In the world it is difficult to find the second such plant as zizifus (unabi). This prickly bush for thousands of years accompanies a person and never ceases to amaze. "The tree of life" - Muslims call it, "gives youth and health" - the Chinese echo it. All the organs of this plant are medicinal; it is not for nothing that unabi is one of the five most effective medicinal plants on Earth. Let's try to figure out what zizifus is, what its useful properties are and whether there are any contraindications to its use.
Did you know? The scientific name "zizifus" comes from the Greek word "zizifon", which the Greeks, in turn, borrowed from the Persians. It means - "edible fruit." As for the various variants of the name Ziziphus, it can be called a record holder, since it has more than thirty names (for example, "Judah apple", "Ilan Djida", "female plum", "Yanap", etc.).
Zizifus: calorie, composition and nutritional value
In 100 g of fruits of zizifus contains 79 Kcal. This allows you to safely use jujube in the diet. Unabi fruits have a unique chemical composition and a unique combination of vitamins, minerals, acids, oils and other substances. Vitamin composition of ziziphus includes:
- Vitamin C (exceeds lemon by 15 times in its content);
- Vitamin P (rutin) - from 0.29 to 0.95%;
- vitamin PP (nicotinic acid);
- retinol (A);
- tocopherol (E);
- vitamins of group B (pantothenic and folic acids, riboflavin, thiamine, pyridoxine).
Up to 30% in jujube fruits are sugar, 4% - fatty oils, 10% - tannins, there are also flavonoids (catechins), polysaccharides (pectin), glycosides (neomirtillin or plant insulin). The content of macro and microelements is equally impressive:- lead;
- copper;
- mercury;
- iron;
- magnesium;
- sodium;
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- cobalt;
- titanium and others
Important! Zizifus grown on the slopes of the mountains, on poor soils, has more pronounced healing properties than plants grown in humus-rich valleys.
Benefits of Zizyphus for the body
Useful properties of Unabi and its unique vitamin-mineral composition led to the use of the plant in traditional medicine. Like ginseng or eleutherococcus, unabi:
- tones the central and peripheral nervous systems;
- rejuvenates and regenerates cells;
- strengthens the immune system;
- normalizes the metabolic processes in the body;
- disinfects;
- removes free radicals;
- gives a diuretic effect;
- removes bile;
- acts as an antioxidant (removes heavy metals, toxins, bad cholesterol, etc.);
- weakens toxicosis;
- has an anesthetic effect (especially effectively helps with dental and headache).
The use of zizyphus in traditional medicine
The healing properties of the unabi did not go unnoticed. In China, there is even a saying that one who eats the fruits of unabi does not need doctors. All zizifus "organs" have found their use.
Did you know? Unabi in the countries of South and East Asia surpasses in popularity and distribution such plants as apple, peach and apricot.
Bark
Jujube has thick gray or black bark, and on the branches it is of cherry color. The young bark has no cracks and is smoother. For medicinal purposes, apply the decoction of the bark. It acts as a fixative, well helping to get rid of diarrhea. Broth is prepared from 10 g of crushed bark. She poured a glass of boiling water and put in a water bath (up to 45 minutes). Drink 2 tbsp. l 30 minutes before meals. 
Leaves
Zizyphus leaves are leathery, oblong-ovate, located on small petioles. They have a hypotensive effect, contribute to expectoration of sputum (for diseases of the lungs and bronchi), stabilize blood pressure and heart rate (with hypertension). To prepare the infusion, use 2 tablespoons of dried leaves per 300 ml of boiling water. It is necessary to insist 1 - 2 hours. Drink - three times a day, three tablespoons.
Broth leaves can be washed ulcers on the mucous membranes.
Did you know? Zizyphus leaves contain an anesthetic. If you chew a fresh leaf, then the anesthetic in it has a temporary paralyzing effect on the taste buds of sweet and bitter. The taste is sour and salty.
Fruit
The fruits of zizifus are ovate, 6 cm long. Unabi berries are eaten fresh and dried, in addition, the beneficial properties in them do not disappear from heat treatment. The fruits are recommended to take:
- With hypertension - three times a day for 20 berries (use three months, then a break).
- When toxicosis and breastfeeding - taken fresh or dried.
