The oldest written record of Ashitaba appears more than 2,000 years ago. Of the many thousands of plants that are known, Ashitaba belongs to the elite 1% category considered to be medicinal plants.
Ashitaba origin in Hachijo Island where the rich volcanic soil and Kuroshio 'black tide' encourages plant growth. Ashitaba means "Tomorrow Leaf" due to it's ability to grow very fast, exhibiting a strong energetic life force or Qi. Ashitaba has a very long history of use to purify the blood; detoxify the liver; cleanse the colon; improve lung function; enhance blood circulation; and to relieve muscle, joint, and nerve discomfort.
During the Shogun era, in a ring of islands called the Izu Islands, a plant which the residents call the “longevity herb” thrives despite the desolate and rocky environment, an environment so harsh that it used to be a place of exile where criminals and social outcasts were relegated. As punishment, the exiles were forced to withstand poor diets and hard labor, foraging their food from the rock and sand. Records indicate that despite harsh circumstances, the exiles were healthy and lived long lives. The local herbalists attribute this unusual healthfulness to the continual consumption of Ashitaba in their diet. The powerful nutrients, antioxidants, and energetic life force of the Ashitaba plant is truly amazing!
Ashitaba (official name is Angelica Keiskei Koidzmi)
discovered in Japan on Hachijo Island (in Pacific Ocean
about 290km south of Tokyo, Japan)
