Suān Zǎo Rén Tāng
Suān Zǎo Rén Tāng (酸枣仁汤, “Ziziphus Seed Decoction”) comes from Jin Gui Yao Lue - Zhang Zhongjing (220 CE). Nourishes the Liver, calms the Mind, eliminates irritating empty heat.
Main action
Nourishes the Liver, calms the Mind, eliminates irritating empty heat
Zhang Zhongjing's simple and elegant formula. The combination of Suan Zao Ren (nourishes) and Zhi Mu (cools) treats the root cause of deficiency insomnia with empty heat.
Indications
- Insomnia due to poor Liver Blood
- Irritability
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
- night sweats
- dry throat
- Tongue
- Red or pale-red, little coating
- Pulse
- Fine and weak or fast and fine
Composition
| Herb | Role | Dose | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suān Zǎo Rén 酸枣仁 | Emperor (君 jūn) | 15g | Nourishes Liver Blood, calms Mind, treats insomnia |
| Fú Líng 茯苓 | Minister (臣 chén) | 9g | Calm Mind, Strengthen Spleen |
| Zhī Mǔ 知母 | Minister (臣 chén) | 9g | Nourishes Yin, eliminates irritating empty heat |
| Chuān Xiōng 川芎 | Assistant (佐 zuǒ) | 6g | Moves Liver Qi, avoids stagnation |
| Gān Cǎo 甘草 | Envoy (使 shǐ) | 3g | Harmonize ingredients |
The emperor–minister–assistant–envoy hierarchy (君臣佐使) describes the role of each herb in the formula.
Preparation
Decoction: boil 30 min. Take at night, 1-2 hours before bedtime
Classical modifications
Add: He Huan Pi (合欢皮) 12g, Ye Jiao Teng (夜交藤) 15g
Current uses being studied
- Insomnia due to chronic stress
- Anxiety with difficulty sleeping
- Menopause with nocturnal irritability
Precautions
- Suan Zao Ren should be roasted for insomnia (raw can cause daytime sleepiness)
- Do not use if it is cold or humid
Formulas must be prescribed by qualified professionals; they can interact with medications.
Profile
- Chinese name
- 酸枣仁汤
- English name
- Ziziphus Seed Decoction
- Source
- Jin Gui Yao Lue - Zhang Zhongjing (220 CE)
- Dynasty
- Han
- Category
- Calm the Shen
- Constitutions
- Yin Deficiency Constitution
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
