Chinese jujubes, those with a red color, thick flesh, fullness, small or no pits, and a sweet taste are considered the best. Folk sayings include, "Eat jujubes every day, and youth will never fade," "Ten jujubes a day keeps old age away," "Five grains plus jujubes are better than lingzhi grass," and "For good skin, add jujubes to your porridge." Although some of these sayings are exaggerated, they also indicate that regular consumption of jujubes is beneficial to health.
Chinese jujubes, also known as red dates, are the mature fruit of the jujube tree (*Ziziphus jujuba*), a deciduous small tree or shrub in the buckthorn family. They are a type of product used for both medicinal and food purposes, and are available as fresh jujubes and dried jujubes (Chinese jujubes), with different compositions. Fresh jujubes are rich in vitamins, especially Vitamin C, whose content is the highest among all fruits, hence they are called "natural vitamin pills." Therefore, eating fresh jujubes is more beneficial for supplementing the body's vitamins. However, fresh jujubes are perishable and prone to spoilage, so they are often dried for long-term storage. The "Chinese jujubes" we commonly refer to are the dried ones.
In the first Chinese materia medica monograph, *Shennong Ben Cao Jing*, Chinese jujubes were listed as a superior grade, credited with effects such as "settling the middle and nourishing the spleen, assisting the twelve meridians. Harmonizing the stomach qi, opening the nine orifices, supplementing qi and fluids, and addressing insufficiencies in the body... and harmonizing with hundreds of herbs." *Changsha Yao Jie* states: "Chinese jujubes supplement the essence of the Taiyin (spleen), transform the qi of the Yangming (stomach), generate fluids to moisten the lungs and relieve dryness, nourish blood to enrich the liver and calm wind, and treat weakness of the spleen and stomach." This shows the high regard ancient people had for the efficacy of jujubes.
Modern Chinese medicine believes that Chinese jujubes are sweet in taste and warm in nature, and they act on the spleen and stomach meridians. They have the effects of tonifying the middle jiao and qi, nourishing blood and calming the spirit, and moderating the properties of other herbs. They are suitable for conditions such as middle jiao qi deficiency, blood deficiency, visceral agitation, and for moderating the properties of harsh herbs. Chinese jujubes are particularly effective for treating symptoms caused by middle jiao qi deficiency and a weak spleen and stomach, such as fatigue, lack of strength, poor appetite, and loose stools.
When cooked with rice, millet, or glutinous rice to make porridge, Chinese jujubes have a good therapeutic effect. Jujubes can also nourish blood and calm the spirit, treating symptoms caused by blood deficiency, such as sallow complexion, dizziness, blurred vision, and fatigue, as well as symptoms caused by heart and liver deficiency, such as mental confusion, poor sleep, and abnormal mental state.
Modern medical research has confirmed that in addition to the nutrients mentioned above, Chinese jujubes also contain various active ingredients such as triterpenoid saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and organic acids. They have effects such as delaying aging, antioxidant activity, enhancing immune function, and anti-tumor properties. The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in jujubes participates in the metabolism of nucleic acids and proteins in the body, promoting the synthesis of proteins and antibodies, thereby enhancing the body's ability to resist diseases. Jujubes also have effects on protecting the liver, enhancing physical strength, and providing anti-allergy benefits.
Here are some proven folk and dietary remedies using jujubes.
1. For middle-aged and elderly people with a weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, indigestion, fatigue, and loose stools, use 10 Chinese jujubes, 10 grams of Chinese yam, 10 grams of lotus seeds, and 100 grams of rice. This has the effect of tonifying qi and strengthening the spleen, and supplementing deficiency and building health.
Administration method: Wash the jujubes, Chinese yam, and lotus seeds, and cook them with rice to make porridge. Eat in the morning and evening.
2. For the recovery period after hepatitis or tuberculosis, when the body is weak and fatigued, use 500 grams of jujube flesh and an appropriate amount of rock sugar. This has the effect of tonifying qi and supplementing deficiency.
Administration method: Wash the jujubes, remove the pits, and boil them in water until they form a paste. Store in a container and take one tablespoon each in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
3. As an adjunctive treatment for allergic diseases (such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, allergic purpura, urticaria, etc.), consume 50-100 grams of fresh jujubes or 20-50 dried jujubes daily. This has the effect of tonifying qi and building health, and providing anti-allergy benefits. Administration method: Wash the jujubes and consume them at any time until the allergic symptoms disappear.
4. For chronic illness or post-major illness weakness, use 30 grams of Chinese jujubes, 30 grams of peanuts, 100 grams of lamb, and a small amount of seasoning. This has the effect of tonifying qi and supplementing deficiency, strengthening the spleen and nourishing blood.
Administration method: Wash the lamb, cut into small pieces, add the jujubes, peanuts, seasoning, and an appropriate amount of water. Simmer over low heat for 2 hours. Eat the lamb and drink the soup.
5. For middle-aged and elderly people with insufficient liver and kidney yin, symptoms such as soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, deafness, and premature graying of hair, use 30 Chinese jujubes, 10 grams of prepared *Polygonum multiflorum* (shouwu), 10 grams of mulberries, 100 grams of rice, and a small amount of brown sugar. This has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidneys, nourishing essence and blood, and blackening the hair.
Administration method: First, simmer the prepared shouwu in water for 40 minutes. Then, in the medicinal liquid, add the jujubes, mulberries, and rice to cook into porridge. Add a small amount of brown sugar for flavor before eating. Take in the morning and evening.
