Summary
Ziziphus Jujuba is a fruit used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for purposes related to gastrointestinal health and digestion, as well as being a combination sedative/anxiolytic/pain-killer. It has apparently potent benefits according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, but there is limited human evidence and evidence in general on the benefits of Ziziphus Jujuba.
It appears to be pro-motility in regards to the intestines, speeding up transit time and encouraging defecation. This is associated with an increase in intestinal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and an increase in fecal moisture content, so it may be 'healthier' than other laxatives (to stretch the usage of the term 'healthy').
In rats fed high doses of Jujube, the sedative and anxiety-reducing effects appear to actually be quite potent with at least one study noting that there is similar potency to Diazepam, and the sedative properties may be synergistic with 5-HTP. There are currently no human studies on the sedative or anxiety-reducing effects of Jujube.
Traditional usage suggests Jujube may be anti-fertility for females, and a single rat study appears to find similar effects (although did not measure actual conception rates, just uterus size and estrus); it would be prudent to avoid usage of Jujube if trying to conceive a child.
What are other names for Jujube
- Ziziphus Jujuba
- Chinese Date
- Da Zao
- Jujube
- Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba)
Dosage information
Traditional usage of Jujube is taking 50g of the fruits (20 individual 2-2.5cm diameter fruits) and doing a hot water extract, either a soup of a beverage.
There currently is not enough evidence in humans to establish an effective oral dose of Zizyphus Jujube supplements but estimating from animal studies finding benefits with 500mg/kg for anxiety reduction, an estimated human dose would be:
- 5,500 mg for a 150lb person
- 7,300 mg for a 200lb person
- 9,000 mg for a 250lb person
...for an ethanolic extract with a 23.34% extract yield.
