Jiaogulan (pronounced Je-ow-gu-laan), also known as gynostemma pentaphyllum, is a plant native to China that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to help support circulation and respiratory health. The seed and leaves contain ingredients that support the production of vascular nitric oxide which can stimulate blood flow. This may enhance delivering nutrients and help remove waste products which may help tissues like hooves, tendons, lungs and muscles recover from damage or illness.
Jiaogulan may improve hoof health in horses with chronic lameness. Decreased blood flow to the hooves is often theorized to be a factor causing hoof problems in horses. The active ingredients stimulate blood flow by activating the enzyme nitric oxide synthase. This may reduce the typical “bounding pulses” in pasterns seen in acute laminitis.
Horses with laminitis may notice increased draining of abscesses for the first 1 to 2 weeks of using jiaogulan as the increasing blood flow to the area may cause the pools of blood and immune cells within the hoof to drain and eventually heal. Warm water and Epsom salts soakings can aid in the drainage and help keep the area clean. Consult your veterinarian first if using other drugs that have vasodilatory effects.
Jioagulan may help with opening the lung airways and overall respiratory function and help conditions like heaves and inflammatory airway diseases. One of the oldest recorded medical uses of Jiogaulan in TCM is the treatment of coughs, respiratory infections, and chronic bronchitis. One study using jiogaulan showed inhibition of bronchoconstriction (airway closing) by 68% in response to histamine in guinea pigs.
Competitive horses may improve exercise performance and training times by supporting respiratory function and normalizing respiratory recovery. Most evidence is gathered from anecdotal reports rather than scientific publications but Dr. Eleanor Kellon (veterinarian) presented a paper on using jiaogulan and spirulina.
One of her case studies involved a 4-yr old Standardbred gelding with inflammatory airway disease that had declining performance at the end of races and poor respiratory recovery only improved by clenbuterol. The horse also had seasonal allergies, headshaking, snorting, sneezing, and coughing. After using jiagulan and spirulina the headshaking and sneezing stopped and respiratory recovery rates normalized. The gelding had stronger last quarters in races and improved his speed by one second.
It has also shown benefits in EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome) and horses with Cushing disease (PPID). Dr. Kellon noticed horses with high levels of insulin (suggesting insulin resistance) had shown improvement with lameness scores and movement during walking while using jiaogulan.
Lyle Sunada is a pharmacist specializing in veterinary medicine and alternative medicine at Cloverdale Pharmasave. Lyle has helped small and large animal owners for over 30 years and believes in looking at the root cause of health conditions. Everything mentioned in the article is available instore.
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