So I had nothing to do and I decided to go to Bio Research because I heard from a user on Pinoyexchange that they were selling an herb that has been eluding me for the past few weeks. This is the Ashitaba. An Herb that is said to be “miraculous”, another one of those “miracle herbs”.

Warning, Image Heavy Post

What is Ashitaba?

Angelica keiskei, more widely known under the japanese name of Ashitaba (アシタバ or 明日葉 ashitaba?, literally “Tomorrow’s Leaf”) is a not frost tender perennial plant from the angelica genusendemic to Hachijōjima. Its japanese nomenclature stems from the above-average regenerative capabilities the plant exhibits when getting injured. Harvesting a leaf at the break of day results often in a new sprout growing over night, being visible the following morning. Traditional it is seen as a major contributor to the supposedly healthier, extended lives of the local residents what may be based on its substantial levels of vitamin B12[citation needed] and chalconoids that are unique to this species of angelica. At one point in Edo period the haulms yellow sap was effective used in the external treatment of smallpox, which prompted Kaibara Ekken to describe the herb in his Yamato honzō (大和本草) under the name of ashitagusa (鹹草) as “a powerful tonic drug”. In folk medicine it is attributed to be diuretic, tonic, improve digestion, and applied topically to speed wound healing and prevent infection. Also its nutritive qualities are said to be the factor behind the originally insular exiles’ never waning stamina in the face of their arduous compulsory labor. For similar reasons, it serves as pasture for cows all over the place, reckoned to improve the milks quality as well as the yield and keeping them healthy at the same time. It has to be pointed out that most of this claims have yet to be proven in clinical trials, while studies substantiated furocoumarins in several plant components; an agent known to increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis. Nonetheless modest conditions for cultivation and fast rate of growth have led many locals to plant ashitaba in herb gardens, flower pots and even backyards. These days the main usage of the edible aerial parts, in particular the stipes and leaves, as well as its taproot, is in regional cuisine, where they are prepared as soba, tempura, shōchū, tea and ice cream amongst others.

source

As I walked around Bio Research and walked into the herb garden part and asked around there for a sample of a plant of Ashitaba that they were selling.

Here it is:

You know what? That looks a lot like two plants that I already have. Guess what it is? It’s Gynura Procumbens! Another thing here is, see the white wooden stick in the center of the image above? That’s a sign. It’s a sign that says that it’s Gynura Procumbens.

See image posted below:

The Scientific name of Ashitaba is Angelica Keisuke Koizumi, and not Gynura Procumbens. It is so annoying that these sellers are misinformed or even trying to pass these plants as the real thing. As you can see, by the leaves alone, that real Ashitaba plants do not look like that.

So I never bothered asking them how much their plants were or anything else. I just went around and took pictures of the stuff that interested me.

My walkabout in Lost Eden:

As I walked around their facilities, the gardens and the rest of the whole place looks as if it had been neglected for a while now. I googled around for pictures of the whole place and I only saw pictures from 2009 when it was all still nice and new. When you check those pictures out, the Lost Eden now is but a shadow of what it once was two years ago. Which sucks, coz it’s only been two years that it’s been built. (AFAIK)

So anyway, here are the pictures:

Obviously their aquariums are still in decent condition, since they’ve been doing this for the longest time. The conditions of the rest of the animals though could be a little better though. The tanks for the turtles are too small, specially for the kind of turtle I had taken a picture of.

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