The goji plant is native to the Himalayan region, but is also found
in many other areas of Asia, including Western China, Mongolia and
Tibet, where there are over forty varieties. A famous poem was written
in the Tang Dynasty about the beauty and the healing properties of
the goji plant, and for centuries, it has been prized for its beneficial
effects. Westerners have only recently discovered the goji plant,
and there is much enthusiasm in health circles these days of its great
effects.
The seeds of the goji plant are very small, about the size of tomato
seeds. However they grow to produce shrubs that are 8 to 10 feet tall.
The seedlings can be grown in a tiny dome until they are an inch tall,
transferred to a pot, and eventually, planted in a garden when they
are about a foot tall. The goji plant is very hardy and drought resistant,
although it doesn’t cope well in a tropical climate. The goji
plant can be trained to produce vines, and its leaves are an attractive
dark green.
Every part of the goji plant can be used for its health benefits.
The bright red fruit is tasty fresh, dried, or juiced. The leaves
make excellent tea and the goji plant produces beautiful, pink flowers
which can be put in a vase. The versatile goji plant is quickly becoming
a favorite among health conscious consumers and gardeners alike. Not
all goji plants are equal; the highest quality goji plants originate
in the Himalayas, and its fruit yields the highest level of polysaccharides,
which are the active ingredients that promote cellular health. Dr.
Earl Mindell perfected a technique to analyze which fruits have the
highest level of these polysaccharides. This technique is called Spectral
signature analysis and it used in the juice making process to identify
the best berries.
