Chinese Date
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Herbs for Invigorating Qi
Chinese Date
Latin:
Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae
Origin:
Chinese date is the mature fruit of the deciduous spiny tree Ziziphus jujuba Mill., Ziziphus sativa (Gaertn.), Ziziphus vulgaris (Lam.), Ziziphus zizyphus ((L.) Karsten.), or Rhamnus jujuba (G), of the family Rhamnaceae. Native to China, where it has been cultivated for more than 4,000 years, the tree is grown along stony slopes of hills and mountains, and has naturalized in Japan, Korea, India, Australia, southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.
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The decidious tree grows to about 10 m by 7 m at a fast rate. It has alternate, three-veined, elliptical to ovate leaves 2.5 to 7.6 cm long. The small yellow flowers are followed by dark brown, round to oblong fruits the size of small plums. The white, crisp pulp surrounds a single large, pointed stone. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen in October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects.
, http://www.100md.com The tree thrives in hot, dry climates where winter temperatures do not go below 9.4° C. The trees are resistant to a great number of pests, as well as drought. Propagation is by seeds, although the commercial varieties must be propagated vegetatively by suckers, root cuttings, or grafting. The tree cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.
In China, Chinese date is mainly produced in Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and other provinces. It is collected in autumn when the fruit is mature, dried in the sun and used unprepared.
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There are many kinds of dates in China, including red, black and wild jujube, all belonging to the Rhamnaceae family. Black dates are processed first by drying red dates under sunlight, and then steaming and baking. After repeating the process several times, black dates are obtained.
Also called Jujube, Chinese Jujube, Common Jujube, or Red Date.
See also Food, Fruits, Chinese Date.
Properties:
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Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, it is related to the spleen and stomach channels.
Functions:
Strengthens the middle-jiao, invigorates qi, nourishes blood, tranquizes the mind and buffers other herbs.
Chinese date is both a delicious fruit and an effective herbal remedy. It aids weight gain, improves muscular strength and increases stamina. In Chinese medicine it is prescribed as a tonic to strengthen liver function.
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Being sweet and warm for invigorating qi, moistening for nourishing blood, sweet for buffering other herbs, chiefly acting on the spleen and stomach channels with its main effects of strengthening the middle-jiao and invigorating qi, and acting on the heart channel with its effects of nourishing blood and tranquilizing the mind, it has applications for deficiency of the spleen and stomach, paleness due to deficiency of blood, women's hysteria and other syndromes. It is also used to alleviate toxic and drastic properties of othet medicines.
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Applications:
1. For deficiency of the spleen and stomach, anorexia (uncontrolled lack or loss of the appetite for food), loose stool, and general weak digestive system:
a) It is often used in combination with dangshen, white atractylodes rhizome, astragalus root and other herbs for strengthening the middle-jiao and invigorating qi.
b) Use 10 stoned red dates, and 50 g sweet rice for porridge. After cooking, add some sugar.
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2. For anemia (too few red blood cells in the bloodstream), nourishing blood, to treat paleness due to deficiency of blood, hysteria in women:
a) It is often used in combination with Chinese angelica root, prepared rehmannia root and other herbs to nourish blood.
b) For anemia, prepare a sheep's vertebral column, 20 stoned Chinese red dates, 50-100 g sweet rice. Cook together to make porridge. After cooking, add salt and flavourings. Consume in 2-3 parts within a single day.
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c) With wheat and liquorice, such as Gan Mai Dazao Decoction, to treat deficiency of blood and hysteria in women.
3. It is used to moderate toxic side-effects and intensity of herbs in order to protect vital qi. For example, it can be used in combination with lepidium seed to moderate its lowering and purging properties in order to protect the stomach-qi; and with kansui root and knoxia root to moderate their toxic and drastic properties in order to protect the stomach-qi.
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Dosage and Administration:
3-12 pieces, or 10-30 g.
Decoction.
Cautions on Use:
Reference Materials:
Toxic or Side Effects:
Modern Researches:
Chinese date contains protein, sugar, organic acid, and mucus. It is rich in vitamins B2, C, and P.
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Gastric perfusion with Chinese date decoction on mice for 3 weeks proves that the food-herb has the effects of enabling mice to gain weight and build up strength and protecting the animal liver.
Chinese date also reveals some sedative effect. In animal experiments, when rabbits were poisoned with CC14, with ensuing liver functional impairment, they were protected by a solution of dates, resulting in an increase of blood albumin.
, 百拇医药 Dried Chinese date is considered to purify the blood and aid digestion. They are used internally in the treatment of chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, anaemia, irritability and hysteria.
Japanese research has shown that Chinese date increases immune-system resistence. In one clinical trial in China 12 patients with liver complaints were given jujube, peanuts and brown sugar nightly. In four weeks their liver function had improved, as reported in 'The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants,' (London: Dorling Kindersley, 1996.)
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The seed is used internally in the treatment of palpitations, insomnia, nervous exhaustion, night sweats and excessive perspiration.
The leaves are said to promote the growth of hair. They are used to form a plaster in the treatment of strangury (slow and painful spasmodic discharge of urine).
The root is used in the treatment of indigestion. A decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of fevers. The root is made into a powder and applied to old wounds and ulcers.
The plant is a folk remedy for anaemia (the blood is deficient in red blood cells), hypertonia, nephritis and nervous diseases. It is also widely used in China as a treatment for burns., http://www.100md.com