“Jujube is a very commonly used Chinese date,” notes TCM expert and acupuncturist Scott Ling, LAc, M.A., Ph.D. “Its sweet nature makes it good for nourishing the digestive system and the mind.”* Indeed, studies show that jujube has “neuroprotective activities” and can help ease stress, support a healthy memory, and promote learning.* In terms of sleep, the fruit has been shown to enhance both sleep quality2 and daytime functioning.* Traditionally, Ling notes jujube is often used in TCM in an herbal formula called sour jujube decoction (or Suan Zao Ren Tang, 酸棗仁湯). It’s been used since as early as 210 C.E. and combines five Chinese herbs, including suan zao ren (jujube seeds), fu ling, chuanxiong, zhimu, and gancao. “[Jujube] is the best thing going for enhancing the quality of sleep,” integrative medicine physician Robert Rountree, M.D., previously told mbg. He’s recommended jujube to patients for years, adding, “One thing I particularly like about [it] is that it is also a food that is very gentle and doesn’t knock people out or cause hangovers the morning after taking it.”* mindbodygreen’s formula pairs jujube with magnesium bisglycinate, a highly absorbable form of magnesium that helps promote a steady stream of relaxation, and PharmaGABA®, a neurotransmitter shown in clinical trials to enhance natural sleep quality.* The result? A deeper sleep, gentler wake-up, and all-around better bedtime experience that stands the test of time.*
