Herbs that Relieve Food Stagnation
Shan Zha 山楂
Fructus Crataegi Hawthorn Fruit
✓ CALE Exam ✓ National Exam
Materia Medica Data
- Category
- Herbs that Relieve Food Stagnation
- Temperature
- Slightly Warm
- Nature & Flavour
- Sour, Sweet, Slightly Warm
- Channels Entered
- LIV, SP, ST
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Fructus Crataegi
- Chinese
- 山楂
- Tone Marks
- shān zhā
Chinese Herb Actions
- Reduces Food Stagnation, Transforms Accumulation Especially effective for improved digestion of red meat and oily, greasy and fatty foods. Treats indigestion with abdominal distention, pain and or diarrhea
- Disperses Blood Stagnation, Dissipates Clumps Treats post-partum or amenorrhea abdominal pain and spotting. Used for hernia and bulging disorders.
- Treats Cardiovascular Disease Treats hypertension, coronary artery disorder, angina, high cholesterol
- Stops Diarrhea Treats chronic dysentery disorders
Chinese Herb Dosage
- 10-15 grams in decoction. Maximum dose of 30 grams (Chen)
- 9-12 grams in decoction (Bensky)
Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions
- Do not use during pregnancy
- Use with caution in cases with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency
- Use with caution in cases with gastritis or peptic ulcers
- Do not take long term, it can harm the flow of Spleen and Stomach Qi
Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose
- None Noted
Chinese Herb Notes
- Shan Zha (Hawthorn Fruit) has been shown to lower cholesterol via three separate mechanisms and is commonly recommended as a daily tea for those with hypercholesterolemia.
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
https://amzn.to/3WfB3DK
https://amzn.to/3DR1VUh
https://amzn.to/42aMz73
https://amzn.to/3PuD4bt