Spiny Jujube Seed Decoction (Suan Zao Ren Tang)
Ingredients
- Spiny jujube seed 15g
- Licorice root 3g
- Anemarrhena (zhi mu) 6g
- Poria 6g
- Sichuan lovage (chuan xiong) 6g
Principle
Spiny jujube seed nourishes heart yin and benefits liver blood; anemarrhena clears heat and relieves restlessness; poria quiets the heart; lovage regulates blood. The decoction nourishes blood, calms spirit, clears heat, and relieves restlessness—suited to heart-liver blood deficiency with deficient heat.
Effects & uses
Suitable for blood-deficiency insomnia with restlessness, palpitations, dizziness, many dreams and easy waking, general weakness; also shallow sleep that fails to refresh (syndrome differentiation required).
Method
- Wash herbs; soak in water 30 minutes.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer 30 minutes; strain.
How to use
- Take warm 1 hour before bed.
Caution
Use less if stools are loose (spiny jujube seed moistens intestines). Not a substitute for medication; long-term severe insomnia requires medical care.
Source
Recommended by Hebei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine “Medicated Diet for Insomnia.” To be manually verified.