Gardenia florida, (gardenia, cape jasmine, cape jessamine, danh-danh, or jasmin) is an evergreen flowering plant of the family Rubiaceae. It originated in Asia and is most commonly found growing wild in Vietnam, Southern China, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar, and India.
Contents
Uses
Gardenia florida (fruit) is used within Traditional Chinese Medicine to “drain fire” and thereby treat certain febrile conditions.
Benefits
In traditional Chinese medicine, the kernel of the Gardenia florida berry is made into a paste and used to treat redness and swelling for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. It is considered effective for relieving anxiety and agitation, so it is frequently prescribed for depression and insomnia. Some aromatherapists prescribe gardenia oil for anxiety and nervous tension owing to its calming effect.
Gardenia florida may also be used to treat physical and emotional menopausal symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use it to cool and detoxify the blood, stop bleeding, and help injuries to heal more quickly. Due to this ability, it is used to treat nosebleeds and other bleeding conditions, such as blood in the urine.
A 2006 study showed that a compound in gardenia is able to inhibit an enzyme in the body that prevents diabetics from making sufficient insulin. Although more research is needed to back up these results, the study suggests that Gardenia florida may help diabetics to increase blood insulin levels. Higher insulin levels allow those with diabetes to regulate blood sugar.
Other research has shown cape jasmine to have antiangiongenic properties. This means that it prevents or slows the growth of new blood vessels from existing ones. Antiangiongenic therapies are useful in treating malignancies and may be responsible for the herbal remedy’s effectiveness against conditions involving excessive bleeding.
Caution
Self-treatment is discouraged, so Gardenia florida should not be taken without consulting a Chinese medical practitioner. As the herb has laxative properties, it can be dangerous if taken when diarrhea is present.
Interactions
None are recorded
Other names
Gardenia jasminoides, gardenia, cape jasmine, cape jessamine, danh-danh, or jasmin
Reference
Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardenia_jasminoides
WiseGeek, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-medical-uses-of-gardenia-jasminoides.htm