Shan Zha

Shan Zha written in Chinese

Pinyin Name: Shan Zha

English Name: Crataegi Fructus

Other Names: Hawthorn Berry, Chi Gua Zi, Hou Zha

Tastes: Sour, Sweet

Origin: Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Liaoning provinces in China

Benefits of Shan Zha:

Shan Zha is native to China, it is also widely cultivated in Japan. Shan Zha covers meridians of spleen, stomach, liver and lung. Main functions are helping digestion and dissolving stasis. Common uses and indications are accumulated meats and greasy foods, diarrhea and dysentery, abdominal bloating and pain, blood stasis induced dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain. Recommended dosage is 3 to 10 grams.

Shan Zha is widely used in Chinese herbal formulas. 1) Bao He Wan is used to improve symptom management for dyspepsia, abdominal pain and fullness. Its ingredient herbs include Shan Zha, Shen Qu, Mai Ya, Ban Xia, Fu Ling, Chen Pi, Lian Qiao and Lai Fu Zi. 2) Jian Pi Wan is used to improve symptom management for chronic gastritis, chronic enteritis, indigestion and other diseases that are caused by food stagnation and spleen deficiency. Its ingredient herbs include Shan Zha, Bai Zhu, Mu Xiang, Huang Lian, Gan Cao, Ren Shen, Sha Ren, Shan Yao and more. 3) Yun Qi San is used to improve symptom management for abdominal distention and pain due to food stagnation. Its ingredient herbs include Shan Zha, Mu Xiang and Qing Pi.

Common herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine

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