The main effects and functions of Gynostemma are as follows:
I. Boosts Immunity
1. Bidirectionally regulates the immune system
Gynostemma can enhance macrophage capacity, significantly increase white blood cell count, and improve the phagocytic function of white blood cells themselves. It promotes the secretion of interleukins in the body and increases the production of serum immune proteins.
II. Regulates Endocrine System
2. Lowers blood sugar
Gynostemma can protect the adrenal glands, thymus, and other endocrine organs from atrophy with age, maintaining the normal function of the endocrine system. Due to this effect, it helps lower blood sugar and improve glucose metabolism, making it an ideal medicine and health supplement for diabetics.
3. Regulates female endocrine function
It has good effects on dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, and menopausal syndrome in women. It also shows significant results for constipation, insomnia, facial spots, acne, and dull complexion caused by endocrine disorders. Ganxin Liangtang (a specific Gynostemma product) has a notable effect on regulating female endocrine disorders.
III. Treats Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases
4. Lowers blood lipids
Gynostemma significantly reduces total cholesterol (TCH), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It protects the inner walls of blood vessels, prevents lipid deposition in the vessel walls, and resists atherosclerosis. Gynostemma regulates fatty acids, the waste products from oxygen decomposition in the body, to achieve lipid-lowering effects. Typically, within about three days of drinking Gynostemma tea, one may feel a noticeable lack of craving for greasy food.
5. Lowers blood pressure
Gynostemma significantly reduces blood viscosity, regulates blood pressure, prevents microthrombus formation, and increases the tolerance of myocardial cells to hypoxia, thereby protecting the heart muscle.
Scientific experiments have shown that Gynostemma can reduce resistance in cerebral and coronary vessels, increase coronary blood flow, and decrease cardiac oxygen consumption. This effect surpasses that of ginsenosides.
A notable feature of Gynostemma is that it lowers blood pressure without affecting cerebral blood flow. This makes it highly beneficial for patients with hypertension, cardiovascular spasms, and cardiac insufficiency. After drinking Gynostemma tea for one to two months, patients can gradually reduce or even stop using antihypertensive drugs while maintaining stable and normal blood pressure.
IV. Nervous System Disorders (Headache, Insomnia, Fatigue, Poor Memory)
6. Promotes sleep
Gynostemma nourishes the brain and calms the mind. It can regulate the balance between excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex and has a bidirectional regulatory effect on the central nervous system. It has sedative, hypnotic, anti-stress, anti-fatigue, and memory-enhancing effects. It is particularly effective for insomnia, typically improving sleep significantly within one to two days, with some users seeing improvement the very first night.
7. Anti-fatigue, energy-boosting, and fitness
Mouse experiments show that mice given Gynostemma swim 31-57% longer than those not given Gynostemma, and they recover from fatigue faster. People taking Gynostemma feel more energetic and physically stronger, are less prone to fatigue, and recover quickly even when tired, greatly improving work efficiency.
Users report that within two to five days of taking Gynostemma, they feel a surge of strength, and symptoms like backache caused by fatigue disappear.
8. Headaches and neurasthenia
Gynostemma also has analgesic and antiasthmatic effects. It is effective for neurasthenia, bronchial asthma, migraines, palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness, limb numbness, dizziness, headache, poor memory, tinnitus, spontaneous sweating, and fatigue.
V. Treats Constipation and Regulates Digestion
9. Treats constipation
Gynostemma protects the intestinal wall, removes waste deposits, and maintains normal bowel movements. It treats both constipation and loose stools in a bidirectional manner. Users report visible effects within two to three days, significant results in about a month, and gradual consolidation of improvement.
10. Acid reflux, belching, and abdominal fullness
Gynostemma strengthens the stomach and intestines and improves digestion and absorption. After taking Gynostemma, gastrointestinal motility accelerates, appetite increases, and endurance for hunger and thirst improves. It has good regulatory effects on stomach problems, stomach pain, and gastrointestinal discomfort. For acid reflux, belching, and abdominal fullness, Ganxin Gynostemma capsules can show effects within half a day to a day.
VI. Weight Loss, Beauty, and Skin Care
11. Weight loss without rebound
Gynostemma inhibits the production of free fatty alcohols and the synthesis of neutral fats in fat cells, and prevents the conversion of glucose. Therefore, it fundamentally prevents fat production, avoiding weight regain and achieving stable weight loss.
