"Just a quick call before the next meeting starts and then off to daycare. Hopefully there won't be so much traffic jam today. After I pick up Leni, I have to drive Paula to the stud farm right away. After that, I can't be late for the law firm." I'm sure your day looks like this or something similar. You chase from one appointment to the next. Even if you don't realize it, THAT leaves its mark.
If I may introduce myself, my name is "Burnout".
Every one of us has heard of it and probably knows someone who has been affected by it. Something like that can't happen to us. We are strong, organized and have no time at all for such things. The sad truth is that burnout, a stress-related mental overload reaction, affects us women twice as often as it does men. This is the conclusion of studies by the RKI. This has less to do with our physical condition and more to do with the social roles that we women have to fulfill, as well as the increasing responsibility with a rising socioeconomic status.
The demands of working life rarely coincide with one's own needs
Unfortunately, stress is a contributor to many other serious diseases. Therefore, a healthy body is all the more important to keep us mentally healthy and vice versa. Mindfulness practices are gaining more and more importance in recent years. These include dietary changes, which have been shown to have a positive effect on health. Ancient practices, such as those from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), are becoming increasingly popular and can provide more balance.
Have you ever heard of the "immortality herb"?
Even if we do not live forever, our diet can promote a long and healthy life. One such "superfood" is the Chinese gourd plant Jiaogulan, which translates into German as "herb of immortality". It grows naturally in large parts of Asia, such as China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and India. The perennial plant feels most at home in warm and humid climates, but it also survives in temperature regions between -15 °C and +41.5 °C.
Jiaogulan has valuable ingredients
Gynostemma pentaphyllum", which is the scientific name of Jiaogulan, contains similar ingredients as ginseng. Which is why some people say that Jiaogulan works like ginseng, only better! Among other things, it contains:
- Saponins
- Flavonoids
- Antioxidants
- Polysaccharides
- Proteins
- Iron
- Zinc
- Magnesium
All this can happen in your body
The portfolio of vitamins and trace elements in this medicinal herb is even greater, so TCM attributes to it a performance-enhancing effect on the mind and memory. It also drains toxins and heat from the body. Jiaogulan is said to strengthen the immune system and lower blood pressure. Thus, it can have a balancing effect on stress and difficulty falling asleep, which are often observed in burnout. Since the plant acts on the spleen, liver, lungs and heart, it is said to lower blood lipid levels and alleviate the symptoms of chronic bronchitis. However, these subjective experiences and observations from TCM have not yet been proven by clinical studies.
How to prepare Jiaogulan?
The vine bears small smooth dark green to black berries that are inedible. Usually only the leaves are used. These taste slightly sweet. The fresh leaves are suitable for making tea or smoothies. In Asia they are also eaten as a salad. If you do not have your own plant from the gardening at home, you can purchase Jiaogulan dried or as a powder.
Diese schmecken leicht süßlich. Die frischen Blätter eignen sich zur Zubereitung von Tee oder Smoothies. In Asien isst man sie auch als Salat. Solltest Du nicht Deine eigene Pflanze aus der Gärtnerei bei Dir zu Hause haben, kannst Du Jiaogulan getrocknet oder als Pulver erwerben.
Are there any risks?
The improved well-being seems to prevail for most people. Nevertheless, one should be aware that in some individual cases interactions or intolerances could occur. Pregnant and breastfeeding women in particular should consult their doctor regularly.
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Titelbild: 11törtchen
