Goji Plant - Its Origins, Characteristics, and Proven Benefits

The Goji plant is Lycium barbarum L., which belongs to the nightshade or Solanaceae family. Another Lycium plant, Lycium chinense L., is also used in traditional Chinese medical practice.

The popular name Goji is from the Chinese name for similar plants of various species, Gou Qi Zi, or alternately Gouqi. These Chinese names, however, generally refer to Lycium plants and their fruit.

The English names for Lycium are:

• Wolfberry
• Chinese Boxthorn
• Matrimony Vine

Wolfberry and Goji are often taken to mean the same berry, although other Lycium of the wolfberry variety exist, such as Lycium pallidum L.

The Lycium plant originates in Asia, particularly in Tibet, China, and India, where its use as an herbal remedy has been documented for hundreds of years.

Goji Plant Characteristics

Goji or Lycium plants are evergreens that appear spiny and grow in temperate climates as well as the subtropics. Its berries have been the main source of herbal extracts, but its foliage has also been used in various food preparations.

When grown in Tibet, China, and Mongolia, the plant has been known to reach a height of 12 feet. Its Western cousins however, being grown in suburban backyards, typically grow less than 6 ft. tall.

The shrub flowers starting late spring, showing periwinkle, bell-shaped blooms. Its red berries begin to appear in the summer and can be harvested come fall, a year or two after the Goji is planted. The berries may be eaten fresh off the plant or dried in the shade.

The dried berries have the same texture as raisins, but do not taste as sweet. They may be similar in tartness to cranberries, although not as sour. The berries and juice have gained a following among individuals that appreciate their unique, rich flavor.

This plant is pretty easy to grow, capable of thriving in extreme weather conditions, even as it displays toughness against pests and disease.

Medicinal Uses - Traditional and Scientific
The Lycium plant has been used throughout history to relieve certain ailments, such as:

• inflammations
• skin allergies
• nosebleeds
• joint pains
• insomnia
• poor eyesight
• anemia

As far as its purported anti-cancer properties go, these probably come from the high levels of polysaccharides found in the plant.

Polysaccharides (or complex sugars), taken from Goji and placed in a test tube, were shown to fight certain cancer symptoms, particularly leukemia cells, in a 2001 study published in a medical Chinese journal.

Polysaccharides from Goji were also found to boost the body's immune system in a 2003 study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology.

Even if many marketers have hyped the Goji plant until a general skepticism ensued about the wild claims, research continues among those who believe that science may be able to unlock more benefits of the hardy plant.

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