Skincare inspiration from Chinese herbal medicine—Chinese wolfberry (Gou qi zi)

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In this post, I am introducing you to Chinese wolfberry (Chinese name: Gou qi zi; Latin: Lycium barbarum).  The part that is used in Chinese medicine is the fruit of Lycium barbarum.  You can usually buy the dried fruits in Chinese supermarket.  They are super cheap—because they are also used as a cooking ingredient in a lot of Chinese soups.  A $1.99 bag of wolfberry can go a long way as your daily skincare and wellcare routine. 

In Chinese medicine, wolfberry is believed to be a tonifying herb. (I am always mystified by the word “tonify.”  I usually equal the word with “restore the balance.”)  The herb is capable of tonifying liver and kidney.  Remember that Chinese medicine also believes that your face is the focal points of all major organs?  (I mentioned that in my previous post.)  And yes, eyes are the focal outlet of the liver.  Therefore, wolfberry is often used as a tonic for eyes—the herb is capable of improving eye conditions such as blurred vision, macular degeneration, and other ophthalmic disorders.  Wolfberry is also used in TMC formulations for reducing fever, sweating, irritability, thirst, nosebleeds, hemoptysis, cough, and wheezing.  You can even find this herb on the ingredient list for TMCs that are used to treat diabetes, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, dizziness, and tinnitus malaria, and cancer. 
Putting on my Chemist hat, here is the chemical composition for wolfberry1: Betaine; Valine; Glutamine; Asparagine;b-sitosterol; Stigmasterol; Cholesterol; Cholest-7-enol; Campesterol; Cholestanol; 24-methylene cholesterol; 28-isofucosterol; 24-methylcholesta-5,24-dienol; 24-ethylcholesta-5,24-dienol; 31-norcycloartanol; 31-norcycloartenol; Cycloeucalenol; Obtusifoliol; 4a,14a,24-trimethylcholesta-8'24-dienol; 4a-methylcholest-8-enol; 4-methylcholest-7-enol; 24-ethyllophenol; 4,24-methyllophenol; Gramisterol; Citrostadienol; 4a-methyl-24-ethylcholesta-7,24-dienol; Lanost-8-enol; Cycloartanol; Cycloartenol; Lanosterol;b-amyrin; Lupeol; 24-methylenelanost-8-enol; 24-methylenecycloartanol; Taurine; g-aminobutanoic acid; polysaccharides.  As you can see, lots of amino acids, Vitamins, and essential oils. Good stuff!
Putting my Pharmacology class in good use, here is a list of pharmacological activities of wolfberry that are suggested or supported by research.1
  • Anti-aging
  • Enhancing immunity and counteracting lipid peroxidation
  • Counteracting hyperlipidemia
  • Increase the expression of interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) in humans. (Translating to English—enhancing immunity)
  • Protecting the retina from light damages
  • Repairing liver damages
  • Increase cardiac muscle b receptor (translating to English—strengthen heart muscle function)
  • Raising white blood count (translating to English—enhance immunity)
  • Stabilize human chorionic membrane cells (translating to English—help protecting and nourishing fetus during pregnancy)
  • Antibacterial effect
As with other berry fruit, Chinese wolfberry is sweet and ok tasting.  In my mind, wolfberry is probably more a food than an herb.  For skincare purpose, you can eat it raw as a snack, make tea (again, you can mix it with other herbs I’ve introduced and will be introducing here), and make soup. You can also boil the herb with water for 10-15 min.  Drain the liquid and use it in your mask, toner, and astringent.
Needless to say, Chinese loves wolfberry, with a good reason.  And you should too.
Thanks for reading!
Connie@www.cherruby.com

1. http://articles.directorym.com/Gou_Qi_Zi-a853299.html

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