Qi Spot

Last time, I talked about Suan Zao Ren Tang and mentioned some things about the main ingredient, Suan Zao Ren (Sour Date Seed).  I now present to the reader some excerpts from a 2002 study:

Chen, et al.  Prescriptions of Chinese Herbal Medicines for Insomnia in Taiwan in 2002. eCAM Advance Access published online on April 1, 2009.
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nep018 (http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/nep018)

Let’s go specifically into the part on Suan Zao Ren.

The second most commonly used Chinese herb for subjects with insomnia in our study was Suan-zao-ren (Z. spinosa). It is the chief ingredient in the formula of Suan-zao-ren-tang. In an animal model, Peng et al. (29) reported that Suan-zao-ren had a sedative effect at higher doses and an anxiolytic effect at lower doses. In addition, Zhang et al. (30) indicated that Jujuboside A, one of the components of Suan-zao-ren, produced its sedative–hypnotic effects through effecting the actions of anti-calcium-binding proteins and it inhibited the glutamate-mediated excitatorysignaling pathway in the hippocampus. Jiang et al. (31) also reported that saponins, the main bioactive components of Suan-zao-ren, could prolong the sleeping time induced by barbiturates. In addition, Ma et al. (32) revealed that sanjoinine A, an alkaloid compound of Suan-zao-ren, might regulate GABAergic neurons and further increase the sleeping time and decrease the sleep latency induced by pentobarbital. Notably, there was a case report indicating that Suan-zao-ren could interact with the antidepressant, venlafaxine (Efexor), thereby leading to an acute serotonin reaction (33).

So nice to see that traditional Chinese Medicine is being STUDIED and PROVEN to work.  Here are the research papers cited by Chen et al:

1. Peng WH, Hsieh MT, Lee YS, Lin YC, Liao J. Anxiolytic effect of seed of Ziziphus jujuba in mouse models of anxiety. J Ethnopharmacol ( 2000;) 72:: 435–41. 
2. Zhang M, Ning G, Shou C, Lu Y, Hong D, Zheng X. Inhibitory effect of jujuboside A on glutamate-mediated excitatory signal pathway in hippocampus. Planta Med ( 2003;) 69:: 692–5. 
3. Jiang JG, Huang XJ, Chen J. Separation and purification of saponins from Semen Ziziphus jujuba and their sedative and hypnotic effects. J Pharm Pharmacol ( 2007;) 59:: 1175–80. 
4. Ma Y, Han H, Eun JS, Kim HC, Hong JT, Oh KW. Sanjoinine A isolated from Zizyphi Spinosi Semen augments pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors through the modification of GABA-ergic systems. Biol Pharm Bull ( 2007;) 30:: 1748–53. 
5. Stewart DE. Venlafaxine and sour date nut. Am J Psychiatry ( 2004;) 161:: 1129–30.

The other herbs in the formula include Chuanxiong, Fuling, Zhimu and Gancao.  The effects of each material seems obvious at first.  From a Chinese pharmacologic point of view, Chuanxiong regulates liver blood and clears blood stasis, Zhu Mu clears deficiency heat and nourishes yin, Gan Cao harmonizes, but what about Fu Ling?  Fu Ling is known for draining dampness, but it should be noted that it enters the Heart meridian as well and thus, has an effect of tranquilizing the mind and calming the spirit.

I had read somewhere that the formula as a whole lowers epinephrine levels, but have yet to find the actual research stating such.

This formula was first noted in Zhang Zhongjing’s “Essentials from the Golden Cabinet”, around 208 AD.  Truly a brilliant man.

I am a big fan of sleep.  I believe that good sleep is the best medicine, not just laughter.  I would like to write about a patient of mine, a fifty-something male, with complaints of hypertension and insomnia.

I was not the first TCM physician who the patient saw.  He had been given herbs before but his hypertension was still unabated.  When I saw him for the first time, history revealed that he had severe insomnia.  Logic dictates that his hypertension could be due to the lack of sleep.

Acupuncture, however, did not work at all.  I tried the patent remedy Zao Ren An Shen Ye, which helped a bit, but not so much.  Also, his blood pressure was still in the 180/100 range.  Not acceptable to me.

I brought out the heavy artillery.  I decided to use Suan Zao Ren Tang (Sour Jujube decoction).

