Gasiogapi (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is a species of small, woody shrub in the family Araliaceae. E. senticosus is synonym with Acanthopanax senticosus, which literally means a thorny plant that cures all kinds of diseases. E. senticosus is called ‘Gasiogapi’ in Korean, ‘Ciwujia’ in Chinese, ‘Eleuthero’ or ‘Siberian Ginseng’ in Russian, and ‘Ejoukogi’ in Japanese. Most parts of the plant including root, twig, leaf, fruit, and flower, can be used as herbal medicine.
Gasiogapi is a species of small, woody shrub in the family Araliaceae. As the name ‘Oga’ (五加) indicates, five leaves grow together as a bundle. The ecology of Gasiogapi is very similar to that of Ginseng. Both grow in shady area of deep forest. Ginseng is a ‘grass’ and Ogapi is a ‘tree’.
Traditionally, the bark of Oga tree was commonly used as medicine. The name ‘Oga’ changed ‘Ogapi’. The tree is now generally called ‘Ogapi’ or ‘Ogalpi’. ‘Ogalpi’ of used on Korean dictionary.
Gasiogapi grows in Far East area. Around Amur river in Siberia, Hokkaido in Japan, Baekdo Mountain in North Korea, and Jiri mountain, Gaebang mountain, Chiak mountain, Sudo mountain, Seolak mountain in South Korea are its habitat. (900-1,200m above sea level).
There are Island Ogalpi (Acanthopanax Koreanum), Jirisan Ogapi, Jungbu Ogapi, Chasaek Ogapi, Dang Ogapi, Gasiogapi, Wanggasiogapi, Mingasiogapi in Korea. Harvest season for leaves is form mid-July to early August. Stem and root harvest starts after leaves fall and finishes before the soil gets frozen. The crop should be kept dry until the moisture level drops below 14%. Once dried, it is stored in the 0 ~ 3 ℃ temperature or at room temperature, sealed in plastic bag.
Gasiogapi is valuable herbal medcine resouce of Korea.
There are about 600 kinds of Araliaceae in the world. Among 600, 20 are in Korea. Also there are 15 kinds of Ogapi trees in Korea.
There are Island Ogalpi (Acanthopanax Koreanum), Jirisan Ogapi, Jungbu Ogapi, Chasaek Ogapi, Dang Ogapi, Gasiogapi, Wanggasiogapi, Mingasiogapi in Korea. Harvest season for leaves is form mid-July to early August. Stem and root harvest starts after leaves fall and finishes before the soil gets frozen. The crop should be kept dry until the moisture level drops below 14%. Once dried, it is stored in the 0 ~ 3 ℃ temperature or at room temperature, sealed in plastic bag.
Gasiogapi is valuable herbal medcine resouce of Korea.
There are about 600 kinds of Araliaceae in the world. Among 600, 20 are in Korea. Also there are 15 kinds of Ogapi trees in Korea.
Ogapi is deciduous broad leaf shrub in the family of Araliaceae. Ginseng belongs to the same family. Opapi has been considered as valuable medicinal herb in oriental countries. Health benefit of Ogapi is clearly stated in Dongui Bogam by Jun Heo and Bencao Gangmu, Chinese material medical work written by Li Shizhen. Recently, as results of continuous research in Korea and several other countries, pharmacological efficacy of Ogapi has been scientifically proved. To increase the value of Korean Gasiogapi, it is necessary to select superior species among Korean native Gasiogapi and to develop farming systems for mass production.
There are 15 kinds of Ogapis naturally growing in Korea, and 8 of them are
There are 15 kinds of Ogapis naturally growing in Korea, and 8 of them are
Korean natives. When an herbal plant grows in its native habitat, it is known to producethe best quality medicine ingredient. To increase Gasiogapi’s international competitive power, further research and product development are needed. With strict quality management, production management, and efficient marketing system, Gasiogapi products can be distinguished from other health products both in domestic and international market.
Gukyeon Shin, director of Natural Products Research Institute of Seoul National University, concluded that after considering the results from several researches on Ogapi, acanthoside, eleutheroside, chisanoside, sesamin, and sabinin from Ogapi have medicinal efficacy.
Components of Ogapi improve immune system and liver function and control blood sugar level. They are also known to be effective for chronic fatigue and allergies, prostate, osteoporosis, energy enhancer, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, learning enhancement. Currently, Ogapi ingredients are added to health supplement beverages in Korea. It is reported that after taking Ogapi products, national weightlift team, ice sports team, cycling team, and Kolon marathon team experienced rapid fatigue recovery and physical endurance improvement.
