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Ziziphus – The Top Chinese Herb for Sleep*
In the Chinese Medical system, Ziziphus is held to be the most sedative of the plants used.* It is held in high regard for this effect, being the primary ingredient in many formulas that are geared towards insomnia.*
In fact, Xu Dachun, a Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) physician claimed, “Everyone knows that one employs ziziphus and fu-shen if one can not sleep.”1*
Ziziphus is in the Buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae. It is actually technically a variation of another big herb, the jujube plant, designated by its Latin name of Ziziphus jujube var. spinoza or just Ziziphus spinoza. It is commonly also spelled zizyphus.
How Ziziphus Works on Sleep and Insomnia
It is believed that its sedative effects extend primarily from the high concentration of jujubesides.* These triterpenoid saponins are found in many adaptogenic plants and are collectively thought to be why they are classified as such. An adaptogen works on the nervous system to modulate the stress response.*
While it is not classified as an adaptogen, it’s great sedative powers may stem from this fact.
Ziziphus has been shown to increase the amount of REM sleep in individuals.*
Ziziphus jujuba extract has also been used for a very long time with insomniacs because of its ability to keep an individual in a state of deeper sleep.*
This may have to do with its effects on the neurotransmitter GABA3. GABA is essential for sleep because it basically turns everything ‘OFF.’ As an inhibitory neurotransmitter, the more of this in the brain compared to acetylcholine, another neurotransmitter, the more likely you will be asleep.
Ziziphus has been found to promote GABA receptor expression, thus increasing GABA’s inhibitory actions on the arousal (wake) system4.*
In fact, it is such a good herb for insomniacs that its metabolic pathways for helping with insomnia have been mapped as possible areas to create new sleep drugs.5*
This herb is ideal for traveling purposes as most people will have some difficulty in getting a good night sleep when not sleeping in their normal spots. Ziziphus is always one of the herbs we at Lost Empire Herbs bring with us whenever we travel.
Please note: This herb is NOT a sleep aid in falling asleep in as much as it is in promoting more restful sleep. Also, REM sleep is the time we remember and have the most vivid of our dreams. Taking this extract may result in greater frequency of and/or more intense dreams.
Other Uses and Effects
Another main use of ziziphus jujubier is to prevent excess sweating in individuals.* A possible cause of excess sweating in Chinese Medicine is when the Kidneys (water) cannot restrain the heat of the Heart (fire). In TCM, insomnia has often been connected to excess heat found somewhere in the system. It may thus help by cooling (sedative effects) excess heat that may be causing excess sweating and/or insomnia in system.*
In smaller doses, Ziziphus has been found to reduce overstimulation in individuals.6,7* This has to do, again, with its sedative effects. The smaller doses mean that a possible dozy state is avoided while still having the nerves calmed.
Ziziphus has traditionally been used and may also be helpful for:
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- Altitude Sickness*
- Longevity (due to high antioxidant content)*
- Promotes cellular apoptosis8*
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Some of the components found inside include:
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- Jujuboside A
- Jujuboside B
- Spinosin
- 6”’-Feruloyl Spinosin
- Alkaloids
- Polyphenols
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Ziziphus Dosage
Unlike most of our other herbs, Ziziphus tastes really good to most people.
It is best for sleep at 1-2 tablespoons. This is the dosage studies have found to achieve ideal enhanced REM sleep, equivalent to 5-9 grams.
If used to calm the nerves a much smaller dosage should be used, around 1-2 teaspoons per day.
This is a full spectrum 10:1 extract of the Ziziphus spinoza seeds, as is used in TCM.
Contraindications: Lowers blood pressure due to its content of alkaloids.* This may interfere with heart medications. Please advise with your doctor before taking ziziphus if on prescription heart medications.
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Lost Empire Herbs
kjl58 (verified owner) –
Fantastic herb. I’m 60 years old and have had trouble sleeping for several years. I’ve been taking this now for a couple of months and what a difference it has made. I take one half tablespoon a half hour before bed and I’m now sleeping like I did 10-20 years ago and I’m dreaming again which I seldom remember doing the past few years. Thank you LEH.
