Xylo-oligosaccharides, as a kind of food ingredients, which is also used in Chinese Medicine. These years Xylo-oligosaccharides even have become the new favorite of traditional Chinese medicine for health preservation.
Traditional Chinese medicine is a national treasure of our country, accumulated through thousands of years of long-term experimentation by our ancestors. Tonic Diet is an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine. It is unique in preventing and treating diseases, nourishing and strengthening the body, and anti-aging to prolong life.
For thousands of years, it has contributed to the prosperity and growth of the Chinese nation. Chinese Tonic Diet is not a simple addition of food and traditional Chinese medicine, but is refined from medicine, food and spices under the guidance of the dialectical diet theory of traditional Chinese medicine.
All Chinese medicinal materials used in Tonic Diet are dual-use varieties approved by the state. The number of Chinese medicinal materials that can be used for both medicine and food has reached 106. Including Codonopsis pilosula, Cistanche deserticola, Dendrobium officinale, Panax quinquefolia, Astragalus membranaceus, Ganoderma lucidum, Angelica sinensis, Shanbai, saffron (saffron), grass fruit, turmeric, long pepper, etc.
The increase in this number reflects China’s emphasis on traditional Chinese medicinal materials and the evaluation of their safety. Intended to further standardize the management of functional foods and ingredients, while also reflecting the recognition and protection of traditional Chinese medicinal materials. In a broad sense. Chinese medicinal materials that can be used for both medicine and food belong to the category of functional food ingredients, such as Xylo-oligosaccharides.
Chinese medicine development
In recent years, the traditional Chinese medicine health preservation market has shown a new direction of development, with many classic health preservation prescriptions being combined with modern biological preparations, injecting new vitality into the field of traditional Chinese medicine health preservation. Most of these biological agents have the following characteristics:
- Low sugar and sugar free alternatives to traditional honey, brown sugar, etc. The number of diabetes patients in China is about 141 million to 148 million, accounting for 18% to 26% of the total number of patients in the world. The number of new cases annually exceeds 5 million, which is expected to reach 164 million by 2030 and 174 million by 2045.
With the increase of diabetes and obesity, some healthy sugar substitute food materials are gradually accepted by Chinese medicine culture, such as xylitol and erythritol instead of traditional rock sugar. - Add prebiotic substances to health prescriptions. Probiotics belong to a type of soluble dietary fiber that helps maintain normal intestinal function, can proliferate probiotics in the body, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, improve absorption capacity, promote drug absorption, and enhance the biological activity in the human gut.
The benefits of Xylo-oligosaccharides
Here, Xylo-oligosaccharides are the most typical. The core reason why Xylo-oligosaccharides have become the new favorite of traditional Chinese medicine for health preservation is that their multiple health benefits are highly compatible with the overall regulation concept of traditional Chinese medicine.
Firstly, as a prebiotic, Xylo-oligosaccharides selectively promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as bifido-bacteria and lactobacilli, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli, and significantly optimize the proportion of gut microbiota.
The second is to inhibit the adsorption of pathogenic bacteria, by adsorbing pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae and promoting their elimination, reducing the risk of intestinal inflammation and infection.
The third is to increase the moisture content of feces, enhance intestinal peristalsis, alleviate constipation, and reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
The fourth is to strengthen the intestinal barrier, promote the production of probiotic metabolites (such as short chain fatty acids), enhance the intestinal mucosal barrier function, reduce the entry of toxins into the bloodstream, decrease the production of intestinal endotoxins, reduce liver detoxification pressure, and assist in protecting liver function.
Fifth, it is suitable for a wide range of people. Its non digestible characteristics make it not increase blood sugar, and it is suitable for diabetes patients, obese people and sugar control needs. The sixth is high safety, with a recommended daily intake of 0.7-1.4 grams, which is less likely to cause adverse reactions such as bloating and is easy to integrate into daily diet.
A Quick Review
In summary, Xylo-oligosaccharides regulate human functions through multiple targets, which not only conforms to the core concept of “harmonizing yin and yang” and “cultivating both internal and external factors” in traditional Chinese medicine, but also addresses common metabolic abnormalities and immune deficiencies in modern people, becoming a new functional ingredient in the field of traditional Chinese medicine health preservation.
In traditional formulas, Jiubao Siyi Wan, Twelve Flavored Jinshen Wan, Fourteen Flavored Jinzhi Wan, Bazhen Powder, etc. have all been improved by adding Xylo-oligosaccharides. Taking Bazhen Fen as an example, Bazhen Fen was created by Chen Shigong in the Ming Dynasty and even consumed by Emperor Qianlong. The original formula of Chen Shigong’s Eight Treasures Powder: Codonopsis pilosula, Poria cocos, Atractylodes macrocephala, Yam, Coix seed, Euryale seed, Lentils, Lotus seeds.
Selected Prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing “: Lotus seeds, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, Euryale seeds, Yam, Poaceae, Lentils, Codonopsis pilosula. Ji Ji Dan Fang “: Huai Yam, Lotus Meat, White Lentils, White Poria cocos, Mao Ren, Bai Zhu, Gao Shi, Zha Rou, Yang Chun Sha Ren. Experience Formula “: Lotus seeds, southern water chestnut, rice kernels, white beans, Huai yam, Yunfu Ling, glutinous rice, japonica rice.
Improved Bazhen powder added high-purity Xylo-oligosaccharides sugar powder on the basis of eight raw materials. This improved Bazhen powder has also become a good prescription for middle-aged and elderly people to cultivate the spleen and stomach, nourish qi and promote health. It has a good effect on spleen and stomach weakness, indigestion, reduced diet, and fatigue of the face and corpus luteum.
China attaches great importance to traditional Chinese medicinal materials, which reflects its determination to fully utilize them to serve the health industry while ensuring food safety. These dual-use Chinese medicinal herbs can be used in food and have medicinal value, which is of great significance for promoting public health and the development of traditional medicine, such as Xylo-oligosaccharides.