Jiaogulan

“Jiaogulan is an adaptogen — an herb that supports a balanced stress response in horses. It also helps maintain normal circulation by contributing to nitric oxide production, making it useful for joint, tendon, and hoof health.” — Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD Veterinary Nutritionist Jiaogulan Supports: Circulatory Function Metabolic Health Glucose Metabolism Respiratory Function Hoof Health Joint Health Tendon & Ligament Support Antioxidant Status Exercise Performance Balanced Stress Response Mad Barn’s Jiaogulan powder (Gynostemma pentaphyllum, “J-Herb”) is an herbal supplement for horses and ponies that supports healthy circulation, hoof comfort, respiratory function, joint comfort, connective tissue health, and exercise performance. The Jiaogulan vine has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is valued for supporting vitality and physical performance. Modern research shows that Jiaogulan contains bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties that help maintain cellular health and support the body’s normal response to oxidative stress. Jiaogulan is commonly used in feeding programs for metabolically managed horses that need support for hoof comfort and soundness, especially during cold weather. By supporting normal blood flow in the hoof, Jiaogulan helps maintain comfort when horses experience occasional hoof tenderness. It is also used for performance horses that need support for comfortable breathing, exercise capacity, mobility, and a normal return to baseline after work. Different disciplines place different demands on the horse, but all exercise increases nutrient utilization, oxidative stress, and the need for tissue repair. Jiaogulan supports physiological pathways involved in stamina, athletic output, and post-exercise recovery. Jiaogulan’s primary mechanism is its effect on nitric oxide activity. It contains naturally occurring plant compounds called gypenosides, which support nitric oxide release from the vascular endothelium — the cells lining the horse’s blood vessels. Nitric oxide helps relax smooth muscle in the blood vessel wall, supporting normal blood vessel tone and circulatory function. These effects contribute to normal tissue oxygenation and nutrient delivery throughout the horse’s body. Why Use Jiaogulan? Nitric Oxide & Blood Flow Jiaogulan contains gypenosides, plant compounds that support the release of nitric oxide from the vascular endothelium — the cells lining the horse’s blood vessels. Nitric oxide helps relax the smooth muscle in blood vessel walls, supporting normal vessel tone and healthy blood flow to the hooves, lungs, muscles, and connective tissues. Nitric oxide helps counterbalance endothelin-1, a potent vasoconstrictor, supporting the normal balance between blood vessel relaxation and constriction that controls blood supply to tissues. Hoof Comfort & Soundness Metabolically managed horses can be more sensitive to changes in hoof perfusion, particularly in cold weather when blood flow to the lower limb is naturally reduced. Jiaogulan supports nitric oxide activity, helping maintain normal vessel tone and circulation through the hoof’s vascular tissues, including the corium and laminae. By supporting hoof perfusion, oxygen delivery, and antioxidant defenses, Jiaogulan helps maintain comfort and soundness when inflammatory and circulatory stressors are present. Respiratory Function & Oxygen Exchange Normal breathing depends on both airflow through the airways and blood flow through the lung’s capillary network, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. Jiaogulan supports nitric oxide activity involved in maintaining relaxed, open airways and healthy pulmonary blood flow during turnout, training, and exercise. It is often paired with Spirulina when the goal is broader support for respiratory comfort, oxygen uptake, and normal breathing during exercise. Tendon & Ligament Support Tendons and ligaments are collagen-rich tissues that adapt to repeated loading, stretching, and mechanical stress during work, turnout, and conditioning. Nitric oxide helps regulate collagen turnover, cellular repair signals, and the remodeling process that maintains connective tissue strength. By supporting normal nitric oxide activity, Jiaogulan helps maintain tendon, ligament, and suspensory strength and function in working horses. Joint Comfort & Mobility Nitric oxide helps regulate normal inflammatory signaling and cellular responses to mechanical stress in cartilage, synovial tissue, and surrounding soft tissues. Jiaogulan supports balanced nitric oxide activity and antioxidant defenses, helping maintain joint comfort, stride quality, and mobility. Exercise Performance & Conditioning During bouts of exertion, working muscles require increased blood flow to meet higher demands for oxygen, glucose, fatty acids, and electrolyte exchange. Nitric oxide helps regulate blood vessel dilation in active tissues, supporting muscle perfusion, heat dissipation, and clearance of metabolic byproducts. Jiaogulan supports this pathway to help horses maintain athletic output, recover normally after work, and stay conditioned for consistent training. Antioxidant Defenses Jiaogulan contains gypenosides, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds that support antioxidant defenses and normal cellular signaling. Reactive oxygen species, especially superoxide, can react with nitric oxide and convert it into peroxynitrite, reducing nitric oxide availability and impairing normal endothelial signaling. By supporting antioxidant status, Jiaogulan’s bioactive compounds help preserve nitric oxide activity, contributing to the vascular effects that support hooves, lungs, and working tissues. Adaptogenic Support Adaptogens are herbs that help the body maintain normal function during physical and environmental stressors. Jiaogulan has been studied for its role in stress response, with research suggesting effects on perceived stress, antioxidant defenses, neurotransmitter balance, and stress-response signaling. In horses, Jiaogulan helps maintain a balanced stress response so the body can stay regulated under changing demands. Mad Barn’s bulk Jiaogulan contains pure Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaf powder with no added fillers, flavors, or carriers. It is a concentrated top-dress powder that can be added to the daily ration for horses needing advanced support for circulation, respiratory function, soundness, and performance.