Weight regulation experiments show that five women who ate fatty foods while taking Gynostemma had similar cholesterol and neutral fat levels to five women who neither ate meat nor took Gynostemma. This shows that Gynostemma beneficially regulates fat in the body.
Additionally, due to its rich nutrients and various vitamins, Gynostemma is considered a preferred health drink for skin care and weight management.
12. Beauty and skin care
Regular consumption of Gynostemma can enhance blood circulation, promote regular metabolism, and help maintain and restore skin health. It also has effects on darkening hair and beautifying the skin.
VII. Counteracts Side Effects of Hormonal Drugs
13. Gynostemma counteracts the side effects of corticosteroid drugs like dexamethasone. It significantly enhances immune function suppressed by tumors and can restore organ atrophy caused by glucocorticoids while preventing further atrophy. It is an invaluable health supplement for those who regularly take hormonal drugs.
VIII. Cancer Prevention and Anti-cancer (Tumors)
14. Cancer inhibition rate can reach 20%-80%
Pharmacological experiments have proven that Gynostemma can prevent normal cells from becoming cancerous. It primarily acts on the DNA synthesis process of tumor cells, significantly inhibiting the proliferation of cancers of the stomach, rectum, uterus, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, lung, skin, and melanoma. Anti-cancer pharmacological experiments show that Gynostemma not only prevents normal cells from becoming cancerous but also prompts cancer cells to gradually return to normal. In mice with cancer, those given Gynostemma had tumor weight reduced by 44.8% and survival time extended by 53.3% compared to the control group. Gynostemma is a highly effective anti-cancer drug, showing significant inhibitory effects on over 20 types of cancer, including lung, liver, and breast cancer. Long-term consumption of Gynostemma by healthy individuals can also reduce the risk of cancer.
15. Prevents prostate cancer
A deficiency of the trace element selenium increases the risk of prostate cancer in middle-aged and elderly men. Gynostemma contains 18 essential amino acids and rich trace elements such as zinc, strontium, iron, and selenium. Consuming selenium-rich foods can help prevent prostate cancer in older men; the more selenium in the body, the lower the risk of prostate cancer.
IX. Delays Aging and Fights Free Radicals
16. Extends cell lifespan
Human cell culture experiments show that human skin cells and fetal lung cells can regenerate 22 and 51 times, respectively. When Gynostemma saponins are added to the culture medium, these numbers increase to 27 and 55 times. This confirms that Gynostemma plays a significant role in cell rejuvenation. It extends cell reproduction and lifespan by 22.7%. It enhances superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and endurance. It inhibits the formation of lipofuscin, a substance that causes aging, thereby extending cell lifespan and delaying aging.
17. Fights free radicals
We all know that "iron" rusts when left in the air, a chemical process called oxidation. Similarly, various organs in the human body are "rusted" by substances called free radicals, leading to multiple diseases and accelerated aging. Besides directly providing nutrients to cells, Gynostemma also resists damage from free radicals, indirectly maintaining normal cell metabolism and ensuring smooth blood vessels.
X. Eliminates Sub-health
18. Boosts immunity and eliminates sub-health
Sub-health refers to an intermediate state between health and disease. It means the body has no organic lesions but shows decreased immunity, low physiological function, reduced vitality, and diminished adaptability. Gynostemma enhances the body's own immunity and can effectively eliminate this sub-health state.
XI. Other Aspects
Gynostemma also shows significant effects in preventing and treating cerebral thrombosis, diabetes, asthma, migraines, bronchitis, oral ulcers, gastric ulcers, hepatitis B, and other stubborn diseases.
Heart protection and pulse maintenance:
Gynostemma reduces myocardial wall tension, eases resistance in cerebral and peripheral vessels, enhances heart and brain vitality, increases coronary blood flow, alleviates atherosclerosis, and promotes smoother and more vigorous overall circulation.
Anti-allergic:
When certain body functions are weak, allergies to certain substances can occur, resulting in bronchial asthma, skin rashes, joint pain, etc. Gynostemma is quite effective for these conditions.
It can also alleviate or eliminate symptoms such as loss of appetite, insomnia, headache, and mental unease.