Chinese dates used as a tonic for anxiety, insomnia

Evergreen zizyphus trees can be found in Southern California and Texas, but the species renowned for its health benefits, Zizyphus jujuba, is native to the subtropical regions of China. The tree’s sweettasting, orange-brown fruits are sometimes called Chinese dates, though they’re not botanically related to true dates. The fruits are packed with vitamin C and amino acids, as well as some fatty acids. Zizyphus is a popular ingredient in herbal tonics in several Asian medicine traditions.

Uses: Zizyphus is widely used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for chronic liver disease, loss of appetite, dry skin, diarrhea, ulcers and asthma. One variety of the plant, Z. jujuba var. spinosa, is recommended for insomnia and anxiety. Zizyphus is sometimes combined with ginseng or other herbs as a tonic for the heart. In traditional Indian medicine, the fruits are prescribed during pregnancy and for wounds.

Dose: Chinese herbalists often recommend 3 to 10 fruits per day. Fresh or dried zizyphus fruits can be purchased in Chinese, Indian, Korean or Vietnamese food stores. Zizyphus supplements are sold in pill form in herbal medicine stores and on the Internet.

Precautions: Zizyphus can cause gas and indigestion. Though not well studied, the fruits appear safe, as they’ve long been used in Chinese and other types of Asian cooking.

Research: Human trials on zizyphus are scarce, so there’s little solid evidence for its various health claims. Lab tests have begun to investigate the plant’s anti-cancer properties, with some positive results. Lab and animal studies have provided preliminary support for the fruit’s calming and antiinsomnia effects, and in vitro experiments have shown that the plant might hold promise for treating Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

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