Shan Zha
Crataegus pinnatifida
Chinese hawthorn fruit, eaten and used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years for indigestion, especially after meat, and for high blood fats. Research is mostly in the lab and in animals.
What is Shan Zha?
- Plant family
- Rosaceae, the rose family
- Parts used
- The fruit, usually dried and sliced; also eaten as food
- Where it grows
- China
- Genus
- Crataegus
- Species
- pinnatifida
Also called
Chinese Hawthorn, Fructus Crataegi, Fructose Crataegi, Crataegi Fructus
Traditional names
Shanzha
Traditionally used for
- Indigestion (traditional)
- High blood fats (traditional)
- Circulation (traditional)
Traditionally described as
- Lowered blood fats (in animal studies)
Health topics
Where Shan Zha appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.
- High Cholesterol
Traditionally used for high blood fats, and lowered them in animal studies. Not confirmed in people.
- Indigestion
A traditional Chinese remedy for indigestion, especially after rich or meaty meals. Not tested on its own in trials.
Traditions that use it
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Called shan zha; used for over 2,000 years as food and medicine for indigestion (especially after meat), high blood fats and "blood stasis".
Safety
Toxicity testing
A 2023 review of the hawthorn group found no evidence of toxicity in the studies it covered.[1]
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
Chinese hawthorn has been used in China for over 2,000 years as both food and medicine. The fruit is traditionally used for:
- Indigestion, especially after eating too much meat
- High blood fats
- "Blood stasis" and a tingling feeling in the heart
- Sores
Hawthorns grow across Asia, Europe and the Americas, and have been used for thousands of years to strengthen digestion and improve blood circulation, and also for painful periods and weak bones. The site's Hawthorn page covers the European species.[1]
Laboratory & animal research
Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.
In lab and animal studies, Chinese hawthorn lowered blood fats, protected the heart, reduced blood clotting and hardening of the arteries, may help reduce inflammation, and protected nerves. These are lab and animal results.[2]
Sources
- [1] Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety concerns of hawthorn (Crataegus genus): A comprehensive review · DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117229Peer-reviewed study
- [2] Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of Crataegus pinnatifida (Chinese hawthorn): a review · DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgac050Peer-reviewed study
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.