suan zao ren

[Guest guest]

Why does suan zao ren enter the spleen and GB channels? What functions

are explained by these attributions and what is the explanation? Does it

have something to do with producing blood via the spleen to nourish the

heart? If so, wouldn't that make SZR a spleen qi tonic? does the GB

attribution have anything to do with midday midnight cycles or the

pattern of ht/gb qi xu? I am open to the idea that these entering

channel attributions may reveal nuances about the herbs. but if either

of the above ideas are correct, why aren't they explicitly stated in any

materia medica I have consulted (english or chinese)? Or perhaps Bensky

lists entering channels, but does not always list the functions that go

with those channels? What does it say in the zhong yao ... ?

 

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always been violently opposed by mediocre minds " --

Albert Einstein

[Guest guest]

ZYDCD says Suan Zao Ren enters the heart, spleen, liver, and

gallbladder channels. The Ben Cao Gang Mu says it enters the foot jue

yin and shao yin. Lei Gong Pao Zhi Yao Xing Jie (Lei Gong's

Explanation of Processing & Medicinal Natures) says it enters the four

channels of the heart, spleen, liver, and gallbladder. The ZYDCD only

gives these two other historical cites for channel entry. As for

flavor and nature, the ZYDCD says Suan Zao Ren is sweet and level or

neutral. Then it gives four other opinions from four premodern texts:

 

1. Sour and level

2. Without toxins

3. Slightly warm

4. Sour, sweet, and level

 

As for functions, the ZYDCD says Suan Zao Ren nourishes the liver,

calms the heart, quiets the spirit, and restrains sweating and that it

treats vacuity vexation, insomnia, fright palpitations, fearful

throbbing, vexatious thirst, and vacuity sweating.

 

I think the idea that this med enters the gallbladder probably has to

do with the gallbladder vis a vis fright and timidity, as in

heart-gallbladder qi vacuity or qi timidity, for which this med is a

main ingredient. Viz. Ding Zhi Wan (Stabilize the Mind Pills). In this

case, it is debatable whether we are talking about the gallbladder per

se or are using the gallbladder as a rhetorical device standing in for

the liver. (I forget what you call such a rhetorical construction. It

has a name.) I discuss this issue under this pattern in my book, A

Handbook of TCM Patterns & Their Treatments.

 

Bob

 

, <@i...> wrote:

> Why does suan zao ren enter the spleen and GB channels? What

functions

> are explained by these attributions and what is the explanation?

Does it

> have something to do with producing blood via the spleen to nourish

the

> heart? If so, wouldn't that make SZR a spleen qi tonic? does the

GB

> attribution have anything to do with midday midnight cycles or the

> pattern of ht/gb qi xu? I am open to the idea that these entering

> channel attributions may reveal nuances about the herbs. but if

either

> of the above ideas are correct, why aren't they explicitly stated in

any

> materia medica I have consulted (english or chinese)? Or perhaps

Bensky

> lists entering channels, but does not always list the functions that

go

> with those channels? What does it say in the zhong yao ... ?

>

>

>

> Chinese Herbs

>

> voice:

> fax:

>

> " Great spirits have always been violently opposed by mediocre minds "

--

> Albert Einstein