You may be familiar with goji berries....they've grown in popularity over the years for their benefits as a superfood, but they've been a part of Chinese nutrition and the Chinese materia medica for centuries. Goji berries aka wolf berries are the fruit of the Lyceum Tree. They are small red berries that have become easy to find dried at your local supermarket or health foods store.
As a dried fruit they are chewy, sweet and tart, when fresh, they are tender and juicy. In Chinese medicine they enter the Liver and Kidney channel and are regularly used for a variety of issues including insomnia, menstrual cycle irregularities and vision problems.
Goji berries strengthen the blood of the Liver and Kidneys with evidence that they help with hormone regulation. They brighten the eyes and moisten the Lungs....but what does all of that mean for you? You can eat goji berries to help your period come on time and with less pain, make your vision more clear and improve night vision, help you enter a more restful sleep, and enhance your skin. As an adaptogenic tonic, goji berries will help strengthen your general vitality.
To enjoy the benefits of goji berries, you can add them to oatmeal or yogurt, in salads or, my favorite, is to make them into a delicious tea!
Goji Berry Tea
1/4 c goji berries
2 c water
1 tbsp dry or 2 tbsp fresh mint
Bring ingredients to a boil, reduce to simmer for 10 minutes, strain and enjoy!
If you have food sensitivity to plants in the nightshade family or are taking pharmaceutical blood thinners, you should consult with your health care provider first!
**All information and resources found on balancedstonewellness.com are based on the opinions, experience and research of the author unless otherwise noted. All information is intended to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider...even if that provider may be the author ;)