Transforming Suan Zao Ren Tang into a Paste for Better Sleep

Chinese Medicine Book Club Issue 1075

Daily updates to accompany the growth of TCM practitioners

IIntroduction: Suan Zao Ren Tang (Sour Jujube Decoction) is used to treat insomnia, and this is my first time hearing about its use in paste form. Are there some formulas where changing the dosage form yields better results? Can we also refer to the article “Ye Ju Quan: Shen Ling Bai Zhu San should be in powder form, not decoction”? (Editor/Zhang Yajuan)

Suan Zao Ren Tang Transformed into a Paste for Better Sleep

Author/Shen Shaogong

Suan Zao Ren Tang is originally recorded in the “Jin Gui Yao Lue” and is indicated for “deficiency heat and insomnia.” It consists of five ingredients: Chao Zao Ren (fried sour jujube seed), Fu Ling (Poria), Chuan Xiong (Sichuan lovage), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena), and Sheng Gan Cao (raw licorice). It has been used to this day and remains an effective formula for symptoms such as blood deficiency, heart vexation, insomnia, palpitations, and spontaneous sweating.

Our predecessors pointed out: Suan Zao Ren is known today as a key herb for the heart, specifically calming the heart and stopping sweating. However, its ability to nourish the liver and blood is often overlooked. As stated in the “Ben Cao Tu Jie”: “Suan Zao Ren has a sour taste and astringent nature, thus its main indications are in the liver and gallbladder meridians. If the liver is deficient, it leads to yin damage and heart vexation, causing insomnia; the liver stores the soul, and when one sleeps, the soul returns to the liver. If the liver cannot store the soul, the eyes cannot close. The sour taste of jujube seeds nourishes the liver, thus promoting peaceful sleep.” It is evident that the sleep-inducing effect of Suan Zao Ren is indeed due to its ability to nourish the liver and blood. The “Ben Cao Gang Mu” states, “Later generations treating heart diseases must use Fu Shen (Poria spirit), thus the ancient Zhang family could not eliminate dizziness and heart deficiency without Fu Shen. However, Fu Ling has also been known to treat heart diseases,” indicating that Fu Ling can also calm the heart and settle the spirit as an auxiliary herb. Zhi Mu is bitter and cold, a good herb for clearing heat and alleviating vexation, especially suitable for insomnia due to yin deficiency and excessive fire, serving as a supplementary herb. Chuan Xiong enters the liver and gallbladder meridians, invigorating the qi in the blood, dispelling wind, and alleviating pain as the guiding herb. Sheng Gan Cao clears heat and harmonizes the other herbs. Therefore, although the ingredients in Suan Zao Ren Tang are simple, the formulation is rigorous, with clear indications for liver yin deficiency, blood deficiency, and upward disturbance of deficient fire, making it an effective formula for heart vexation and insomnia.

Our predecessors used Suan Zao Ren Tang to treat vexation and insomnia, always adding Ye Jiao Teng (Polygoni Multiflori Caulis) at a dosage of 30 grams. Ye Jiao Teng, first recorded in the “Kai Bao Ben Cao,” is the vine stem of He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti), entering the heart and liver meridians, specifically nourishing the heart and calming the spirit, indicated for vexation and insomnia. When added to Suan Zao Ren Tang, it enhances the sleep-inducing effect. Our predecessors generally first used the decoction, one dose per day, boiled in water and taken in two portions, then combined with acupuncture at San Yin Jiao (Spleen 6), Shen Men (Heart 7), etc., to nourish yin and calm the spirit. After achieving results, they would increase the dosage tenfold, decoct it to a thick paste with white honey, and prepare it as a paste to be taken one tablespoon (15 grams) before bed each night to consolidate the effect, ensuring better sleep with regular use.

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