Shan Zha
shan_zha.jpg

 

Shan Zha in TCM:

Explore the properties of Shan Zha according to Chinese
Nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):


Factoids:
English Name: crataegus, hawthorn berry, hawthorn fruit
Pharmacuetical Name: Fructus Crataegi
Properties: sweet, sour, slightly warm


Temperature: warm

Channels: ST, SP, LV

Flavors: sweet, sour

Special Properties:
circulates blood, resolves food stagnation


    Alternate Forms:
  • Sheng- for blood stasis or food stagnation
  • Chao Jiao- to stop diarrhea and dysenteric disorder

Actions / Indications:
  • Resolves and Guides out food stagnation; stops diarrhea (epigastric and abdominal fullness, pain, diarrhea and chronic dysenteric-like disorders: especially for accumulations of food from eating meat or greasy foods)
  • Invigorates blood; disperse blood stasis (hernia, menstrual cramps; amenorrhea; post-partum abdominal pain and clumbs due to blood stasis)
  • Treats high cholesterol (modern use for coronary artery disease, elevated serum cholesterol, hypertension)
  • (cc: SP and ST deficiency without food stagnation)
  • (cc: stomach acidity)

    Special Notes:
  • Jiao San Xian has excellent function to relieve food stagnation. It consists of Shan Zha, Shen Qu, and Mai Ya - all charred.