Use of Da Zao (jujube dates) in TCM
Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.
Preparation: Harvest when the fruit is mature, remove impurities and dry.
Dosage: 10 - 30 grams, this roughly calculates to 2 - 10 dates
Main actions according to TCM*: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula.
Primary conditions or symptoms for which Da Zao may be prescribed by TCM doctors*:
Insomnia
Palpitations
Restlessness
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Contraindications*: Should not be used when there are conditions of Dampness, Food Stagnation, intestinal parasites and dental diseases.
Common TCM formulas in which Da Zao is used*
Da Zao is a deputy ingredient in Gan Mai Da Zao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Gan Mai Da Zao Tang, Da Zao augments the Qi and moistens internal Dryness. It also clears Heat.
Read more about Gan Mai Da Zao Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Xiao Chai Hu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
Read more about Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
Read more about Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
Read more about Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Shi Zao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Shi Zao Tang, Da Zao augment the Qi, protect the Stomach, and moderate the harshness and toxicity of the three other ingredients.
Read more about Shi Zao Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Da Qing Long Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Da Qing Long Tang, Da Zao works together with Liquorice (Gan Cao), another assistant herb here, to tonify the Middle Burner Qi and provide the Essence from which the Fluids can be replenished.
They actively facilitate sweating in a context where Fluids may have been damaged by Internal Heat, while also moderating the drying action of the acrid and warming diaphoretic herbs.
Read more about Da Qing Long Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Mai Men Dong Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Mai Men Dong Tang, Da Zao work closely with the king and deputy herbs to tonify the Stomach Qi and generate Body Fluids.
Read more about Mai Men Dong Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Si Ni Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Dang Gui Si Ni Tang, Da Zao supports Qi and strengthens the Spleen. It assists Dong Quai and White peony root in tonifying the Blood. It also helps Cinnamon twigs and Wild ginger in facilitating Qi flow.
Read more about Dang Gui Si Ni Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang, Da Zao assists Ren Shen in augmenting the Qi
Read more about Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Gui Zhi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Gui Zhi Tang, Da Zao helps Bai Shao nourish and harmonize the Nutritive Qi and the Blood.
Read more about Gui Zhi Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Huang Long Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Huang Long Tang, Da Zao adjusts and regulates the nutritive and protective Qi. It regulates the disparate actions of the other ingredients, and ultimately hasten recovery.
Read more about Huang Long Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Huang Lian Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Huang Lian Tang, Da Zao augments the Qi and strengthen the Spleen, assisting the Middle Burner to maintain its normal functions.
Read more about Huang Lian Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Huang Qin Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Huang Qin Tang, Da Zao is harmonizes the Middle Burner, augments the Qi, and enriches the Yin.
Read more about Huang Qin Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang, Da Zao harmonizes the Nutritive and Protective Qi, assists the Qi transformation
of the Middle Burner, and soothes the diverse actions of the formula into a single whole.
Read more about Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Zhi Gan Cao Tang, Da Zao benefits the Spleen and nourishes the Heart.
It assists the king ingredient Zhi Gan Cao in tonifying the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (the Post-Heaven Qi), which is the root of the Heart Qi and the source of Blood generation.
Read more about Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Juan Bi Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Juan Bi Tang, Da Zao works together with Fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang), another envoy in this formula, to harmonize the nutritive and protective Qi, enhancing the formula's ability to dispel Wind and Dampness.
Read more about Juan Bi Tang
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Gui Pi Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
Read more about Gui Pi Tang
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Ba Zhen Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Ba Zhen Tang, Da Zao regulates Stomach and Spleen's absorptive function, thereby helping the other herbs in the formula to be absorbed.
Read more about Ba Zhen Tang
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Da Chai Hu Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Da Chai Hu Tang, Da Zao assists White peony root in softening the Liver and easing abdominal pain. Both herbs also protects the Yin from injury by pathogenic Heat and from the harsh draining character of Rhubarb and Immature bitter orange.
Read more about Da Chai Hu Tang
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Jin Fei Cao San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Jin Fei Cao San, Da Zao harmonize the Nutritive and Protective levels of the Four Level Theory.
