When we talk about Immortality Herb, we mean Jiaogulan, or Jiao Gu Lan. This vining plant grows wild in many parts of Asia. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has long used the stems and leaves as a general tonic, either infused as tea, or in soup. Botanist Zhu Su first referenced the herb in 1404, in the Jin Huan Ben Cao (Materia Medica for Relief of Famine). In addition to the stems and leaves, he also described using the plant roots.

Immortality Herb or Jiaogulan belongs to the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae). In Chinese, “Jiao” means twisting or winding, “Gu” means vine, and “Lan” means blue or blueish. The Japanese name “Amachazuru” translates to “sweet tea vine”, referring both to its taste and physical form.

Lake Missoula Tea Company sells Immortality Herb as one of our most popular single botanicals. To brew, wash once in cold water, then use warm water (~140° F). Start with a 1-2 minute steep, or brew longer as it suits your taste buds. (As with any medicinal herb, a longer infusion will both taste stronger and convey greater potential health benefits. Drink up!) Then continue to re-steep, as you would with an oolong, puerh, or any high-quality large leaf tea.

Flavor and Properties

The taste of Immortality Herb (also called “miracle grass” tea) starts with a minty bitterness, along with a salty note, all against a backdrop of natural grassy sweetness. People compare the flavor to ginseng, green tea, or a lighter oolong. In fact, some know it colloquially as “southern ginseng”. Jiaogulan contains many of the same active components (saponins) as ginseng—and up to 3 times as many saponic gypenosides! (When you brew a cup, you may see soap-like bubbles on the surface of your tea. Those are the beneficial bioactive saponins helping you live to old age!) In the body, Immortality Herb acts much like ginseng, reishi mushrooms, or astragalus: increasing resistance to environmental stress by tonifying Qi, transforming phlegm, and strengthening the spleen.

Today, many people enjoy Immortality Herb or Jiaogulan tea as a caffeine-free “energy” drink. It contains bioactive components called catechins that are structurally similar to green tea. People describe positive results for controlling diabetes, lowering cholesterol, increasing stamina and endurance, and easing anxiety. In the last 20 years, extensive research has investigated the medicinal qualities of Jiaogulan, isolating more than 200 compounds with medicinal properties, including anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulator, neuroprotective, and antioxidant. The tea may also improve the body’s response to insulin, decreasing hemoglobin A1C, and may affect body composition by reducing visceral body fat as well as gynoid fat (hips, breasts, and thighs).

Preliminary studies are examining Jiaogulan for treatments related to cancer, Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s, liver injury, exercise endurance, and aging. Recently, interest has grown in the prebiotic potential of Jiaogulan, especially at the interface of the gut microbiota with the constituent polysaccharides and saponins.

Safety and Cultivation

Immortality Herb is generally considered safe, but as always, anything in excess may harm the human body. Individuals with autoimmune diseases, and those taking medication treatments for chronic blood-sugar conditions like diabetes, should consult with a professional herbalist or primary care provider before using high amounts of Jiaogulan. The abundant gypenosides may inhibit a liver enzyme that helps break down chemical medications, and may also slow blood clotting.

Watch for side effects, most commonly including diarrhea and nausea. In the absence of comprehensive clinical studies, we don’t yet know whether Immorality Herb is safe for long-term use or during pregnancy.

Immortality Herb grows widely in South and East Asia. This perennial (USDA zone 8 and higher) will also grow indoors in a pot with a small trellis, and can be harvested up to 4-5 times annually. Starts can be ordered certain times of the year from Strictly Medicinals in southern Oregon.

By Greta de la Montagne, clinical herbalist, Gentle Strength Botanicals

Sources

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-265/jiaogulan
The Healing Garden by Juliet Blankespoor
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8907712/
https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20063129291