After three days of taking the formula, the patient followed up.  He is sleeping better and his blood pressure is down to 140/90.  Talk about treating the branch by treating the root!

So what’s so special about Sour Jujube?

Wild Chinese Jujube, courtesy foodsnherbs.com

A lot of people know about Da Zao (jujube or red dates) but what about Suan Zao Ren or sour jujube seeds?

Suan Zao Ren is sweet and sour in flavor, meaning it tonifies and preserves yin and fluids.  It’s nature is neutral so it will neither promote nor modulate physiology and inflammation.  It enters the Heart and Liver meridians so it affects the Mind through the Heart and the Qi through the Liver.  Great Chief herb.

Anyway that’s enough for now.  In a few days we will present an analysis of Suan Zao Ren Tang – the formula itself!

The Three Wise Men of Biblical fame gave the infant Jesus presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  (Well, strictly speaking there was no mention of the number of wise men who visited but the number three was inferred from the number of gifts – go figure.)  Gold is obvious – fit for a king.  Frankincense is used by priests in temples.  Myrrh?  Apparently for burial.  Traditional catholic theology (okay, I’m catholic) deduces that the three gifts represent Jesus’ royalty, priestly character, and eventual death.

However, it shall be seen that myrrh is more than meets the eye.  I’m rushing a bit today because I still have many holiday obligations, so I’ll just link to and quote this article: (http://www.hc2d.co.uk/content.php?contentId=13588)

‘Gloomy’ myrrh good for heart

22nd December 2009

Myrrh, the Middle Eastern tree resin, may contain powerful heart-healthy compounds, according to new Saudi research.

Nadia Saleh Al-Amoudi from King Abd Al-Aziz University in Saudi Arabia said that myrrh resin could be used along with other plants to give a big boost to heart health.

She said, however, that more research would be needed before scientists could find a safe way of administering it to people.

Raw myrrh resin can be toxic and should not be eaten.

Though the substance has many sources in Africa, India, and the Middle East, myrrh comes primarily from the dried sap of a number of trees native to Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Jordan.

Though the name of the resin entered English from Ancient Greek, it is thought to have originally come from a language source located in the Middle East or East Africa, where it has been used as a traditional remedy for sore throat, congestion, bad breath, cuts, and burns.

For the purposes of the study, Al-Amoudi fed a cocktail of myrrh resin and other plant materials to albino rats, and found that it increased their blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as “good” cholesterol.

Myrrh is known in the west as one of the three gifts of the Magi and is part of the Christian story of Christmas, and it has other medicinal associations for various cultures around the world.

Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicinal system of India, has its own uses for myrrh.

Chemists working with Ayurvedic medicine have found that Indian myrrh contains compounds which lower blood lipids.

The compound found in Indian myrrh inhibited a gene in the livers of test animals that affects cholesterol absorption.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), myrrh is used to treat menstrual problems, as well as problems affecting the heart, liver, and spleen.

TCM also employs myrrh and used along with frankincense for treating arthritis.

Okay, time for a few side notes:  myrrh appears to be a blood stagnation remover (will have to research more) and it affects three zang fu organs associated with Blood: the Heart generates (moves) Blood, the Liver stores Blood and the Spleen controls/holds Blood.

Frankincense too eh?  Those wise men were truly wise!  Note that gold compounds were also used in western medicine for arthritis.  Perhaps the wise men were thinking that Jesus, being the son of a carpenter, would have arthritic joints from woodwork?

Chinese Black Vinegar

Growing up, I was never fond of anything sour.  Cane vinegar, tamarinds, you name it, I hated it.  However, things changed in 1999.  That was when I went to Israel for the first time and discovered that I liked the lemon based seasonings used in some vegetable dishes there.  (Regretfully I forgot the name.)

The second major paradigm shift (not total – I’m still not a sour person) happened when I lived for almost a year in Nanjing in 2005.  It was there that I fell in love with Chinese Black Vinegar.  It was good with dumplings, it was good with soups, heck, it was good with everything.  Also, it got rid of the saltiness inherent in Nanjing food ha ha.

My relatives and friends noticed the difference when I came home.  Suddenly I’d put Chinese Black Vinegar on almost everything.  I also found it pleasantly surprising that it had health benefits as well.  Will it be as popular in the United States as apple cider vinegar?  Who knows?

Thus, when I stumbled upon this article talking about… duh… Chinese Medicinal uses of  Vinegar, I read it, digested it, and decided to quote some excerpts.

