Gynura Procumbens is a wonderful plant with high medicinal value. It inhabits the Southeast regions of Asia- China, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. '
Longevity spinach' or 'leaves of life' are some of its popular names. Chinese call it 'pointed phoenix tail'. This article will tell you the reason of meaningful names this plant has gotten over centuries.
For many years, this plant has been used in folk medicine for some major health benefits. Its roots, leaves and shoots are consumed in different forms to unlock a treasure of nutrients. Africans use it in their daily diet as well!
How is it different from and confused with the Ashitaba plant?
Ashitaba is a Japanese plant that has been long misunderstood as Gynura Procumbens. Both plants have medicinal value (although Ashitaba has much stronger healing properties) and belong to the same family but they are not same plants. Ashitaba has Japanese origin and its common name is tomorrow leaf. Even now a days many people sell Gynura as Ashitaba largely because Gynura seeds are more readily available commercially. The plants do look similar however, if you look carefully Ashitaba leaves are a bit darker green in color and the ridges of their leaves are also more prominent.
Gynura Procumbens should be consumed fresh like other delicate greens (Spinach, Lettuce etc.). In the rest of this article we will discuss the health benefits this plant has when consumed fresh.
Benefits of Gynura- Top 20 Reasons for You to Use Gynura!
Gynura isn't called
Longevity spinach for nothing. This green plant is like heaven on earth, with tons of health concealed in it. Gynura contains amino
Acids, carotenoids, alkaloids and many essential oils. These bioactive elements have wide range of therapeutic applications. Given below are some of the benefits of Gynura that you might enjoy:
1. It lowers your
Blood Pressure
Hypertension can be
fatal and keeping it untreated isn't wise. But are you uncomfortable with popping tablets for
Hypertension? If yes, try 100% organic methods. Gynura Procumbens has been used as a therapy for lowering high
Blood Pressure for decades. iScientific research has proven its efficacy as an effective anti-hypertensive remedy.
Gynura has constituents that cause inhibition of calcium influx in
Muscles of your
Blood vessels. Due to the absence of calcium, the
Muscles of
Blood vessels relax and
Blood Pressure lowers. It also enhances levels of nitric oxides in your blood, which dilates your
Blood vessels. Your blood flow smoothens and body becomes happy again!
2. It protects you from viral disease '
Herpes'
Herpes is a viral
Infection caused by
Herpes simplex
Virus. It is mainly characterized by blisters around mouth,
Fever and
Cold Sores.
Herpes simplex
Virus stays low profile in your body and may cause recurrent
Infections. But here Gynura enters into the picture and rescues you from these deadly viral
Infections. Yes, with many other beneficial effects, this miraculous plant can stop
Herpes Virus too.
iiResearch has proven anti-herpetic actions of Gynura Procumbens. It does so by reducing replication ability of
Virus. With
Virus not being able to replicate, due to supplementation of Gynura, you become safe from potential
Infections. Besides
Herpes, G. Procumbens is famous for fighting other viral
Infections too. It has potent anti-microbial properties, which make it effective against the little trouble makers invading your body.
3. It lowers
Blood Sugar levels
Diabetes has emerged as one of the commonest diseases in the last few decades. Generally speaking,
Diabetes occurs due to low levels of insulin in the body, which leads to high glucose levels in blood. Not being able to lower
Blood Sugar level is crippling because your body becomes vulnerable to metabolic damages. So,
Diabetes can't be left untreated but many patients are reluctant to use pharmacological drugs. Gynura Procumbens provides an herbal alternative to you.
In African regions, practitioners have been using this shrub for decades to treat
Diabetes. But recently it has gained much importance in scientific circles. iiiResearch shows that Gynura lowers blood glucose levels and can be used as an effective remedy against
Diabetes. Its leaf extract has bioactive constituents that ensure anti-diabetic action.
4. It has powerful anti-oxidant effects
ivResearch shows that Gynura Procumbens has strong anti-oxidant potential. This miraculous plant has phenol compounds trapped in its leaves. These phenolic compounds scavenge free radicals in your body. When free radical clutter of your body is under control, aging stays away.
