Formula Formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind

Suan Zao Ren Tang

酸枣仁汤

Also known as:

Sour Jujube Decoction

Formula Composition

Suan Zao Ren
Suan Zao Ren
Chuan Xiong
Chuan Xiong
Fu Ling
Fu Ling
Zhi Mu
Zhi Mu
Gan Cao
Gan Cao
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King
Main ingredient
Deputy
Assists main
Assistants
Supports
Envoy
Directs formula
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From $23.00

Formula Properties

Main Actions

  1. Nourishes the Blood
  2. Calms the Mind and eliminates irritability
  3. Clears Heat

Patterns Treated

Liver Blood Deficiency, Heart Blood Deficiency, Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency, Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency, Liver Yin Deficiency

Historical Origin

Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (220 AD)

TCM Actions & Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine properties and applications of Suan Zao Ren Tang

Main Actions

Nourishes the Blood
Calms the Mind and eliminates irritability
Clears Heat

Key TCM Concepts

Suan Zao Ren Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Jujube Seeds (Suan Zao Ren) as a principal ingredient.

 

Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind. Its main actions are: 1) nourishes the Blood and 2) calms the Mind and eliminates irritability .

 

In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.

 

In this case Suan Zao Ren Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Liver Blood Deficiency, Heart Blood Deficiency or Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as insomnia, sleep walking or nervous exhaustion for instance.

TCM Patterns Addressed

  • Liver Blood Deficiency
  • Heart Blood Deficiency
  • Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
  • Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
  • Liver Yin Deficiency

Common Applications

Insomnia Sleep walking Nervous exhaustion Paroxysmal tachycardia Hypertension General anxiety disorder Depression Schizophrenia Hepatolenticular degeneration Trigeminal neuralgia Migraine Angina pectoris Chronic hepatitis

Ingredients in Suan Zao Ren Tang

Detailed information about each herb in Suan Zao Ren Tang and their roles

Kings
Deputies
Assistants
Envoys
Suan Zao Ren
Suan Zao Ren

Jujube seeds

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sour, Sweet
Organ Affinity Gallbladder, Heart, Liver
Parts Used Dried ripe seed
Role in Suan Zao Ren Tang
Suan Zao Ren is sweet, sour, and bland. It nourishes the Liver while calming the Mind. It also regulates the Qi, moistens the Liver to nourish the Yin, warms the Middle Burner to facilitate water metabolism, restrains the Qi to stop sweating, strengthens the resolve to settle angry outbursts, enhances the hearing and brightens the eyes.
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Chuan Xiong
Chuan Xiong

Szechuan lovage roots

Temperature Warm
Taste Pungent
Organ Affinity Gallbladder, Liver, Pericardium
Parts Used Dried rhizome
Role in Suan Zao Ren Tang
Chuan Xiong is acrid, warming, and aromatic. It regulates the Liver Blood byencouraging it to flow freely, calming the Mind by providingthem with their natural abode.
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Fu Ling
Fu Ling

Poria-cocos mushrooms

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Kidneys, Lungs, Spleen
Parts Used Dried sclerotium
Role in Suan Zao Ren Tang
Fu Ling is sweet and bland. It calms the Mind and tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, along with bitter, sweet, and cooling Zhi Mu.
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Zhi Mu
Zhi Mu

Anemarrhena rhizomes

Temperature Cold
Taste Bitter, Sweet
Organ Affinity Kidneys, Lungs, Stomach
Parts Used Dried rhizome
Role in Suan Zao Ren Tang
Zhi Mu is bitter, sweet, and cooling. It drains Heat to preserve the Yin and thus, by protecting the Stomach from Dryness, indirectly enriches the Body Fluids.
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Gan Cao
Gan Cao

Liquorice

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Lungs, Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried root and rhizome
Role in Suan Zao Ren Tang
Gan Cao performs multiple roles simultaneously. Firstly, in conjunction with Fu Ling, it strengthens the Middle Burner and enhances Qi, ensuring a balanced distribution of Qi and Blood. Secondly, being sweet in nature, it mitigates Liver hypertonicity. When paired with an herb like Suan Zao Ren, it embodies the concept of blending 'sour and sweet flavors' to shift the formula's effect towards 'the generation or protection of Yin.' Lastly, it coordinates the effects of other herbs and brings harmony to the Middle Burner.
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Safety & Contraindications

Important safety information and precautions for Suan Zao Ren Tang

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using any TCM herbal formula.

Contraindications

Use with caution in cases with loose stools.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Like many TCM formulas, Suan Zao Ren Tang may interact with certain medications. If you are taking any prescription medications, we recommend consulting with a healthcare provider knowledgeable in herb-drug interactions.