Components of Ogapi improve immune system and liver function and control blood sugar level. They are also known to be effective for chronic fatigue and allergies, prostate, osteoporosis, energy enhancer, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, learning enhancement. Currently, Ogapi ingredients are added to health supplement beverages in Korea. It is reported that after taking Ogapi products, national weightlift team, ice sports team, cycling team, and Kolon marathon team experienced rapid fatigue recovery and physical endurance improvement.
Dongui Bogam, the book of Korean traditional medicine written by Jun Heo
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The nature of Ogapi is warm (it is also said slightly cold). It has spicy and bitter taste. Non-toxin. It supports the basic energy and essence of body. It strengthens sinew and bone. It cures impotence of men and genital itching of women.
It cures back pain, pain in spine, numbing legs, joint pain, and drooping legs.
In the early 1960’s, Brekman turned his attention to Gasiogapi as a substitute of Ginseng. Through the research, he found out that Gasiogapi had more health benefit than Ginseng. He specified bioactive ingredients extracted from Gasiogapi which were known to strengrhen immune system. Since then, Gasiogapi has been widely known as Siberian Ginseng among pharmacologisrts.
According to the treatise published by Brekman and his research team, Gasiogapi activates general bio function in body organs. Gasiogapi is non-toxic, and when it is taken regularly, it helps preveting aging process and extending life.
Medicinal efficacy of Gasiogapi is normalizing blood pressure, reducing blood sugar, and activating biological function of body. In addition, Gasiogapi improves appitite, controls body weight, and strengthens cognitive ablities of sense organs.
Gasiogapi was known as energy supplement in the Soviet Union. Gasiogapi was widely processed to medicine and cosmetics. It is well known fact that the national athetic team were given Gasiogapi products during the Olympics in Moscow 1984. Gasiogapi is also used as stemina enhancer for astronauts.
According to the treatise published by Brekman and his research team, Gasiogapi activates general bio function in body organs. Gasiogapi is non-toxic, and when it is taken regularly, it helps preveting aging process and extending life.
Medicinal efficacy of Gasiogapi is normalizing blood pressure, reducing blood sugar, and activating biological function of body. In addition, Gasiogapi improves appitite, controls body weight, and strengthens cognitive ablities of sense organs.
Gasiogapi was known as energy supplement in the Soviet Union. Gasiogapi was widely processed to medicine and cosmetics. It is well known fact that the national athetic team were given Gasiogapi products during the Olympics in Moscow 1984. Gasiogapi is also used as stemina enhancer for astronauts.
In the early 1880’s, Dr. Wagner, director of natural products research institute of Munich University, Germany, released the result of his research on comparative analysis of the active ingredients from Gasiogapis in Northeast Asia. He extracted and analyzed eleutheroside E and B from Gasiogapis grown in Russia, China, and Korea.
According to the research, Korean Gasiogapi has 4 times more active ingredients than Russian Gasiogapi and 6 times more than Gasiogapi from China. The research shows that Korean native Gasiogapi has superior medicinal efficacy.
According to the research, Korean Gasiogapi has 4 times more active ingredients than Russian Gasiogapi and 6 times more than Gasiogapi from China. The research shows that Korean native Gasiogapi has superior medicinal efficacy.
Gasipgapi research, stated that he had all the patients in the hospital take Gasiogapi medicine because it enhanced the effects of western medicine.
Through experiments, he proved that Gasiogapi had effect on stress, fatigue, allergy, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, cardiac and cerebrovascular disease, chronic bronchitis, rheumatism, diabetes, loss of sexual function, low or high blood pressure, physical capacity and endurance.
Through experiments, he proved that Gasiogapi had effect on stress, fatigue, allergy, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, cardiac and cerebrovascular disease, chronic bronchitis, rheumatism, diabetes, loss of sexual function, low or high blood pressure, physical capacity and endurance.
Bencao Gangmu, Chinese materia medica work written by Li Shizhen
- It has sweet, bitter, and slightly spicy taste. The nature of it is slightly cold or warm and non toxin. It works in the liver and nerve system. It strengthens muscle and bone and helps blood circulation. It cures muscular spasm, back pain, swelling and pain in the joints and skin, loss of appitite, fatigue, forgetfulness, inflammation, fever, cold, persperation, dry mouth, weak legs, and bruises.
