A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi
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To cite this paper:
Harunobu Amagase, Dwight M. Nance. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. May 1, 2008, 14(4): 403-412. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0004.

Harunobu Amagase, Ph.D.
FreeLife International, LLC, Phoenix, AZ.
Dwight M. Nance, Ph.D.
Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California at Irvine, Orange, CA.

ABSTRACT
Background: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is the first study reported from outside China that has examined the general effects of the orally consumed goji berry, Lycium barbarum, as a standardized juice (GoChi ; FreeLife International LLC, Phoenix, AZ) to healthy adults for 14 days.

Methods: Based upon the medicinal properties of Lycium barbarum in traditional Asian medicine, we examined by questionnaire subjective ratings (0–5) of general feelings of well-being, neurologic/psychologic traits, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular complaints as well as any adverse effects. Also, measures of body weight, body–mass index, blood pressure, pulse rate, and visual acuity were assessed before and after consuming 120 mL of GoChi/day or placebo control solution. Data were statistically analyzed for changes between day 1 and day 15.

Results: Significant differences between day 1 and day 15 were found in the GoChi group (N = 16) in increased ratings for energy level, athletic performance, quality of sleep, ease of awakening, ability to focus on activities, mental acuity, calmness, and feelings of health, contentment, and happiness. GoChi also significantly reduced fatigue and stress, and improved regularity of gastrointestinal function. In contrast, the placebo group (N = 18) showed only two significant changes (heartburn and happiness). No significant changes in musculoskeletal or cardiovascular complaints were observed in either group. All parametric data (body weight, etc.) were not significantly different between groups or between day 1 and day 15 for either group.

Conclusions: These results clearly indicate that daily consumption of GoChi for 14 days increases subjective feelings of general well-being, and improves neurologic/psychologic performance and gastrointestinal functions. The data strongly suggest that further research is indicated to confirm and extend knowledge of the potential effects of Lycium barbarum upon human health.

Looking for the Keys to Contentment?

“When we cannot find contentment in ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.” ~ Francois de la Rochefoucauld

Happiness and contentment may sound like the same thing, but there’s a difference. Happiness can be fleeting and elusive, but contentment is the deep and lasting feeling of comfort that comes with feeling that you’re OK with who you are, that you’re loved and supported, and that you’re satisfied with your situation in life. We all crave contentment, but far too few of us find it, perhaps because we just don’t know where to look.

Noted educator and author Dr. Linda Abbott Trapp offers some great advice for anyone looking to bask in the warm glow of contentment, which we paraphrase with our sincere thanks to Dr. Trapp:

Learn to want what you have, more often, more fully. If you’re too focused on what you don’t have, you may be blinding yourself to the many blessings around you. Give yourself more time to do the things that make you feel good about yourself. Stand back, look around you, give yourself a pat on the back, be grateful for what you have, and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

Savor the life stage you are in right now. If you’ll spend a little time capturing your thoughts and feelings, even writing them in a journal, you won’t overlook the valuable insights you have, right on the tip of your tongue. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be a bit more content with being who you are right now, at this age and in this place.

Avoid the cravings that lead to greed and discontent. Ambition’s a healthy impulse, but greed is not. There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve your lot in life, but you must beware of the pitfalls that can come with overreaching. There’s truth to the saying “the more you get, the more you want,” and when that happens, you can say goodbye to contentment.

Balance ambition and repose. As previously stated, ambition is a healthy impulse, but the desire to aspire needs to be balanced by a good sense of knowing when to relax and appreciate what you’ve accomplished. Henry Ward Beecher’s comment is very helpful: “We are not to make the ideas of contentment and aspiration quarrel, for God made them fast friends. A man may aspire, and yet be quite content until it is time to raise; and both flying and resting are parts of one contentment.”

And of course, we’d like to add another great tip for anyone seeking contentment:

Drink 4 oz. (120 ml) of GoChi™ every day!

GoChi™ – Participants in groundbreaking clinical study report experiencing significantly increased feelings of contentment and happiness in just 14 days!

In a recent human clinical trial featured in the peer-reviewed Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM), participants drinking a daily serving of just 4 ounces (120 ml) of GoChi reported experiencing significantly increased feelings of contentment and happiness in as little as 14 days! Researchers also noted that the GoChi drinkers reported feelings of reduced stress and increased calm.

The publication of our study by the independent experts of a peer-reviewed publication such as JACM represents a first for a functional juice beverage in the Direct Selling industry, and it demonstrates FreeLife’s ongoing commitment to supporting its claims with solid scientific research.

Here’s to finding the keys to contentment, and to better health with GoChi!

REFERENCES:

Amagase H, Nance DM. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi™ . J Altern Complement Med. 2008; 14(4), pp. 403-412. Abstract available on PubMed at http://www.pubmed.gov (PMID: 18447631)

Trapp, Linda A. “The Secret of Contentment .” SelfhelpMagazine April 8, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.

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A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study of the general effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi.

1: J Altern Complement Med. 2008 May;14(4):403-12.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study of the general effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi.
Amagase H, Nance DM.

FreeLife International, LLC, Phoenix, AZ 85040, USA. hamagase@freelife.com

BACKGROUND: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is the first study reported from outside China that has examined the general effects of the orally consumed goji berry, Lycium barbarum, as a standardized juice (GoChi; FreeLife International LLC, Phoenix, AZ) to healthy adults for 14 days. METHODS: Based upon the medicinal properties of Lycium barbarum in traditional Asian medicine, we examined by questionnaire subjective ratings (0-5) of general feelings of well-being, neurologic/psychologic traits, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular complaints as well as any adverse effects. Also, measures of body weight, body-mass index, blood pressure, pulse rate, and visual acuity were assessed before and after consuming 120 mL of GoChi/day or placebo control solution. Data were statistically analyzed for changes between day 1 and day 15. RESULTS: Significant differences between day 1 and day 15 were found in the GoChi group (N = 16) in increased ratings for energy level, athletic performance, quality of sleep, ease of awakening, ability to focus on activities, mental acuity, calmness, and feelings of health, contentment, and happiness. GoChi also significantly reduced fatigue and stress, and improved regularity of gastrointestinal function. In contrast, the placebo group (N = 18) showed only two significant changes (heartburn and happiness). No significant changes in musculoskeletal or cardiovascular complaints were observed in either group. All parametric data (body weight, etc.) were not significantly different between groups or between day 1 and day 15 for either group. CONCLUSIONS: These results clearly indicate that daily consumption of GoChi for 14 days increases subjective feelings of general well-being, and improves neurologic/psychologic performance and gastrointestinal functions. The data strongly suggest that further research is indicated to confirm and extend knowledge of the potential effects of Lycium barbarum upon human health.

PMID: 18447631 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18447631?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum