Ningxia Jujubes

Ningxia Jujubes

　　Jujubes, also known as red dates, are the mature fruit of the jujube tree, a deciduous small arbor or shrub belonging to the Rhamnaceae family. They are considered both food and medicine, and come in fresh and dried forms (dried jujubes), with differing nutritional profiles. Fresh jujubes are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, which ranks highest among all fruits—hence their nickname “natural vitamin pill.” Eating fresh jujubes is more beneficial for replenishing the body’s vitamin intake. However, fresh jujubes spoil easily and must be dried to extend their shelf life. The term “jujube” usually refers to the dried form.

In China’s first pharmacopoeia, “Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica,” jujubes are classified as a top-grade herb, credited with benefits such as “regulating the center and nourishing the spleen, supporting the twelve meridians. Calming stomach qi, opening the nine orifices, replenishing Qi and fluids deficiencies, and harmonizing various herbs.” The “Changsha Herbal Decoction” states: “Jujubes nourish the essence of Taiyin, transform Yangming qi, generate fluids and moisten the lungs while dispelling dryness, nourish blood and liver while calming wind, and treat weakness of the spleen and stomach.” This shows how highly ancient people regarded jujubes.

Modern traditional Chinese medicine considers jujubes sweet in taste and warm in nature, entering the spleen and stomach meridians. They are used to tonify the middle and benefit Qi, nourish blood and calm the spirit, and moderate the properties of other herbs. They are suitable for cases of middle Qi deficiency, blood deficiency, emotional instability, and for moderating medicinal properties. Jujubes are particularly effective for fatigue, weakness, poor appetite, and loose stools caused by middle Qi deficiency and weak spleen and stomach. Cooking jujubes with rice, millet, or glutinous rice into porridge has good therapeutic effects. Jujubes also nourish blood and calm the spirit, treating symptoms like sallow complexion, dizziness, fatigue due to blood deficiency, as well as mental confusion, poor sleep, and abnormal consciousness caused by heart deficiency and liver stagnation.

Modern medical research confirms that in addition to the above nutrients, jujubes contain various active compounds such as triterpenoid saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and organic acids, offering anti-aging, antioxidant, immune-boosting, and anti-tumor benefits. The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in jujubes participates in nucleic acid and protein metabolism, promotes protein and antibody synthesis, thereby enhancing disease resistance. Jujubes also protect the liver, enhance stamina, and help prevent allergies. Here are some proven prescriptions and dietary therapies using jujubes.

For middle-aged and elderly individuals with weak spleen and stomach, presenting with poor appetite, indigestion, fatigue, and loose stools, use 10 jujubes, 10g Chinese yam, 10g lotus seeds, and 100g rice. This helps benefit Qi, strengthen the spleen, and improve overall vitality. Method: Wash the jujubes, yam, and lotus seeds, cook them with the rice into porridge, and consume in the morning and evening.

For those recovering from hepatitis or tuberculosis, feeling weak and fatigued, use 500g jujube flesh and an appropriate amount of white sugar. This helps benefit Qi and replenish deficiencies. Method: Wash the jujubes, remove the pits, boil them into a paste, store in a container, and take one tablespoon in the morning, at noon, and in the evening.

As an adjunct treatment for allergic diseases (such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, purpura, hives, etc.), consume 50–100g of fresh jujubes or 20–50 dried jujubes daily. This helps benefit Qi, build strength, and resist allergies. Method: Wash the jujubes and consume them at any time until allergy symptoms disappear.

For those weakened after chronic illness or serious conditions, use 30g jujubes, 30g peanuts, 100g lamb, and a small amount of seasonings. This helps benefit Qi, replenish deficiencies, strengthen the spleen, and nourish blood. Method: Wash and dice the lamb, add peanuts, jujubes, seasonings, and appropriate water. Simmer over low heat for 2 hours, then eat the meat and drink the soup.

For middle-aged and elderly individuals with liver-kidney insufficiency, presenting with soreness in the waist and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, and gray hair, use 30 jujubes, 10g processed polygonum multiflorum root, 10g mulberries, 100g rice, and a small amount of brown sugar. This helps nourish liver and kidneys, enrich essence and blood, and darken gray hair. Method: Boil processed polygonum multiflorum root for 40 minutes, then add jujubes, mulberries, and rice to the herbal decoction to make porridge. Add a little brown sugar before eating, and consume in the morning and evening.

For those with hysteria-like mental confusion, unpredictable laughing or crying, restlessness, insomnia, and mood swings, use 15 jujubes, 50g floating wheat, and 10g licorice. This helps benefit Qi, nourish the heart, and calm the spirit. Method: Wash the three ingredients, boil for one hour, then discard the licorice before consuming.