6. For hysterical mental confusion, unpredictable crying or laughing, vexation, insomnia, and significant emotional fluctuations, use 15 Chinese jujubes, 50 grams of floating wheat, and 10 grams of licorice root. This has the effect of tonifying qi and nourishing the heart, and calming the spirit and stabilizing the mind.
Administration method: Wash the three ingredients, simmer for 1 hour, and consume after removing the licorice.
7. For middle-aged and elderly people with hypotension, use 20 Chinese jujubes, 10 grams of ginseng (*Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng*), 30 grams of Chinese yam, 20 grams of Job's tears, 10 grams of lotus seeds, and 50 grams of rice. This has the effect of tonifying the middle jiao and qi, strengthening the spleen, and raising blood pressure.
Administration method: Wash all the ingredients, and cook with rice to make porridge. Eat in the morning and evening.
8. For patients with neurasthenia, symptoms such as insomnia with dreams, palpitations and forgetfulness, fatigue, and listlessness, use 20 Chinese jujubes, 10 grams of longan pulp, 50 grams of lotus seeds, and a small amount of rock sugar. This has the effect of strengthening the spleen and nourishing blood, benefiting the heart and calming the spirit.
Administration method: Wash the jujubes, longan pulp, and lotus seeds. Add an appropriate amount of water and cook until soft and mushy. Add rock sugar for flavor. Eat in the morning and evening.
9. As an adjunctive treatment for patients with high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and coronary heart disease, use 200 grams of celery and 30 Chinese jujubes. This has the effect of strengthening the spleen and nourishing the heart, and lowering blood pressure and lipids. Wash the celery and jujubes, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer for 30 minutes. Eat the celery and jujubes and drink the soup.
10. For middle-aged and elderly people with lung and kidney deficiency, symptoms such as fatigue, coughing and wheezing, poor appetite, and soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, use 20 Chinese jujubes, 10 grams of apricot kernels, 10 grams of ginkgo nuts, 10 grams of walnut kernels, 200 grams of chicken, and a small amount of seasoning. This has the effect of tonifying the lungs and kidneys, stopping cough and wheezing, and benefiting essence and blood.
Administration method: Wash the chicken and cut into small pieces. Simmer with the other ingredients over low heat for 1 hour. Eat the chicken, nuts, and jujubes, and drink the soup, divided for morning, noon, and evening.
11. For post-illness weakness, pale complexion, fatigue, palpitations and shortness of breath, insomnia and forgetfulness, dizziness, and blurred vision, use 10 grams of *Codonopsis pilosula* (dangshen) and 20 Chinese jujubes. This has the effect of tonifying qi and strengthening the spleen, and nourishing the heart and calming the spirit.
Administration method: Decoct the two ingredients twice, each time for 40 minutes. Combine the medicinal liquids and drink as tea.
12. For mental workers with excessive mental exertion, symptoms such as palpitations and insomnia, multiple dreams and forgetfulness, poor appetite, and abdominal bloating, use 200 grams of jujube flesh, 200 grams of longan pulp, 100 grams of walnut kernels, 10 grams of American ginseng slices, and 50 grams of honey. This has the effect of tonifying qi and nourishing blood, strengthening the spleen and nourishing the heart.
Administration method: Wash the jujubes, longan pulp, walnut kernels, and American ginseng. Add an appropriate amount of water and simmer over low heat until soft and mushy. Mash the ingredients, add honey, and bring to a boil over low heat. After cooling, bottle it. Take one tablespoon each in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
13. For middle-aged and elderly people with spleen and kidney deficiency, a thin and weak body, fatigue, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, dizziness, and blurred vision, use 30 Chinese jujubes, 10 grams of sheep bone marrow, 10 grams of prepared *Polygonum multiflorum* (shouwu), and 100 grams of rice. This has the effect of nourishing the spleen and kidneys, and replenishing essence and marrow.
Administration method: Simmer the prepared shouwu for 40 minutes. In the medicinal liquid, add the washed jujubes, bone marrow, and rice, and cook into porridge. Eat in the morning and evening.
14. For middle-aged and elderly people with decreased sexual function, symptoms such as soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, decreased libido, spermatorrhea, and impotence, use 20 Chinese jujubes, 50 grams of whole shrimp, 10 grams of chives, and 100 grams of rice. This has the effect of tonifying qi and strengthening yang, and improving sexual function.
Administration method: Wash the whole shrimp (without heads or shells) and cut into sections. Split the jujubes and remove the pits. Wash the chives and cut into small pieces. Cook with rice to make porridge. Eat in the morning and evening.
15. For elderly people with heart qi deficiency, symptoms such as palpitations and shortness of breath, mental confusion, insomnia and dreams, and memory loss, use 100 grams of Chinese jujubes, 50 grams of *Acorus tatarinowii* (changpu), 10 grams of ginseng (*Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng*), and 500 grams of low-proof liquor. This has the effect of tonifying qi, refreshing the mind, and calming the spirit and improving intelligence.
Administration method: Wash and slice the changpu and ginseng. Split the jujubes and remove the pits. Place them in the liquor and steep for 2 weeks before drinking. Drink 20-30 ml in the morning and evening.
Helpful Tips:
1. When using Chinese jujubes in decoctions, be sure to split them into 3-5 pieces. This helps the active ingredients to be extracted, increasing the medicinal effect by 2-3 times.
2. Chinese jujubes are sweet and warm in nature. Eating too many can promote dampness, generate phlegm, and accumulate heat. People with damp-heat or phlegm-heat conditions should not consume them.
3. Eating too many fresh jujubes can cause diarrhea.
4. After eating jujubes, rinse your mouth promptly to avoid yellowing of the teeth or cavities.