.D. 1596). The book reports, "Taking in Chinese wolfberry regularly may regulate the flow of vital energy and strengthen the physique, which can lead to longevity." The book also cites a very compelling story.
“The Bao Shou herb store recorded a wolfberry elixir that promotes longevity…A barefooted man named Zhang passed the formula of this elixir to an elderly person at Yi Shi County, who followed the recipe and lived for over a hundred years. The elderly man could walk extremely fast as if he was flying. His gray hair turned black again…The herb is mellow and can be taken often to eliminate excessive heat in the body and will also improve vision.”
There is also another story of a woman who lived during the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907) who lived over three hundred years and claimed her secret to longevity was the wolfberry.
More recent evidence cites the magazine Domestic and Foreign, which published a story in the 1950s about a great herbal master Li Qingyun who lived over 200 years and died in 1930. In his life account, he revea- led the secret of his longevity was gained from his mentor who told him to take 5 grams of wolfberries everyday. “From then on I became healthy and agile. I can walk a hundred li (a li equals one third of a mile) and not feel tired. I became better in strength and stamina than the average person.”
The wolfberry is a rare case of a terrific legend that is only exceeded by its modern reality. It is very exciting to see the massive body of modern scientific evidence that is verifying the wolfberry's legendary reputation. For example, multiple ancient references cited the wolfberry's ability to aid and protect the pancreas, which they considered of great value. Modern Chinese scientists have determined that the wolfberry polysac- charide has "definite protective effects" on the pancreas cells that regulate our body's insulin system, the "islets of Langerhans." Other researchers have determined that special substances found in wolfberries have "prominent hepatoprotective activity," meaning that they help protect the liver. These are just a few of the marvelous studies that help confirm what ancient tradition held true. The following is a sampling of how the wolfberry is securing a strong following of researchers and physicians working with modern medicinal and nutritional theory.
Ultra-High Antioxidants
The wolfberry is considered to be a wide-spectrum antioxidant, meaning it does more than just protect the body against a single "free- radical". (Free radicals in the body damage cells, proteins, and DNA by altering their chemical structure.) NingXia Red’s capacity to absorb four of the most prevalent free radicals found in the human body is superior. Specifically, its capacity to absorb the superoxide free radical, the most abundant free radical in the human body, is many times more effective than the closest competing health drink!
Immune System Support
Wolfberries have been shown to provide assistance to immunity. Studies done in a hospital in Beijing, China, have shown wolfberries to be effec- tive in inhibiting inflammation and may induce an immune response. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Nutraceu- tical Association concluded, "Wolfberry juice and its mixtures were shown to have immunomodulatory effects... by increasing splenic (spleen) microphages and splenic weight." There are a number of studies that correlate increased spleen weight and improved immunological function. As studies continue, the science is clear — this remarkable fruit has an abundance of health benefits!
