Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba)
Synopsis of jujube
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), also known as Chinese date or red date, is a small deciduous tree native to China and parts of Asia, widely cultivated for its nutrient-rich fruit. The dried fruits and seeds of the jujube are used medicinally in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, and Middle Eastern folk medicine. The fruit is rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, polysaccharides, saponins, and triterpenes, while the seed contains compounds with sedative and anxiolytic properties.
In herbal medicine, jujube is best known for its ability to nourish the blood, calm the mind, and support digestive and immune health. It is a tonic herb traditionally used for fatigue, insomnia, poor appetite, anxiety, and dry or irritated tissues. It acts as a mild adaptogen and nervine, helping to improve resilience to stress while promoting a sense of calm and emotional balance.
Jujube fruit is also used to strengthen the spleen and stomach, according to TCM theory, and to harmonize other herbs in multi-herb formulas, making it a staple in many classic decoctions. Modern studies have confirmed its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, liver-protective, and immunomodulatory effects.
It is commonly consumed as dried fruit, tea, syrup, or in capsule or extract form, often blended with other calming herbs like licorice, lotus seed, or schizandra.
Historical Use
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, jujube (Da Zao) is classified as sweet and warm, and it enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It has been used for over 2,500 years, appearing in ancient texts like the Shennong Bencao Jing as a Qi and Blood tonic and emotional stabilizer. It is often prescribed for restlessness, weakness, irritability, and digestive disorders, particularly in weakened or elderly individuals.
In Ayurveda, jujube is used to balance Vata and Pitta doshas, promote rejuvenation, fertility, and sleep, and soothe inflammatory conditions. In Persian and Middle Eastern medicine, the fruit was used for cough, sore throat, and gastrointestinal issues, and often incorporated into sweet syrups and tonics.
Today, jujube remains a beloved herb in adaptogenic and stress-relief formulas, recognized for its gentle yet effective calming, nourishing, and restorative actions, particularly suited for nervous exhaustion, digestive weakness, and overall convalescence.
Jujube is used for these health conditions
Anemia (Traditional)
Anxiety (Traditional)
Appetite (deficient) (Traditional)
Asthma (Traditional)
Backache (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Burns and Scalds (Traditional)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Scientific)
Cancer (prevention) (Scientific)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects) (Traditional)
Cholesterol (high) (Scientific)
Colds (general) (Traditional)
Constipation (adults) (Traditional)
Constipation (children) (Traditional)
Cough (dry) (Traditional)
Cough (general) (Traditional)
Cough (spastic) (Traditional)
Depression (Traditional)
Diabetes (Traditional)
Digestion (poor) (Traditional)
Edema (Traditional)
Emotional Sensitivity (Traditional)
Fatigue (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Gastritis (Traditional)
Headache (general) (Traditional)
Heart (weakness) (Traditional)
Hepatitis (Traditional)
Hypertension (Traditional)
Indigestion (Traditional)
Inflammation (Traditional)
Insomnia (Traditional)
Liver Detoxification (Traditional)
Memory and Brain Function (Traditional)
Menopause (Traditional)
Mental Illness (Traditional)
Nausea and Vomiting (Traditional)
Neurosis (Traditional)
Pain (general remedies for) (Traditional)
PMS (general) (Traditional)
Stress (Traditional)
Ulcers (Traditional)
Wounds and Sores (Traditional)
jujube is used to support these body systems
Blood (Traditional)
Brain (Traditional)
Digestive System (Traditional)
Female Reproductive System (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Glandular System (Traditional)
Heart (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Nerves (Traditional)
Parasympathetic Nervous System (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Skin (Traditional)
Spleen (Traditional)
Stomach (Traditional)
Sympathetic Nervous System (Traditional)