Confused? Don't let these fancy words get to you. Making it simple, with advancing age, tons of free radicals- a kind of
Toxin- are produced in your body. These free radicals damage cellular membranes and DNA, pushing you in the wreck of aging. Gynura pushes you back and keeps you young by neutralizing these trouble makers. Now you know why it's called
Longevity spinach, don't you?
5. Gynura is highly anti-
Cancer in nature
Cancer surfaces due to uncontrolled proliferation of cells and humanity is still struggling with its treatment. However, Gynura Procumbens is an emerging herbal anti-
Cancer remedy.
proteins extracted from its leaves include miraculin, peroxidase, thaumatin-like
proteins. These
proteins control abnormal cellular growth, thus have therapeutic effects on
Tumors, especially
Tumors of the
Colon and
Bones.
vResearch shows that Gynura is equally effective in alleviating breast
Cancer. So, one healthy habit of supplementing your diet with leaves of this plant, and you will be safe from potential
Cancers.
6. It has anti-hyperlipidemic effect
Diabetics are particularly monitored for their lipid profile because they are vulnerable to hyperlipidemia. It has been established above that
Longevity spinach has anti-diabetic effects. But, here is another wonderful effect of this plant i.e. lowering
Cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the body. Yes, anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects go hand in hand. So, Gynura is a gateway to brighten up your lipid profile.
viResearch shows that along with glucose lowering effects, ethanolic extract of plant's leaves has anti-hyperlipidemic effects as well. Low
Cholesterol levels protect you from
Heart and
Liver diseases, ensuring maximum health. Weight loss is another perk, considering its lipid lowering properties. In a nutshell, Gynura is a complete health package for a diabetic patient.
7. It protects you from
Stomach Ulcers
Many herbal plants have always been used for
Gastrointestinal ailments. You might have seen your great grandmother a
Sking you to take an herbal powder for
Heartburn. Gynura is also one of those gastro-protective plants. However, the good news is that it does something bigger than
Heart burn or
Acidity. It alleviates
Ulcers of
Gastrointestinal tracts.
viiResearch shows that Gynura has anti-ulcerogenic activity. It protects mucosa (the inner layer of gut) from damage, thus ensures a healthy gut!
8. It enhances
Wound healing
Wound healing is a physiological process that starts right after the injury occurs. It's like your body uses its resources to perform self-healing. When it gets completed, a scar forms as a souvenir of injury and efforts made by your body. However, you can manipulate this whole process into speeding up and leaving less prominent scar. Out of many natural and pharmacological dressings, one of the best, scientifically backed is Gynura.
viiiResearch has shown its efficacy in speeding up
Wound injury at a considerably fast pace. If you supplement
Wound healing with leaf extract of this plant the scar forming at the end is lesser in width. The
Inflammation is less invasive and collagen buildup is extensive- healthy sign for
Wound healing. Angiogenesis (formation of new
Blood vessels) and granular tissue (fibers that help in healing) both are prominent.
9.
Inflammation stays at a distance from you
Gynura has been famous for
Anti-inflammatory effects. But it's no more a vague mid-wife story practiced without any proof. Science has proved its capabilities in keeping
Inflammation at bay. It contains many bioactive constituents, alkaloids and steroids. These alkaloids play vital role in warding off
Inflammation. ixSteroids present in this plant are also responsible of
Anti-inflammatory actions.
10. It's an effective remedy for
Rheumatism
Alternative practitioners have used Gynura for
Rheumatism for ages. And owing to the
Anti-inflammatory effects of this plant, it seems logical enough. So, make this plan a part of your life and you'll see these effects for yourself!
11. It modulates
Immune system
Gynura is one of those medicinal plants that have
Immune modulating effects. They stimulate growth of human
Lymphocytes- cells of
Immune systems. Consuming these plants also impacts growth of natural killer (NK) cells- another variety of
Immune cells. Both these cell-
Lymphocytes and NK- make vital part of your
Immune system and ensure that your bodily defenses are high enough. They make your body capable to fight against foreign invaders in the form of
Viruses and
Bacteria. xThe efficacy of Gynura in guaranteeing healthy immunity is a proven fact.
12. Gynura protects your
Heart
To protect your
Heart, you have to make sure two things are right in your body.
Blood Pressure at its normal measurement and lipids under control. Gynura ensures achievement of both these therapeutic goals. It produces nitric oxide, which is a powerful vasodilator and lowers
Blood Pressure.
