Zizyphus Semen, Suan Zao Ren 酸枣仁

Spiny Jujube seed, Sour Jujube seed
Suan Zao Ren (TCM)

Zizyphus Suan Zao Ren (Adam 2018)

Botanical name:
Zizyphus spinosa (syn. Ziziphus spinosa, Z. jujuba var. spinosa)

Parts used:
Seed

Temperature & Taste:
Neutral, moist. Sweet, Sour

Classification:
H. Nourish the Heart

Uses:
1. Nourishes Heart Yin and Blood, Calms the Spirit:
-Insomnia, Nightmare
-Palpitations with Anxiety, Apprehension, Irritability, Amnesia
-used for cases with Yin and Blood deficiency, or Deficient Heat
-'Long¬term use pacifies the mind, makes one feel happy and vigorous and able to enjoy a long life.' (Shen Nong Ben Cao)

2. Stops Sweating:
-Spontaneous Sweating, Night Sweats

3. Settles Wind, Clears Damp:
-'arthralgia due to invading pathogenic Humidity with soreness and pain in the extremities'. (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
-'consolidates tendon and bone' (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-the stir-fried seed is used for this function

Dose:
Decoction: 9–15 grams; they should be broken or lightly crushed before dispensing.

Preparation:
1. Dry-Fried Suan Zao Ren:
  The seeds are dry-fried until browned or slightly scorched and aromatic. This is warmer and more tonifying to the Heart. They are less heavy and cloying and their virtues are more easily extracted with water. This was traditionally said to facilitate Sleep, while the raw seeds were said to awaken the Spirit and treat drowsiness.
  This was also said to be effective for clearing Wind-=Damp from the tendons and bones.

Main Combinations:
1. Insomnia, Irritability, Palpitations:
i. Zizyphus Semen Suan Zao Ren with Paeonia Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Polygonum He Shou Wu
ii. Insomnia and Irritability from Yin deficient Heat, Zizyphus Semen Suan Zao Ren with Anemarrhena Zhi Mu and Poria Fu Ling
iii. Zizyphus Semen Suan Zao Ren with Anemarrhena Zhui Mu, Poria Fu Ling, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Licorice
iv. from deficiency of the Heart and Spleen, Zizyphus Semen Suan Zao Ren with Astragalus Huang Qi, Dang Gui, Codonopsis Dang Shen, Polygala Yuan Zhi, Longan Long Yan Rou (as in Gui Pi Tang)
v. Zizyphus Semen Suan Zao Ren (15 grams) with dry-fried Coptis Huang Lian (1.5 grams), Cinnamon (0.3 grams) (The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)
vi. Insomnia, amnesia, palpitations, nightmares, Zizyphus Semen Suan Zao Ren (40 grams), Poria Fu Ling (10 grams), Ligusticum Chuan Xiong (6 grams), Anemarrhena Zhi Mu, Licorice (1 gram each). Add to 1 liter of alcohol. This is called 'Jade Pillow Elixir'.
2. Wandering of the mind, apprehension, anxiety, amnesia, insomnia, nightmare, Zizyphus Suan Zao Ren with Ginseng, Cinnabar, Frankincense (as in Ning Zhi Gao from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang [Formulas of the Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary]).
3. Spontaneous Sweating, Night Sweats, Zizyphus Suan Zao Ren with Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Astragalus Huang Qi, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu
4. Night Sweats, Zizyphus Suan Zao Ren with Ginseng, Poria Fu Ling (equal parts). Powder and take 6 grams with rice soup. (This is called Dao Han Fang)

Major Formulas:
Bu Gan Tang
Dao Han Fang
Gui Pi Tang
Suan Zao Ren Tang
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Yang Xin Tang
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan

Cautions:
1. Avoid in Diarrhea
2. Not used in excess Heat.
3. Some people have had allergic reactions following administration.

Main Preparations used: