Suan Zao Ren Tang, Sour Jujube Decoction, is Suan Zao Ren, Fu Ling, Zhi Mu, Chuan Xiong and Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Spirit, and records it as nourishing Liver Blood.

Herb

Amount

15 g

6 g

6 g

6 g

3 g

Actions and indications

Nourishes Liver Blood and the Heart

Deficient Blood of the Heart, or of the Heart and Liver
Liver Blood or Yin deficiency with deficiency Heat rising and Empty Fire disturbing the Heart
Light-headedness, vertigo or dizziness, with blurring of vision
Low energy, weakness and tiredness, with a weak abdomen
Heaviness of the head or vertigo after long mental or physical overwork
Tongue red and dry with little coat, or pale; pulse wiry, thin and rapid, thready and weak, or thready and tight

Calms the Shen

Insomnia: difficulty falling asleep, restless or broken sleep, waking and being unable to fall back asleep, and much dreaming, including sleeplessness from stress
Palpitations with anxious unease; drowsiness at other times
Nervous exhaustion: tired yet unable to sleep

Clears Heat from the Liver and Heart and eliminates irritability

Vexation from deficiency: irritability, impatience, fidgeting and inner restlessness
Throat and mouth dry without thirst
Night sweats

Modern uses

Insomnia
Nightmares
Somnolence
Neurasthenia and nervous exhaustion
Anxiety and anxiety neurosis
Panic attacks
Neurosis
Cardiac neurosis
Hysteria
Stress
Excessive worrying
Nervousness
Forgetfulness
Schizophrenia, where irritability and sleeplessness are present
Palpitations
Paroxysmal tachycardia
Congestive heart failure
Hypertension
Hyperthyroidism
Menopause syndrome
Night sweats
Fever and low-grade fever
Dizziness
Vertigo
Anemia
Fatigue
Weakness
Dry skin
Red eyes
Impotence
Nocturnal emissions and spermatorrhea
Chronic hepatitis
AIDS/HIV

Modifications

Night terrors and dreamy sleep from weak Qi of the Heart and Gallbladder: + dang shen, + long chi

Palpitations: + long chi, + mu li

Severe deficiency Fire: + mo han lian, + sheng di huang, + bai shao, + nu zhen zi, − chuan xiong

Night sweats: + mu li, + wu wei zi, + bai zi ren

Night sweats (alternative): + ma huang (gen), + wu wei zi

Nervous exhaustion, restless and unable to sleep: + mo han lian, + nu zhen zi

Severe night sweats: + mu li, + fu xiao mai

Qi deficiency: + ren shen, + huang qi

Irritability, thirst and sleeplessness: + mai men dong, + wu wei zi

Deficiency of Heart and Spleen (combined with Gui Pi Tang)

Insomnia from Blood deficiency: + dang gui, + shu di huang, + he shou wu

Combined with Wen Dan Tang

Show all 39 modifications

Insomnia from Heat: + mu dan pi, + zhi zi, + dan zhu ye
Fright with palpitations: + yuan zhi, + shi chang pu
Overthinking with insomnia (combined with Yi Gan San)
Deficiency Fire flaring: + bai shao, + sheng di huang, + huang lian, − chuan xiong
Severe palpitations: + long chi
Severe palpitations with anxiety: + long gu, + mu li
Deficiency Fire: + sheng di huang, + bai shao
Severe insomnia: + mu li, + ci shi, + zhen zhu mu, + zi shi ying, + long gu
Combined with Yi Guan Jian
Liver Yang rising: + gou teng
Sore, gritty eyes: + gou qi zi, + ju hua, + mi meng hua, + jue ming zi
Liver Heat: + zhi zi, + chai hu
Deficiency Heat: + nu zhen zi, + mo han lian
Night sweats (further option): + mu li, + ma huang (gen), + fu xiao mai
Insomnia with Liver Fire: + long dan cao, + chai hu
Insomnia with stagnant Blood: + tao ren, + hong hua, + ye jiao teng
Sleeplessness from deficient Yin with Heat: + e jiao, + huang bai, + bie jia
Insomnia with deficient Qi and Blood: + dang shen, + huang qi, + he huan pi
Sleeplessness from weak Heart Qi: + huang qi, + yuan zhi
Insomnia with profuse sputum: + dan nan xing, + zhu li
Palpitations, with Fu Shen in place of Fu Ling: + fu shen, + bai shao, − fu ling
Palpitations where Liver Blood is badly depleted, also affecting the eyes or menstrual health: + fu shen, + bai shao, + jiu chao dang gui, + shu di huang, − fu ling
Severe palpitations, with Fu Shen in place of Fu Ling: + fu shen, + bai shao, + long yan rou, + bai zi ren, + dan shen, − fu ling
Palpitations with poor memory: + fu shen, + bai shao, + long yan rou, + jiu chao dan shen, + shi chang pu, + ye jiao teng, − fu ling
Palpitations with insomnia: + fu shen, + bai shao, + long yan rou, + jiu chao dan shen, + ye jiao teng, + bai zi ren, − fu ling
Stronger nourishing and astringing effect: + wu wei zi
More marked Blood deficiency: + bai shao, + dang gui

Cautions

contraindication Sleeplessness from an excess pattern (Phlegm-Heat or Phlegm-Fire disturbing the Heart, retained food, Damp-Heat), which a nourishing formula can aggravate

caution Zhi Mu is cold and moistening and may worsen loose stools or poor appetite when the Spleen is weak or Damp; modify the formula or avoid it then

pregnancy Contains Chuan Xiong, which moves Blood; use in pregnancy only with a qualified practitioner

caution Ongoing insomnia, especially with other symptoms, should be properly assessed rather than self-treated with one formula

Pinyin

suan zao ren tang

English Name

Sour Jubjube Decoction

suan zao ren tang

About suan zao ren tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Nourishes Liver Blood and the Heart

Calms the Shen

Clears Heat from the Liver and Heart and eliminates irritability

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support