Vinegar (cu) promotes warm energy (yang) and is noted as a disinfectant (it’s anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral), a detoxifier, digestive aid and treatment (internal and external) for inflammation.

Thinking about it, I really really doubt if anything can survive the acidity of vinegar.  I thought as a child that my tongue couldn’t =)

About 22 vinegar-making methods are collected in “Qi Min Yao Shu” (“Main Techniques for the Welfare of the People”), a book on agriculture by Jia Sixie in the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386-534).

The top four vinegars in China are xiangcu (fragrant vinegar) in Zhenjiang City of Zhejiang Province, lao chencu (mature vinegar) in Shanxi Province, hongqu micu (red yeast vinegar) in Fujian Province and baoning cu (bran vinegar) in Sichuan Province.

Chinese Vinegar and Soy Sauce Dispensers

That gives me more varieties to try!  But now let’s go to the health benefits:

Chinese people traditionally make vinegar from grains. Sticky rice and rice are widely used in the south while sorghum and millet are more often used in the north.
Bai cu (white vinegar) made from barley is widely used for external application (as on a wound) and in household cleaning.
During hot weather, Chinese would add vinegar to food to improve the appetite and fumigate rooms with vinegar to prevent infectious diseases.
Its uses include relieving diarrhea and jaundice when taken internally, relieving inflammation and stopping bleeding when used in external application.
It is recommended in cases of indigestion from too much greasy food, in cases of internal bleeding and sore throat.
Its many uses were recorded in the “Ben Cao Gang Mu” (“Compendium of Materia Medica”) by famed pharmacist Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Modern research confirms the many benefits of vinegar, which is rich in amino acids, vitamins and acetic acid, especially rice vinegars.
It has been found to improve digestion and appetite, and to have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, especially rice and apple cider vinegars.
It is said to be helpful in protecting the liver, expanding blood vessels, working as a diuretic and promoting metabolism of proteins and sugar. Apple cider vinegar is part of many weight-loss programs.
Vinegar can also serve as solvent for certain herbs. By soaking in vinegar, the undesirable side-effect of some herbs like yuan hua (daphne genkwa) and gan sui (euphorbia kansui) can be reduced. Vinegar can also strengthen the effect of herbs like wu wei zi (shizandra berry).

Am not sure about the apple cider vinegar references though – am not very familiar with it, although it DOES work for me as a salad dressing.

Vinegar can expand the functions of other herbs, like danggui (angelica) and baishao (root of herbaceous peony) when they are soaked in vinegar – then they also can help stop bleeding. Vinegar “guides” other herbs toward the liver.
We all know vinegar is sour and bitter, so don’t overdo it, lest it cause stomach upset. Drinking it on an empty stomach produces too much gastric acid.
Adding vinegar to soup made by boiling bones can help release the calcium in the bones.
Applying vinegar to a burn can help lower the temperature and reduce skin damage. Adding a little vinegar to bath water can improve the skin.

If we can market vinegar as a sexual tonic, we’ll be RICH!  Now for the “legend of the sour wine” (my own title)

Du Kang, an emperor of the Xia Dynasty (21-16st century BC) is said to have invented wine making and taught the methods to his son Hei Ta who later moved to Zhenjiang (in today’s Zhejiang Province) with his own followers.
They didn’t want to throw away their wine and kept it in a sealed jar.
When he opened the jar 21 days later, he smelled a delicious fragrance and found the liquid was both sour and sweet.
It was kept as seasoning and named cu (vinegar), which combines the characters for “21 days” and for “wine.”

“21 days” and “wine” eh, I’m sure that will come in handy in trivial pursuit!  Anyway, the author concludes the article with some uses for vinegar.  Bleh, all I know is that the black stuff TASTES good!  Personally, I tell my patients to eat their salads with vinaigrette dressing as the acidity of the dressing counters the raw and coldness of the salad, thus preventing cold diseases in the Spleen and Stomach.  And that’s if they HAVE to eat their veggies raw.  In Chinese Medicine, we prefer everything cooked.  I know, I know what about nutrient preservation, etc – let’s save that for another blog entry.

Sources:

Zhang Qian.  “Full of Vim and Vinegar”  Shanghai Daily 13 October 2009.  13 October 2009 <http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200910/20091013/article_416082.htm>