Health & Well-Being A-Z

Date Palm

Date Palm plant
Description

Date palm is a plant. The fruit and pollen of the plant are used as medicine.

People use juice from the date palm for coughs and breathing problems. The pollen from date palm is used for swelling (inflammation) and sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis) and for conditions in a man that prevent him from getting a woman pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (male infertility).


The kernel from date palm is used in a cream for aging skin.

Is It Effective?

Effectiveness header

NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Insufficient evidence
  • Aging skin. Early research suggests that applying a cream containing 5% date palm seed extract around the eyes for 5 weeks reduces the depth and improves the appearance of wrinkles.
  • Conditions in a man that prevent him from getting a woman pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (male infertility). Early research suggests that taking date palm pollen by mouth increases the number of sperm and the movement of sperm in infertile men.
  • Swelling (inflammation) and sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis). Receiving chemotherapy and radiation for head and neck cancer can cause sores in the mouth. Early research shows that swishing a solution of date palm pollen around the mouth before swallowing helps to prevent the formation of these sores during cancer treatment.
  • Breathing problems.
  • Coughs.
  • Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of date palm for these uses.

Is it Safe?

Action

Date palm fruit contains fiber and other chemicals that might help with digestion. The pollen contains chemicals that might act like hormones.

Safety

When taken by mouth: Date palm pollen is POSSIBLY SAFE when used at doses of about 2-4 grams each day for 6-8 weeks. Date palm fruit is LIKELY SAFE for most people in food amounts. But there isn't enough information to know if date palm fruit is safe or what the possible side effects might be when it is used in larger amounts as a medicine.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough information to know if date palm is safe to use on the skin or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: When taken by mouth, date palm is safe in the amounts commonly found in food. But there isn't enough information to know if it is safe in the larger amounts that are used as medicine or when used on the skin. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Drug interactions

It is not known if Date Palm interacts with any medicines. Before taking Date Palm, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.

Herb interactions

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Food interactions

There are no known interactions with foods.

Dosage

The appropriate dose of date palm depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for date palm. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Other names

Ajwa Date, Dade, Date, Date Palm Pollen, Datte, Datte Comestible, Dattel, Datter, Dattero, Dattier, Datil, Edible Date, Kharjura, Palmera Datilera, Palmier Dattier, Palmier-Dattier, Phoenix dactylifera, Tamera.

Disclaimer

Information on this website is for informational use only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While evidence-based, it is not guaranteed to be error-free and is not intended to meet any particular user’s needs or requirements or to cover all possible uses, safety concerns, interactions, outcomes, or adverse effects. Always check with your doctor or other medical professional before making healthcare decisions (including taking any medication) and do not delay or disregard seeking medical advice or treatment based on any information displayed on this website.

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