Blood Pressure under control diminishes the risk of extra load on
Heart. Gynura also lowers
Cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body which makes sure atherosclerosis doesn't appear. With both these therapeutic goals unlocked, you can hack yourself a secret of healthy
Heart.
13. It's good news for your
Kidneys
Gynura is your
Kidneys' long lost friend and science has discovered it again. xiResearchers have found that Gynura has healthy impacts on progressive
Kidney disease. Bioactive compounds present in its leaf extract inhibit proliferation of mesangial cells (cells present in
Kidney). They also decrease expression of some harmful
proteins, thus act as protective agents for
Kidneys. Considering this, it can be claimed as effective remedy for the management of
Kidney diseases.
14. It boosts reproductive health
Speaking of reproductive health, this plant is mainly concerned with diabetic males. Diabetic males have more oxidative
Stress in their body, which affects
Sperm quality and motility. In such cases Gynura can help you in keeping
Sperm quality intact. It clears away
Toxins- oxidative
Stress- from your body and produces
Nutrition for
Sperm. As a result, both the motility and quantity of
Sperm increase. So, as xiiresearch has proven, Gynura is a guaranteed refuge for diabetic males looking for healthy
Sperms and improved reproductive health!
15. It wards off
Skin diseases
Going natural for
Skin treatments isn't new. Our elders have always advised us to use natural products for beautifying
Skin because they have minimal side effects. But surprisingly, story doesn't end here. Some organic plants can not only give glowing effect to your
Skin, but also treat
Skin Cancer. Topical application of Gynura can do this for you.
It keeps a check on
Skin cells proliferation, warding off any possibility of
Skin Cancer. It also saves you from photo-aging, caused by UV exposure. Sunlight exposure can't be eliminated completely so there's always a risk of damage caused by UV rays.
Longevity spinach makes sure that you stay safe from UV induced damage (production of free radicals) and premature aging. This claim is backed by scientific xiiiresearch. So with supplementation of Gynura, you don't have to worry about aging
Skin.
16. It is used in medicines for covering bitter taste
This is a benefit loved by pharmaceutical industries because it solves their one of the biggest problems. Gynura has a
protein miraculin which makes up more than 0.1% of its
protein extract. Miraculin
protein is used to make taste of bitter medicine, better and useable. Miraculin produced by recombinant technology is not feasible and its commercial value is low. However, xivresearch says that miraculin present in this natural heaven has high commercial value. So, it's definitely good news for pharmacists.
17. Gynura has
Antifungal effects
xvAmong many medicinal plants found in Malaysia, Gynura is one of those which have high anti-fungal activity. So, it can be claimed that besides having anti-viral effects,
Longevity spinach also wards off
Fungal Infections.
18. It is used as a medicinal tooth paste
Having teeth troubles? Make herbal toothpaste for you. Gynura is used to make a medicinal tooth paste with 1-20% extract of it. It also contains compounds like glycol, diglycol, abradant, carboxymethyl cellulose and others in various
Concentrations. This mixture is used as a
Dental cream and acts as an effective anti-
Bacterial, anti-viral and anti-phologosis (
Anti-inflammatory for external parts of body). So, cut back on your
Dental bills and find an organic remedy once and for all!
19. Your
Liver stays protected
Flavonoids present in Gynura extract scavenge free radicals and protects your
Liver. They act like a detox therapy, freeing your body from
Poisons and giving your
Liver a break!
20. It alleviates
Constipation and
Dysentery
Gynura has been used in folk medicines for alleviating
Constipation and
Dysentery. Considering its anti-microbial effects and gastro-protective role, it isn't a lost cause!
What does the safety profile says?
Talking about the toxicological evaluations of G Procumbens, you don't have to worry. The safety profile of this plant is highly encouraging. No side effects have been reported particularly with leaf extracts. So, if consumed in moderate amounts, you're all set to enjoy tons of perks with no hazardous effects!
How to consume this wonder plant?
There are tons of ways, you can consume this plant. It's leaves have bland taste so crush them and put in smoothies or soups. You can use them in sandwiches or salads as a snack. Basically use it any way you would use any other delicate leafy green and you can enjoy all these health perks!
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