Da Zao - 大枣 - Fructus Jujube - Black Date
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Jujube / Jujubae Fructus |
| Common English: | Black Date Chinese Date Jujube Jujube Berry Zizyphus |
Category
Herbs that Tonify the QiProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet | Warm (Neutral) | Spleen Stomach | 3-12 Dates Powder: 10-30g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach and augments Qi | Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with weakness, shortness of breath, lassitude, anorexia and loose stools |
Nourishes the Blood and calms the Spirit | Blood Deficiency Restless Organ Syndrome with wan complexion, irritability and severe emotional debility |
Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Rx. Codonopsis | Rz. Zingiberis Recens | Fr. Tritici Levis |
Weakness and lassitude due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency. | External Wind-Cold. Alleviates epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting by strengthening the Spleen. Adjusts the Ying and Wei for treatment of Tai Yang Zhong Feng. Prevents tonics from generating Dampness in the Middle Jiao. Prevents Phlegm accumulation. Nourishes the Blood, prevents injury from harsh Blood movers and assists the movement of Qi. Enhances the effects of other Qi and Blood tonifying herbs by facilitating their digestion and absorption. | Excessive spontaneous sweating in the debilitated. |
| Colla Corii Asini | Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae |
Nutritive Qi and Blood Deficiency. | Restless (dry) organ disorder. | Diarrhea and decreased food intake due to Cold and Dampness in the Spleen and Stomach. |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Sm. Descurainiae/Lepidii | Rx. Glycyrrhizae |
Severe Blood Deficiency with irritability and insomnia. | Coughing, wheezing and chest fullness due to Phlegm accumulation in the chest. | Dry organ disorder with Shen disturbance. |
Rx. Euphorbiae Kansui | ||
Ascites with severe accumulation of water and Phlegm. |
Notes
- Added to harsh cathartics like Sm. Daphne Genkwa Yuan Hua and Rx. Euphorbiae Kansui Gan Sui, it can partly soften their violent effects and protect the Spleen and Stomach from injury.
- In prescriptions containing large amounts of acrid or bitter herbs, it is included to temper their harshness.
- It offsets the drying effects of Ginger.
- For Blood Deficiency it may be used alone.
- It is reputed to remove hypochondriac lumps.
- It inhibits cancer cell growth, and the strength of this effect is closely tied to the dosage (the larger the dose, the greater the effect).
- It is said to treat cough, sore throat, spitting of Blood after a long illness, septicemia, urinary tract infection and stranguria.
- It improves endurance and helps the Liver recover from toxic exposure.
- Red Date Hong Zao has a more cooling nature.
- Da Zao governs pathogenic Qi in the Heart and abdomen, quiets the middle and nourishes the Spleen; it unblocks the twelve channels and the nine orifices, tonifies Qi and deficient fluids, addresses any insufficiency in the body, intense jitteriness and heaviness of the extremities, and harmonizes the hundred medicinals.
- Da Zao, Rz. Dioscoreae Shan Yao and Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu all tonify Qi. Bai Zhu dries without moistening. Shan Yao is neutral and tonifies Spleen Yin, whereas Da Zao tonifies both Qi and Blood of the Spleen and Stomach.
- Da Zao and Arillus Longan Long Yan Rou are both sweet and warm; they augment Qi and Blood, tonify the Spleen and Stomach and calm the Spirit. Da Zao calms the Spirit less well, but it can temper the harsh effects of other herbs and keep them from injuring the Spleen. Long Yan Rou is sweeter and warmer, which strengthens the Spleen, and it is more moistening, tonifying Blood more than Qi. It is superior at calming the Spirit, uplifting the emotions and enriching the Heart.
From Class
- Da Zao (palm dates) / Terminalia chebula (He Zi): Daoists imprint dates with intention for healing/trauma and energizing fasting pills; Terminalia chebula is the 'king of medicines' in Tibet. (Johnson)
- Early-pregnancy additions: Sang Ji Sheng, Da Zao, Ai Ye, E Jiao, Wu Zhu Yu: Early pregnancy: Sang Ji Sheng supports Jing, Da Zao calms the spirit, Ai Ye warms the uterus and pacifies the fetus, E Jiao nourishes blood, Wu Zhu Yu harmonizes. (Lewis)