Introduction of Suan Zao Ren:Spine Date Seed or Semen Ziziphi Spinosae.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Spine Date Seed, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Ziziphus jujuba Mill.var.spinosa (Bunge)Hu ex H.F.Chow., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Spine Date Seed, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Semen Ziziphi Spinosae(Spine Date Seed).

Semen Ziziphi Spinosae:herb photo Pin Yin Name: Suān Zǎo Rén.
 English Name: Spine Date Seed.
 Latin Name: Semen Ziziphi Spinosae.
 Property and flavor: neutral in nature, tastes sweet, sour.

 Brief introduction: The herb Semen Ziziphi Spinosae is the dried ripe seed of Ziziphus jujuba Mill.var.spinosa(Bunge)Hu ex H.F. Chou, used (1).as a tranquilizer for the treatment of fidgetiness, insomnia, and palpitation, and (2).to stop excessive sweating in cases of spontaneous perspiration and night sweats. The herb is commonly known as Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, Spine Date Seed, Suān Zǎo Rén.

 Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Spina Date Seed, or Zizyphus Seed as the seed of the species (1). Ziziphus jujuba Mill.var.spinosa (Bunge)Hu ex H.F. Chow. It is a plant of the Ziziphus Mill. Genus, the Rhamnaceae family (buckthorn family) of the Rhamnales order. This species is introduced:

(1).Ziziphus jujuba Mill.var.spinosa (Bunge)Hu ex H.F.Chow.


 Ziziphus spinosa Hu:fruits on tree Botanical description: The plant is commonly known as Ziziphus jujuba tree, Sour Jujube, Wild Jujube, or Suān Zǎo (Sour jujube tree). The plant Ziziphus jujuba Mill.var.spinosa (Bunge)Hu ex H.F. Chow., are deciduous shrubs, rarely small trees, the tree grows up to 1~3 meters high. Old branches are gray-brown, young branches are green; at the base of the branches there is a pair of thorns, needle-shaped upright, up to 3 cm, the other one bent down, about 0.7 cm. Leaves are alternate; stipules are needle-shaped; leaf blade is oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, apex is obtuse, base is rounded, slightly oblique, margin is serrulate. Flowers are small, 2~3 clusters in leaves axils; calyx has 5 cracks, lobes are ovate-triangular; 5 petals, yellow-green, and sepals are alternate, 5 stamens, and petals are opposite; disk is obvious, 10 lobed; ovary is oval, buried in the disk, the style has 2 cracks. Drupe is succulent, nearly spherical, dark reddish-brown when mature, thin peel, tastes sour. Its flowering period is from June to July, the fruiting period is from September to October.

 Ziziphus spinosa Hu:flowers and fruit seeds Ecological Environment: The tree grows in sunny or dry slopes, valleys, hills, plains, roadsides, and wasteland. The tree grows in mountains, hills or plains, wild hillsides, open fields, or roadsides below an elevation of 1,700 meters. The tree has been widely cultivated, it is resistant to drought, often forming shrubs. This species prefers a warm and dry environment and is not suitable for cultivation in low-lying or waterlogged areas.

 Distribution: The tree is distributed in north and northwest areas of China, and other areas. It was native to China, this species is also introduced and cultivated in other areas of Asia, Europe, and America.

 Growth characteristics: The Ziziphus jujuba tree prefers a warm and dry climate, resistant to drought, cold, and alkali. It is suitable for sandy soil cultivation in sunny and dry hillsides, hills, valleys, plains, and roadsides, but it is not suitable to plant in low-lying waterlogged land.

 Ziziphus spinosa Hu:sour jujube branches and fruits Properties: The herb is sweet and acid in flavor, neutral in nature, it acts on the heart, liver, and gallbladder channels. This herb is sweet in flavor and moist in nature. The sweetness and sourness can nourish Yin, nourishing the liver and bladder, nourishing the heart, and calming the mind. It is often used for insomnia and dreaminess due to deficiency of both Qi and blood and insufficient nourishing of the heart and mind. This herb is sour in taste and astringing sweating. It can be used for the treatment of hyperhidrosis due to general deficiency.

 Spine Date Seed:kernel and seed Characters of herbs: The seeds of this herb are oblate or flat oval, 5~9 mm long, 5~7 mm wide, and 3 mm thick. The surface is purple-red or purple-brown, smooth and glossy, and some have longitudinal cracks. Some of them are rounded protrusions on both sides, and some are flat on one side, with a raised longitudinal line in the middle. The other side is slightly convex. One end is concave, and a linear hilum is visible; The other end has a small convex chalaza. The seed coat is brittle, the endosperm is white, 2 cotyledons, light yellow and oily. The herb has a slight odor, a mild taste. The herb of better grade has large and full grains, shiny, reddish-brown skin, and yellow-white kernel.

 Spine Date Seed:fried herb Pharmacological actions: ①.sedative and hypnotic effects; ②.analgesic, anti-convulsion, cooling effect; ③.effect on cardiovascular system.

 Medicinal efficacy: Nourishing the heart and replenish the liver, nourishing the liver, calm the heart and calm the nerves (relieve uneasiness of mind and body tranquilization), stop sweating, promote the secretion of saliva or body fluid. It is indicated for dysphoria and insomnia (abnormal depression and discontent, lose sleep), palpitate with fear, dreaminess, palpitate with fear and severe palpitation, physical deficiency and much sweating, impairment of bodyfluid and thirst, physical deficiency and spontaneous perspiration, night sweat, abnormal sweating due to general debility, etc.

 Administration of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (Suān Zǎo Rén): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (Suān Zǎo Rén)
TCM Books: ①.Internally:10~15 grams' ②.Internally:water decoction, 2~5 qian (about 6~15 grams), or prepare to pill, powder' ③.Internally:water decoction, 6~15 grams, prepare to finely ground herb powder, 3~5 grams each time; or prepare to pill, powder.
 Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: the herb Semen Ziziphi Spinosae should not be combined with Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae.

 
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  • 1.Introduction of Suan Zao Ren:Spine Date Seed or Semen Ziziphi Spinosae.

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