Chinese Medicine

Suan Zao Ren is the most frequent used herb when it comes to treatment of insomnia with Chinese medicine. Actually Suan Zao Ren is just as ordinary as any other fruits growing in the wild. When I was a little boy, I already knew Suan Zao Ren well. However, what makes an ordinary Suan Zao Ren cure this tricky sleeping disorder – insomnia.

Ingredients of Suan Zao Ren

The natural herbs for insomnia-Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi spinosae Semen) mainly contain two kinds of triterpenoid compounds: Betulin and Betulinic acid. The other ingredients are Jujuboside, Jujubogenin, fatty oil, protein, sitosterol and vitamin C etc.

Medicinal effect of Suan Zao Ren

Soothing mind, nourishing heart and arresting sweat. The test showed sedative and hypnotic effects by inhibiting central nervous system.

Clinical use of Suan Zao Ren:

1. Neurasthenia;
2. Forgetfulness;
3. More dreams and easy to wake up;
5. Eating less;
6. Fatigue.

Modern research of the natural herbs for insomnia – Suan Zao Ren

1. The animal experiments proved that Suan zao ren inhibits the central nervous system, presents sedative and hypnotic effects and no-toxic-effect reaction. But the sedative effect would be lost after Suan zao ren has been fried for a long time and the oil inside disappeared. There is no excitatory effect on rats in raw Suan zao ren.

2. According to ancient prescriptions and theories, both raw and prepared Suan zao ren can work as natural herbs for insomnia. Clinical practice has proved that the efficacy of these raw or prepared natural herbs is not opposite. According to TCM theory, it makes sense that prepared Suan zao ren should be used in warming method and raw Suan zao ren should be used in clearing method.

3. The experimental results on animals and humans show that both raw and prepared Suan zao ren have the same role and efficacy. There is no difference and no opposite effect of waking up between them. The sedative and hypnotic effects may be related to its soluble substances such as sugar and jujube acid etc. There is no sedative and hypnotic effects found in its extract of ether or chloroform. So we can make a conclusion that there are different functions between Suan zao ren’s kernel and pulp. But it does not necessarily mean that opposite effect would occur after Suan zao ren is prepared. To save the procedure of preparation, raw Suan zao ren is recommended.

4. Over the years, a lot of clinical practice show that prepared Suan zao ren is one of very important natural herbs for insomnia treatment. But we think that both raw and prepared Suan zao ren can be used clinically. It depends on the clinical needs and should not be determined mechanically to use only one of them.

5. The animal experiments and clinical observations show that both raw and prepared Suan zao ren have sedative and hypnotic effects. But analysis of its ingredients shows that Suan zao ren should not be prepared. The prepared Suan zao ren is easy to be eaten by moth and goes bad. Else the prepared Suan zao ren is easy to break. Compared with the prepared one, the storage and custody of raw Suan zao ren seems much easier. The different functions between raw and prepared Suan zao ren, as a matter of fact, is mixed with that between Suan zao ren’s kernel and pulp. To save the procedure of preparation, raw Suan zao ren is recommended.

6. The results show that Suan zao ren is one of significant natural herbs for insomnia. Both of Suan zao ren decoction and powder have a certain short-term sedative and hypnotic efficacy. And both them have no obvious side effects. Animal experiments show that water-soluble extract from Suan zao ren has a certain sedative and hypnotic efficacy on the central nervous system. Both raw and prepared Suan zao ren have the same effect.

7. The comparison of chromatography and sub threshold dose of barbiturate between raw and prepared Suan zao ren show that there is little difference on sedative hypnotic effect. Paper chromatography also shows there is insignificant difference between them. So we can come to the conclusion that raw Suan zao ren can be used directly.

8. Both raw and prepared Suan zao ren are very good natural herbs for insomnia. And Suan zao ren, which is fried slightly, will be easier to extract the useful ingredients. Clinically, raw Suan zao ren should be used in the syndrome of palpitation and insomnia, which caused by deficient heat of liver and gall. And prepared Suan zao ren should be used in the patients with syndrome of palpitation and insomnia, which caused by both deficiency of heart and spleen, especially with the symptoms of abnormal sweating due to general debility, and indigestion because weak spleen and stomach.