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).

dried brownish seeds of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae 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.Chow., 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.


 fruits grow on tree of Ziziphus spinosa Hu Botanical description: The plant, Ziziphus jujuba Mill.var.spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F.Chow is also known as Z.vulgaris Lam.var.spinosa Bunge., is commonly known as the Ziziphus jujuba tree, Sour Jujube, Wild Jujube, or Suān Zǎo (means sour jujube tree). The plant is a deciduous shrub, rarely a small tree; the shrub grows up to 1~3 meters high. Old branches are taupe (dust color), and young branches are green; at the base of the branches there is a pair of thorns; one thorn is aciculiform (needle-shaped) and is upright, up to 3 cm long, and the other thorn is recurved, about 0.7 cm long. Simple leaves are alternate; stipules (peraphyllum) are aciculiform; leaf blades are oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, the apex is obtuse; the base is circular (rounded), slightly oblique; and the margin is serrulate.

 Flowers are small, 2~3 flowers cluster and grow in leaf axils; calyx is 5-lobed, lobes are ovate-triangular; 5 flower petals, yellowish green; petals and sepals are alternate; 5 stamens, stamens and flower petals are opposite; the floral disc (flower disc) is conspicuous, shallowly 10-lobed; the ovary is elliptic, buried in the flower disc; the style is 2-lobed.

 sour jujube branches and fruits of Ziziphus spinosa Hu: Drupes (drupe fruits) are succulent, subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), turn Fusco-testaceous (dark reddish-brown) at maturity, the pericarp is thin, and the fruit has a sour taste. Its flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from September to October.

 Ecological Environment: Ziziphus jujuba tree grows on sunny or dry hillsides and mountain slopes, valleys, hills, plains, roadsides, wasteland, and open fields in areas at altitudes below 1,700 meters above sea level. The tree has been widely cultivated, and it is resistant to drought, often forming bushes.

 flowers and fruit seeds of Ziziphus spinosa Hu Distribution: The Ziziphus jujuba tree is distributed in the northern and northwest areas of China and other areas. It was native to China, but this species has also been introduced and cultivated in other areas of Asia, Europe, and America.

 Growth characteristics: Ziziphus jujuba tree prefers a warm and dry climate; it is tolerant of drought, coldness, and alkali. It is appropriate to choose a field on sunny and dry hillsides, hills, valleys, plains, and roadsides, sandy loam for cultivation, but it is not appropriate to choose low-lying and waterlogged fields for cultivation.

 Spine Date Seed:brownish kernel and seed Characters of herbs: The seeds of Ziziphus jujuba are oblate or oblate elliptic, 5~9 mm long, 5~7 mm wide, and 3 mm thick. The surface is prunus (violet red) or puce (purple brown), smooth and glossy, and some have longitudinal cracks. Some of them have rounded protrusions on both sides, and some are flat on one side, with raised longitudinal lines in the middle. The other side is slightly convex. One end is concave, and a linear hilum is visible; The other end has a fine and small raised chalaza. The spermoderm (seed coat) is crisp, the endosperm is white, there are 2 cotyledons, light yellow and oil-rich. The herb has a slight odor, and a mild taste. The herb of a better grade has big and full grains, glossy, testa (seed coat) is reddish-brown, and yellow-white kernel.

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

 Properties: The herb is sweet and sour in flavor, neutral in nature, and acts on the heart, liver, and gallbladder channels. This herb is sweet in flavor and moistening in nature. Its 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 insufficiency, for nourishing the heart and mind. This herb is sour in taste and collects sweat. It can be used for the treatment of hyperhidrosis due to general deficiency.

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

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