For middle-aged and elderly individuals with low blood pressure, use 20 jujubes, 10g pseudostellaria root, 30g Chinese yam, 20g coix seed, 10g lotus seeds, and 50g rice. This helps benefit the middle, boost Qi, strengthen the spleen, and raise blood pressure. Method: Wash all ingredients and cook with the rice into porridge, to be eaten in the morning and evening.

For patients with neurasthenia, presenting with insomnia, vivid dreams, palpitations, forgetfulness, fatigue, and listlessness, use 20 jujubes, 10g longan flesh, 50g lotus seeds, and a small amount of white sugar. This helps strengthen the spleen, nourish blood, benefit the heart, and calm the spirit. Method: Wash the jujubes, longan, and lotus seeds, add appropriate water, cook until soft, then add white sugar for flavor, and consume in the morning and evening.

As an adjunct treatment for hypertension, high blood lipids, and coronary heart disease, use 200g celery and 30 jujubes. This helps strengthen the spleen, nourish the heart, lower blood pressure, and reduce blood lipids. Method: Wash the celery and jujubes, add appropriate water, boil for 30 minutes, then eat the celery and jujubes and drink the soup.

For middle-aged and elderly individuals with lung-kidney deficiency, presenting with fatigue, coughing, wheezing, poor appetite, and soreness in the waist and knees, use 20 jujubes, 10g almonds, 10g ginkgo nuts, 10g walnut kernels, and 200g chicken, along with a small amount of seasonings. This helps nourish lung and kidney, relieve cough and wheezing, and enrich essence and blood. Method: Wash and dice the chicken, cook with the other ingredients over low heat for one hour, and eat the chicken, nuts, jujubes, and drink the soup in divided doses throughout the day.

For those weakened after illness, presenting with pale complexion, fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, insomnia, forgetfulness, dizziness, etc., use 10g dangshen (codonopsis root) and 20 jujubes. This helps benefit Qi, strengthen the spleen, and nourish the heart and calm the spirit. Method: Boil both ingredients twice for 40 minutes each, combine the decoctions, and drink as tea.

For mental workers experiencing excessive brain strain, with symptoms like palpitations, insomnia, vivid dreams, forgetfulness, poor appetite, and abdominal distension, use 200g jujube flesh, 200g longan flesh, 100g walnut kernels, 10g American ginseng slices, and 50g honey. This helps benefit Qi, nourish blood, strengthen the spleen, and nourish the heart. Method: Wash the jujubes, longan, walnut kernels, and ginseng, add appropriate water, simmer until soft, mash and mix with honey, then boil again, cool, and bottle. Take one tablespoon in the morning, at noon, and in the evening daily.

For middle-aged and elderly individuals with spleen-kidney insufficiency, presenting with thinness, fatigue, soreness in the waist and knees, dizziness, etc., use 30 jujubes, 10g bone marrow from sheep’s tibia, 10g processed polygonum multiflorum root, and 100g rice. This helps nourish spleen and kidney, enrich essence, and nourish marrow. Method: Boil processed polygonum multiflorum root for 40 minutes, then add the decoction to washed jujubes, bone marrow, and rice to cook into porridge, and eat in the morning and evening.

For middle-aged and elderly individuals with reduced sexual function, presenting with soreness in the waist and knees, decreased libido, nocturnal emission, or impotence, use 20 jujubes, 50g whole shrimp, 10g chives, and 100g rice. This helps benefit Qi, invigorate yang, and enhance sexual function. Method: Wash the whole shrimp (leave heads and shells on), dice them; break open the jujubes and remove the pits; wash and dice the chives. Cook all with the rice into porridge, and eat in the morning and evening.

For elderly individuals with heart Qi deficiency, presenting with palpitations, shortness of breath, mental confusion, insomnia, vivid dreams, and memory decline, use 100g jujubes, 50g grassleaf sweetflag rhizome, 10g ginseng, and 500g low-alcohol liquor. This helps benefit Qi, refresh the mind, calm the spirit, and improve intelligence. Method: Wash and slice the grassleaf sweetflag and ginseng, break open the jujubes and remove the pits, place them in the liquor, soak for two weeks, then drink 20–30ml in the morning and evening.

Friendly Tips: 1. When boiling jujubes, break them into 3–5 pieces to help extract active ingredients and increase efficacy by 2–3 times. 2. Jujubes are sweet and warm; overconsumption may cause dampness, phlegm, or internal heat—those with damp-heat or phlegm-heat should avoid them. 3. Excessive consumption of fresh jujubes may cause diarrhea. 4. Rinse your mouth after eating jujubes to prevent tooth staining or cavities.