Ashitaba / Angelica Keiskei

Ashitaba, a green leafy plant, has been consumed for its medicinal benefits for over 400 years. This Japanese herb is packed with nutrients, including a variety of antioxidant called chalcones.

Ashitaba, or Angelica keiskei, is a popular botanical medicine in Japan that’s valued for its diverse bioactive components. According to researchers, ashitaba possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihyperative and antidiabetic properties.

This leafy herb is part of the carrot family. It grows in the central region of Japan and is native to the Japanese Izu Islands.

All parts of the plant are edible and used medicinally, including ashitaba seeds, roots, leaves and stem. This herb is used to make tea, ground into power and taken as a supplement, and eaten fresh in salads, soups and entrees.

Traditionally, Japanese people used the plant for a range of health issues, including:

infections
heartburn
fever
flu
indigestion
gout
arthritis

1. Has Antioxidant Effects

Ashitaba is valued for its powerful antioxidants that protect cells from free radical damage and prevent disease. One antioxidant in particular, called chalcone, is often touted for its biological activities.

Chalcones have been studied for their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal effects. These antioxidants may allow ashitaba to benefit such a range of health concerns, from inflammatory conditions to infections and early aging.

2. Supports Heart Health

Research published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements found that when obese diabetic mice were given ashitaba, the herb displayed its ability to help prevent and alleviate the risk of thrombotic diseases.

The herb also showed that it may work to suppress metabolic state in obese individuals.

3. Works as an Antimicrobial Agent

A component in ashitaba called chalcones have exhibited antimicrobial activities, which is why the herb is sometimes used to improve infections.

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research suggests that ashitaba extract worked to suppress multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Another study found that ashitaba chalcone powder was toxic to Salmonella.

4. May Aid Weight Loss

Although the research on this ashitaba benefit is limited, there is one study that indicates the herb may reduce visceral fat and body weight.

When 26 slightly obese male and female adults took 200-milligram capsules of ashitaba chalcone after dinner for 56 consecutive days, there was a significant reduction in visceral fat and body weight compared to baseline.

Some other potential benefits of ashitaba that have not been proven with scientific research include its potential ability to:

boost immune function
improve arthritis
reduce muscle and joint pain
boost cognitive function
improve diabetes
ease digestive problems
protect the liver
Breast-feeding
Improve Skin Appearance

신선초 / 명일엽 (神仙草)

1970년대 우리나라에 들어오기 시작해 하늘에서 내려온 풀이라고 하여 신선초라는 이름을 가지고 있는데 일본에서는 따고 나면 다음날 바로 잎이 나온다고 하여 명일엽으로 부르고 있으며 중국에서는 함초로도 부르고 있습니다.
신선초의 잎은 줄기 밑둥이에서 모여 자라는데 잎자루가 굵은 특징이 있습니다.
어린 생잎은 샐러드처럼 먹거나 조려서 반찬으로 먹고 있습니다. 신선초는 더위, 추위에 강하며 거친 땅에도 뿌리를 내려 무성하게 자랍니다. 그런만큼 생명력이 강하며 영양가 역시 풍부하게 함유되어 있습니다.
칼콘, 철분, 게르마늄, 칼륨, 비타민A, 비타민 B1, B2, E 베타카로틴, 단백질, 폴리페놀, 지질 등 여러 영양성분이 풍부합니다.

신선초의 효능으로 주 성분은 비타민과 철분, 인이 많이 포함되어 있으며 특히 칼슘 성분도 다양합니다.
이러한 성분은 노인의 빈혈, 수험생의 빈혈, 그리고 일반인들도 빈혈이 많이 있는 분들에게는 도움이 될 것입니다. 혈압을 낮추는 효능으로 고혈압을 가진 분들도 아주 좋은 신선초 효능의 성분입니다.

신선초 효능
1. 항암효과
신선초에 함유되어 있는 비타민C, 베타카로틴 성분이 풍부하게 함유되어 있어서 세포가 산화되는 억제해주며, 바이러스에 대한 저항력을 높여주는 효과가 있으며 쿠마린 성분이 혈액의 응고를 막아주고 혈액속에 있는 암세포가 혈관벽에서 성장하는 것을 억제해주며 칼콘성분이 정상 세포가 암으로 변하는것을 막아줘 항암효과가 있습니다.
2. 당뇨병 개선
3. 혈관계질환 예방, 이뇨작용
4. 체질개선, 정장작용
5. 간 건강
6. 피로회복
7. 혈액순환촉진, 빈혈예방
8. 뼈건강
9. 노화방지


*신선초는 신장결석이 있으셨던 분들은 주의하셔서 섭취하시는 것이 좋다고 합니다.