- With anemia - berry compote (zizifus is better to use dried). Berries (10 pieces per half-liter of water) boil for 20 minutes, insist one hour, take three times a day, 100 ml.
- With inflammation of various kinds - 15 overripe berries (300 ml of water) boil and boil over low heat. The volume of broth should be reduced three times - to 100 ml. Cool, drain. Broth taken within 15 days (three times a day, a tablespoon).
Important! When consuming zizifus berries or taking medications based on it, it is necessary to monitor the level of blood pressure in order to prevent hypotension.
Seeds
The benefits of zizifus seeds in their sedative effect, which is on the nerve cells. Preparations of unabi seed are used in the treatment of depression, dizziness, as well as in stress and insomnia. To prepare the product, you should:
- grind bones (100 gr.);
- fill them with half a liter of water;
- boil and boil for ten minutes;
- add 200 ml of alcohol and insist eight hours.
Fruit and berry trees and shrubs multiply both vegetatively and with the help of seeds. Apricot, grapes, plum, and dogwood can be grown from the stone.
Important! Pregnant women take unabi seed products categorically is prohibited.
How to use unabi in cosmetology
Chinese date is actively used in the preparation of cosmetic preparations. Especially great is the use of zizifus in hair and skin care.
Hair benefits
Broths from unabi (especially roots, bark and leaves) effectively help in the fight against dandruff, when clogged sebaceous glands, but above all - from hair loss. Broths regenerate hair follicles and strengthens hair. Rinsing decoction of the roots also contributes to the rapid growth of children's hair.
Face benefit
Unabi effectively eliminates acne, boils, pimples, irritations and other similar diseases on the skin of the face. The ointment is prepared from freshly picked leaves and vegetable oil (preferably from olives) in the ratio of 1: 5. The mixture heats up to +90 ° C. Then you need to remove it from the heat and leave to infuse (10 days). Store the composition in the refrigerator, in case of need to lubricate the problem area on the skin with it.
Along with unabi, in traditional medicine, other fruit plants are also used: plum, pear, lemon, mountain ash, red hazel, and bergamot.
Use in cooking: unabi blanks
Although the jujube berries are somewhat similar in taste to dates, they are quite specific and not everyone likes (especially children). Connoisseurs argue that the most delicious unabi are sweated in the sun, as it is very difficult to dry properly in the oven zizifus - it can be easily dried. Although if peresedilo - also scary. You can make flour from dry fruits and add it to regular wheat flour during baking. In Oriental cuisine, zizifusas are made toppings for pies, sauces, added to rice, and wine is made. 
Did you know? In China, in order to properly cook Peking duck, in the oven use only unabi wood.Preparations such as jams, syrups, jams, etc. are very popular. Zizifus retains all the healing qualities in them, and recipes that have been tested by generations make it possible to cook delicious dishes. Unabi jam:
- cook syrup (you will need 1 kg of fruit, 800 g of sugar and 1 liter of water);
- unripe berries washed, pricked with a fork, put in a container;
- pour hot syrup and boil (boil up to 5 minutes);
- insist 7 hours;
- pull out the bones and chop the fruit with a blender;
- boil on low heat, cook for 5 minutes (you must constantly stir);
- sterilize banks;
- pour the jam on the jars and close.
Over time, the jam will thicken. This preparation will allow you to simultaneously reduce the pressure and enjoy delicious.In winter, zizifus is not always at hand, so you will certainly be interested in how to store its fruits, especially since they remain fresh for no more than a week at room temperature and up to a month in the refrigerator. At the same time, dry and dried berries are stored for one year.
Contraindications
The main contraindication for lovers of Chinese dates is low blood pressure. However, 5 - 6 berries will not greatly reduce the pressure, but should not be abused. Fruits of unabi also have contraindications for pregnant women - one should not get carried away and over-exercise, because a large number of fruits may not improve the uterus tone in time.
Important! Unabi fruits are heavy for the stomach, they are digested for a very long time. To speed up the digestion process, you can clean them and eat berries without skin, or simply limit yourself to the amount of food eaten.Drivers of cars (especially when driving in the evening or at night) should also remember what zizifus is and refrain from using it before or during the ride, as its fruits can reduce the reaction rate, relax and even put to sleep.
