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Tonifies the Liver and Gallbladder, astringes sweating, calms the Mind and awakens the Spleen.
Sweet and sour in flavor, moistening in nature. When used raw, it is sour and neutral; it specifically tonifies the Liver and Gallbladder. (Modern practitioners use it exclusively as a medicine for the Heart, which shows a lack of understanding.) When stir-fried until cooked, it becomes sour, warm, and aromatic; it can also awaken the Spleen, assist Yin Qi, strengthen sinews and bones, relieve irritability, and stop thirst. (It astringes Yin and generates body fluids.) It astringes sweat. (*Bencao Jing Shu* states: For those who take exterior-stabilizing herbs but still sweat profusely, using stir-fried and ground Sour Jujube Kernel [Suanzaoren], decocted with Raw Rehmannia Root [Shengdi Huang], White Peony Root [Baishao], Schisandra Berry [Beiwuweizi], Ophiopogon Tuber [Maidong], Longan Aril [Longyan Rou], and Bamboo Leaf [Zhuye] is often effective, because sweat is the fluid of the Heart.] Calms the Mind. (The Heart-Mind is easily agitated, all due to gallbladder timidity; *Neijing* states: "All eleven organs depend on the decision of the Gallbladder.") Treats insomnia caused by Gallbladder deficiency. (In *Wendan Tang*, it may be added. Liver deficiency leads to Gallbladder deficiency; since the Liver does not store the Hun [Ethereal Soul], insomnia occurs; blood fails to return to the Spleen, so sleep is restless. *Jinkui Yaolue* treats deficiency labor with empty irritability and inability to sleep, using Roasted Licorice Root [Zhi Gancao], Anemarrhena Rhizome [Zhimu], Poria [Fuling], and Ligusticum Rhizome [Chuanxiong] each two liang; the Deep Master's Formula adds two liang of Fresh Ginger [Shengjiang]; this is a formula to tonify the Liver. *Neijing* states: "When lying down, blood returns to the Liver." Su Song states: One formula adds one liang of Cinnamon Twig [Guizhi], another uses Sour Jujube Kernel [Suanzaoren] raw to treat inability to sleep, implying raw use treats Gallbladder heat causing excessive sleepiness. This claim is untrustworthy, as Gallbladder heat must present with irritability and bitter taste in the mouth; how could it cause excessive sleepiness? If Liver Fire is constrained in the Stomach, leading to fatigue and drowsiness, one should use pungent-cool herbs to vent Liver Fire, such as Bupleurum Root [Chaihu] and Mint [Bohe], which are not within the purview of Sour Jujube Kernel [Suanzaoren].) Treats acid-type bi-syndrome and chronic diarrhea. (Sour flavor astringes; aroma relaxes the Spleen.) Do not use if there is excess pathogen in the Liver and Gallbladder meridians with heat. Stir-fry until aromatic and grind. Adversely reacts with Stephania Tetrandra [Fangji].

Also known as Bai Rui. Disperses wind and clears heat, treats eye diseases.
Sweet in flavor, slightly cold. Disperses wind and clears heat, harmonizes the Liver, brightens the eyes, reduces nebulae and red vessels, regulates tearing from trauma. (For eye diseases at the exterior level, disperse wind and clear heat; for those at the interior level belonging to Kidney deficiency and blood insufficiency due to mental exhaustion, tonify the Kidney, nourish blood, and calm the Mind.) Breaks up phlegm stagnation under the heart, eliminates abdominal fullness and qi stagnation. (These are all caused by heat pathogens.) Do not use if eye disease is not due to wind-heat, but due to deficiency. Grows in clusters with thorns; fruit resembles Schisandra Berry [Wuweizi], round and flat with patterns, purple-red and edible. Soak in hot water to extract the kernel, remove skin and tips, boil in water, then grind into paste. (One liang of Prunus Persica Kernel [Ruiren], half liang of Asarum Root [Xixin], two handfuls of Bitter Bamboo Leaf [Kuzhuye], two sheng of water, decocted to one sheng, filtered juice, frequently washed, treats flying blood eye [acute conjunctivitis].)