An Introduction to the Benefits and Everyday Food Value of Goji Berries, a Traditional Chinese Medicine

Goji berries are the dried, ripe fruit of Lycium barbarum, a plant in the nightshade family. They are both a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine and a typical example of a substance that serves as both medicine and food. They are mainly produced in Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai and other places, with the goji berries from Ningxia being the best known. The ripe fruit is red and glossy with a sweet taste, and after being air-dried or oven-dried it can be used as medicine or as a food ingredient.

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, goji berries are sweet in flavor and neutral in nature, and enter the liver and kidney meridians. Herbal texts through the ages have mostly recorded that they nourish the liver and kidneys and benefit essence and brighten the eyes. In formulas they are often combined with herbs such as chrysanthemum, prepared rehmannia and Chinese yam, and in daily life they are also widely used in tea, congee, soups and various medicinal dishes.

From a modern everyday perspective, goji berries can be eaten in many ways: they can be chewed directly, steeped in warm water, or added to soups and desserts and cooked along with them. However, their nature tends toward warming and tonifying, so eating them in large amounts over a long period may cause discomfort such as internal heat. People who are currently suffering from a cold or fever, or who have a hot, dry constitution, should reduce the amount as appropriate, and those with chronic diseases should consult a doctor or pharmacist before eating them.

When buying, check whether the fruit is plump, natural in color and pleasantly fragrant; products that are overly bright in color or have a pungent odor should be treated with caution. Goji berries on the market are occasionally fumigated with sulfur, dyed, or mixed with impurities, so it is advisable to buy through proper channels and to pay attention to information about the place of origin and testing. In addition, although goji berries are a substance used as both medicine and food, ordinary foods may not claim therapeutic effects at will, and consumers should remain rational when faced with exaggerated claims about their benefits.