Goji-Berry

Common Name: Goji-Berry, Chinese Wolfberry

Pinyin Name: Gou Qi Zi

Botanical Name: Lycium chinense

Part used: fruit, root bark
Properties fruit: sweet, neutral
Properties root: sweet, cold

Constituents Berries: polysacharides, betaine, sesquiterpenes, vitamin A, B-1,2, C, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zeaxanthin, physalein, linolein acid

Channels Entered: Kidney, Liver, (Lungs)

Growing & Harvesting: This hardy shrub can be grown from zones 3-10 and grows to approximately 5 feet, and resembles a raspberry plant. Vigorous pruning spurs heavier fruiting. Plants grow well in a sunny location and tolerate most soil conditions as so long as it is well draining. Fruits develop late summer into the fall, and should be picked ripe before drying. It may take up to 2-3 years before fruiting occurs. Fruits should be handled gently and placed in a dehydrator. Growing goji in areas that experience a hard freeze will have more abundant harvests. Roots can be harvested after 3 years.

Culinary Uses

The berries are often added to nourishing soups and energy bars. Goji berry preparation
Simmer 1 Tablespoon of berries in one cup of water for 15-30 minutes, strain, and drink resulting tea. General dosages 6-18 grams berries daily. Goji berries are often added to food preparations.

Medicinal Benefits & Uses

Gou Qi Zi is an outstanding tonic herb, nourishing Blood and reinforcing Essence; it is no wonder that Goji berry juice has been a recent sensation addressing many diseases common with aging and decline. As an added bonus, it is easy to grow your own goji berries! Buy Goji berry plants!
Indications for Goji Berry:
Goji Berry - Liver
Goji tonifies the Blood, and benefits the eyes when Liver Deficient patterns fail to nourish the eyes. Goji can be helpful in cases of Liver Qi constraints consuming Liver Blood and leading to Liver Heat.
Goji Berry - Kidneys
Commonly used to build Yin and general Kidney Deficiency with indications of sore lower back, knee pain and sexual deficiencies.
Goji Berry - Lungs
Nourishes Lung Yin for dry coughs, or chronic coughs. Goji can help restore the Lungs for ex-smokers. Root Bark - Cough or wheezing caused by Lung Heat.
Goji Berry - Heart
Goji berries have been used to moderate cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Goji Berry - Spleen
Goji berries have a history of use with early stages of diabetes, especially with Kidney Yin Deficiency.

Conditions and benefits of goji berry:

Contraindications and Cautions: Avoid berries with sudden onset of diarrhea, and early stages of fever from an external pathogen. As with many fad herbs, people often feel that if a dose of goji berry is good, increasing that dose will be great; overdosing should be avoided as the berries do contain alkaloids which are toxic in very high doses.

The root bark is very cold and should be used with caution and for short periods of time to clear heat only as it can damage Spleen Qi; the root should be avoided with chronic Spleen Deficiencies and Spleen Cold conditions.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.