Sour Jujube Decoction
酸棗仁湯 · suān zǎo rén tāng
The classical TCM formula for the kind of insomnia where your mind won't stop and your body feels parched.
What it's for
When sleep keeps slipping away and you wake up dry-mouthed and frustrated, this is one of TCM's oldest answers. The lead herb, sour jujube seed, calms the heart and quiets racing thoughts. The supporting herbs cool the kind of internal restlessness that comes from running low on the body's reserves. Practitioners reach for it for stress-related insomnia, especially when there's irritability or night sweats in the mix.
Signs this formula is a fit
Your sleep problem plus at least one more main sign below should sound like you.
Main signs
Exhausted but can't fall asleep
body is tired, mind is racing
Wake up dry-mouthed and frustrated
early waking, night sweats, can't settle back down
Restless and irritable inside even when you're worn out
agitation that doesn't match how tired you are
Extra signs
- Heart fluttering
- Dizziness
- Dry tongue
- Common after stretches of overwork or illness
Signs it isn't
- You have loose stools or weak digestion
- Your insomnia comes with strong heat, high thirst, and a red face
- You sleep fine but feel depleted
What's in it
Safety
- For wired-but-depleted insomnia with irritability, night sweats, or palpitations. Not for acute-stress sleeplessness.
- Chuanxiong is traditionally avoided during pregnancy.
- Sour jujube seed is mildly sedating and can add to sleeping pills, anxiety medication, or alcohol.
How to take it
What to get
Suan Zao Ren Tang Tablets
Plum Flower84 ct
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Dose
Take 4 tablets, 3 times a day. Other brands and forms use different doses, so follow the label on what you buy.
How long
Follow any time limit on the product label. If it gives none, ask a qualified TCM practitioner when to reassess. Do not keep taking it unchanged if nothing improves.