Read more about Jin Fei Cao San
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Zai Zao San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Zai Zao San, Da Zao nourishes and revives the Spleen and Stomach Qi. It also regulates the nutritive and protective Qi along with Fresh ginger.
Read more about Zai Zao San
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang, Da Zao helps the key herb, Angular solomon's seal root in moistening the Dryness and harmonizing the actions of the other ingredients.
Read more about Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang, Da Zao works with Jujube date to regulate the relationship between the Protective Qi in the Exterior and the Nutritive Qi in the Interior. This helps in focusing the actions of the other ingredients on these critical aspects of the body.
Read more about Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang, Da Zao regulates the Protective and Nutritive Qi to facilitate the release of the Pernicious Influences.
Read more about Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Wu Zhu Yu Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Wu Zhu Yu Tang, Da Zao is sweet and it moderates the acrid, drying properties of key herb and deputy herb. It also supports the Qi-tonifying action of the assistant herb.
Read more about Wu Zhu Yu Tang
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Sheng Yang Yi Wei Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Sheng Yang Yi Wei Tang, Da Zao regulates the Protective and Nutritive Qi by gently supporting the transportive and transformative functions of the Middle Burner.
Together with Liquorice, it also moderates the diverse functions of the many different herbs in this formula.
Read more about Sheng Yang Yi Wei Tang
In Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang, Da Zao regulates the nutritive and protective Qi and harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach. It ensures that this complex formula is properly assimilated, and blend its many ingredients into a harmonious whole.
Read more about Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang
Key TCM concepts behind Da Zao's properties
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Da Zao belongs to the 'Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency' category. Tonic herbs are used for patterns of Deficiency, when one lacks one of the 'Four Treasures' (Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang). Qi tonics are typically sweet and they tend to enter the Spleen and Lungs because these Organs are most involved with the production of Qi.
Furthermore Da Zao is Warm in nature. This means that Da Zao tends to help people who have too much 'Cold' in their body, although with less effect than a plant that would be Hot in nature. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Those who have too much Cold in their body are said to either have a Yin Excess (because Yin is Cold in nature) or a Yang Deficiency (Yang is Hot in Nature). Depending on your condition Da Zao can help restore a harmonious balance between Yin and Yang.
Da Zao also tastes Sweet. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Sweet ingredients like Da Zao tends to slow down acute reactions and detoxify the body. They also have a tonic effect because they replenish Qi and Blood.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Da Zao is thought to target the Spleen and the Stomach. In TCM the Spleen assists with digestion, Blood coagulation and Fluids metabolism in the body. The Stomach on the other hand is responsible for receiving and ripening ingested food and fluids. It is also tasked with descending the digested elements downwards to the Small Intestine.
Research on Da Zao
A controlled clinical trial found Jujube Dates to be helpful for chronic constipation.1
In a clinical trial jujube was proved to be effective against neonatal jaundice.2
Research suggests jujube fruit has nootropic and neuroprotective properties.3
Jujube dates have stress-alleviating properties.4
Sources:
1. Naftali, T.; Feingelernt, H.; Lesin, Y.; Rauchwarger, A.; Konikoff, F.M. (2008). "Ziziphus jujuba extract for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation: A controlled clinical trial". Digestion. 78 (4): 224–228. doi:10.1159/000190975.
2. Ebrahimi, Sedigheh; Soheil Ashkani Esfahani; Azizollah Poormahmudi (2011). "Investigating the efficacy of Zizyphus jujuba on neonatal jaundice". Iranian Journal of Pediatrics. 21 (2): 320–324.
3. Pahuja, M; Mehla J; Reeta KH; Joshi S; Gupta YK. (2011). "Hydroalcoholic extract of Zizyphus jujuba ameliorates seizures, oxidative stress, and cognitive impairment in experimental models of epilepsy in rats". Epilepsy Behav. 21 (4): 356–363. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.05.013.
4. Mill Goetz P. "Demonstration of the psychotropic effect of mother tincture of Zizyphus jujuba" Phytotherapie 2009 7:1 (31–36)
Use of Da Zao as food
Da Zao is also eaten as food. It is used as an ingredient in dishes such as Jujube Date Jam or Rice congee with jujube.