Aaron T (verified owner) –
I’ve struggled with insomnia for well over two decades. So I’m always trying out new things to help with that. I love Lost Empire herbs in general and I’ve had great results with them. unfortunately I didn’t find this particular herb to help too much with falling asleep but the nights I did fall asleep I felt like I got better sleep and I stayed asleep better. So the search for herbs that help with insomnia still continues! Oh and I like the taste of this particular herb which I don’t always like all the taste of the other herbs!
Nathan (verified owner) –
Took it for a few days, sleep was a black out deep, like in high school. Don’t use or need it every day and sometimes will use Zinc and Magnesium with Ziziphus when not getting those deep recovery sleeps.
D. Graham Brotherton (verified owner) –
No results whatever. Didn’t change my sleep in any way.
Philip (verified owner) –
After reading the reviews I realize that sometimes something works for somebody then again sometimes it don’t work, in my case it didn’t
Brane (verified owner) –
It did not help me to sleep
Dianne (verified owner) –
I had high hopes for this herb to deal with sleep problems. I paid attention to the reviews and started out with 1 tsp the first night and increased by 1 tsp each night to 4 tsp. No results. Additionally I find it doesn’t dissolve well in water (I even tried heating the water slightly) so I tried swallowing the clumps it formed in the glass. In sum, so far it has not worked and it is very hard to take. I wish this were not so.
Zane Christopher –
I am sorry about that Dianne. Were you using this for insomnia or to fall asleep? The latter is not really what it works for so much and I have had no success with it helping me fall asleep. Then again, its not gonna work for everyone either.
Andrew –
I struggle to sleep through the night and tend to wake up at 3.00 or 4.00 in the morning for a pee and find it impossible to get back to sleep once my brain starts working. I have found that 2-3 grams of Ziziphus allows me to get back to sleep again. Be careful with the dosage, I took far too much on the first night and was comatose for most of the following day.
Glenn –
I had been having serious issues with insomnia for over a month and had been using prescription sleep aids to beat it. I would rather not use drugs, so I decided to try Ziziphus. It took some experimentation to find the correct dose–about two teaspoons for me–but it helped tremendously. I did not even have to use it regularly. Every week or two was enough to keep me sleeping well.
Two notes on usage. First, it sometimes takes more than one day before it works for me. Usually on the second day, I’ll sleep well. Second, don’t overdo it, especially if you have to be mentally alert the next day. On two occasions, I took a heavier dose than I should have, and it took me into the afternoon the next day before I felt like my head was completely clear. (I’m a college professor, and I am definitely not at my best trying to lecture while muddle-headed from Ziziphus!)
All in all, it’s a great herb, but as is often the case you’ll need to work out dosage and frequency for yourself.
Eric Okamura –
WOW! Ziziphus really works great! I like Chinese medicine and thank you Lost Empire Herbs team for bringing that information to light!
At one time in my life I had a bad case of insomnia…
Most nights I tossed and turned in bed until I fell asleep and then had very shallow sleep.
Some nights my sleep was totally nonexistent!
Poor sleep wrecks havoc on your hormonal system, nervous system, brain health, it negatively affects every function of the body.
I had a lot of health issues.
Since then I have gotten this insomnia under control and a lot of credit goes to Lost Empire herbs…
So my sleep has been really good these past few years but when Ziziphus became available, I had to check it out!
The Christopher brothers are awesome and have a heart to help people, they also operate with integrity.
Because of this and the fact that every herb I have tried from them is amazing, I wanted to see if Ziziphus would upgrade my sleep.
The first night I tried it I took 1 teaspoon…
It tastes incredibly good, like a dessert dish, I am still trying to remember exactly what dessert it tastes like but the sleep results were off the charts!
I had many, many, dreams that night, some regular and some erotic and zero bad dreams. I awoke the next morning extremely horny and happy! 🙂
The second night I tried 2 teaspoons but my sleep wasn’t so good, could have been other factors involved so on the third night I took a whole tablespoon and had the same results as the night before.
Since then I have been taking only 1 teaspoon every night and having some amazing sleep and dreams…
I have skipped a night or two but still have the same amazing results.
I am 53 years old soon to be 54 and I look forward to bedtime now as much as I look forward to a new day!
Ziziphus has definitely upgraded my sleep and I highly recommend this herb to anybody who has or has had sleep issues or just wants to upgrade their sleep.
Thank you Lost Empire herbs for another superb product!