得木之气而兼土化，故酸而兼甘，气平，无毒。入足少阳、手少阴、足厥阴、太
阴经，专补肝胆。熟则芳香入脾，故能醒脾，且补胆，则母子之气相通，故主心烦不
得眠，盖心君易动，由胆怯所致，且肝不能藏魂，则目不得瞑，既补肝胆，复益心脾，
则五脏俱安，宜其筋骨坚强，肥健延年也。
酸枣仁，宁心益肝，敛汗止渴，心胸寒热，邪结气聚，四肢酸痛，湿痹心烦，意乱
不眠，胆虚易惊悸，脾虚不嗜食，心虚易出汗，安神魂宁意，补中气，助阴坚筋骨，安
五脏，久服令人肥健轻身延年。
能治多眠不眠，须分生炒研用，多眠胆实有热宜生，不眠胆虚有寒宜炒，主肝胆二
经兼入心脾，夫胆虚不眠寒也。然肝胆相根据，得熟者以旺肝，则木来制土，脾主四
肢，又主困倦，故令人睡。胆实多睡熟也，生研调服，夫枣仁，秋成者也，生则全金，
气以制肝，脾不受侮，远行不睡矣。
主治（痘疹合参） 痘后血少，心神不安，夜眠不稳者，宜炒研用，味甘而香，归
脾汤用之，醒脾气温而酸，补心丸用之敛心。
按∶枣仁，心、肝、胆三经气分之药、虽能宁心，更能宜肝，故若肝旺烦躁不宁
者，及心阴不足，惊悸恍惚者，必同滋阴和肝养心之血药，相佐而用，其功乃见，否则
心气无阴以敛，肝气得补而强，益增烦躁矣。乃古人未之发何也？性油而润滑泻者禁
之，且其奏功者全仗芳香之气，以入心入脾也，必须临用方炒熟，研碎入剂方效，若炒
久则油臭不香，若碎久则气味俱失，便难见功矣。此（张）心得之旨，并及以补后遗。
酸枣仁禀受木气而兼有土的特性，所以味道酸中带甘，药性平和，没有毒性。它归入足少阳胆经、手少阴心经、足厥阴肝经和足太阴脾经，专门补益肝胆。炒熟后具有芳香之气而入脾，所以能醒脾，并且因为补了胆（母脏），母子之气相通，所以主治心烦睡不着觉。这是因为心主神明容易受惊动，往往由胆怯引起；而且如果肝不能藏魂，眼睛就无法闭合入睡。既然补了肝胆，又益养心脾，那么五脏都能安宁，因此能使筋骨坚强，身体肥健并延年益寿。
酸枣仁能宁心安神、补益肝脏、收敛止汗、生津止渴。用于治疗心胸间的寒热感、邪气结聚、四肢酸痛、湿痹引起的心烦、神志混乱失眠、胆虚易惊悸、脾虚食欲不振、心虚易出汗等症。它能安定神魂、宁静意志、补益中气、助长阴精、坚固筋骨、安和五脏。长期服用能使人身体肥健、轻身延年。
治疗嗜睡或失眠，必须区分生用还是炒用。嗜睡多因胆实有热，宜生用；失眠多因胆虚有寒，宜炒用。酸枣仁主要作用于肝胆二经，兼入心脾经。胆虚导致的失眠属于寒证。然而肝胆互为表里，使用炒熟的酸枣仁可以旺肝，肝属木，木能克土（脾）。脾主四肢，也主困倦，所以让人想睡觉。如果是胆实导致的嗜睡，属于热证，应用生酸枣仁研末调服。枣仁在秋天成熟，生用时金气完整，金气能制约肝木，使脾不受肝木的克制（侮），人就不会昏睡。
主治（结合痘疹病症）：痘疮之后血虚，心神不安，夜间睡眠不稳者，宜炒熟研末服用。其味甘香，用于归脾汤中以醒脾，药气温和而味酸，用于补心丸中以收敛心气。
按语：酸枣仁是入心、肝、胆三经气分的药物，虽然能宁心，更能疏利肝脏。所以对于肝火旺盛导致烦躁不宁的人，以及心阴不足导致惊悸恍惚的人，必须配合滋阴、柔肝、养心的血分药物一起使用，才能见效。否则，心气没有阴液来收敛，肝气得补反而更强，只会增加烦躁。这是古人没有阐发的道理吧？酸枣仁性质油润润滑，滑泄者禁用。而且它发挥作用全靠芳香之气入心入脾，必须临用时才炒熟，研碎入药方有效。如果炒得太久会有油臭味而不香，如果研碎太久则气味全失，就难以见效了。这是张氏的心得体会，一并补充在后面以弥补前人的遗漏。
Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) receives the Qi of Wood and combines with the transformation of Earth; therefore, its taste is sour and sweet, its nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, and Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, specifically tonifying the Liver and Gallbladder. When cooked/roasted, its aromatic quality enters the Spleen, thus awakening the Spleen. By tonifying the Gallbladder (the Mother organ), the Qi of mother and child organs connects, thereby treating restlessness and insomnia. This is because the Heart Monarch (Heart Shen) is prone to agitation caused by Gallbladder deficiency. Furthermore, if the Liver fails to store the Hun (Ethereal Soul), the eyes cannot close for sleep. By tonifying the Liver and Gallbladder and benefiting the Heart and Spleen, all five Zang organs are pacified, which explains why it strengthens sinews and bones, promotes robustness, and prolongs life.
Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) calms the Heart and benefits the Liver, astringes sweat, and stops thirst. It treats cold-heat sensations in the chest and heart, pathogenic stagnation and Qi accumulation, soreness and pain in the four limbs, damp-bi with restlessness, chaotic mind and insomnia, Gallbladder deficiency with palpitations and fright, Spleen deficiency with poor appetite, and Heart deficiency with spontaneous sweating. It stabilizes the Hun and Po (Soul and Corporeal Soul), calms the mind, tonifies Middle Qi, assists Yin to strengthen sinews and bones, harmonizes the five Zang organs, and long-term use makes one robust, light-bodied, and long-lived.
To treat hypersomnia or insomnia, one must distinguish between raw and roasted preparations. Hypersomnia due to Gallbladder excess and heat should be treated with raw seeds; insomnia due to Gallbladder deficiency and cold should be treated with roasted seeds. It primarily enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians and secondarily the Heart and Spleen meridians. Insomnia from Gallbladder deficiency is a cold pattern. However, the Liver and Gallbladder are interior-exteriorly related. Using roasted Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) boosts the Liver (Wood). Wood controls Earth (Spleen). The Spleen governs the four limbs and is associated with fatigue/drowsiness, thus inducing sleep. If hypersomnia is due to Gallbladder excess and heat, raw Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) should be ground and taken with water. As Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) matures in autumn, the raw seed retains complete Metal Qi. Metal Qi controls Liver Wood, preventing the Spleen from being overacted upon (insulted), thus preventing drowsiness during travel.
Main Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Rash Diseases): After smallpox/rash, when blood is deficient, the Heart Spirit is unsettled, and night sleep is unstable, roasted and ground Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) should be used. Its sweet and fragrant flavor is used in Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) to awaken the Spleen; its warm nature and sour flavor are used in Buxin Wan (Tonify the Heart Pill) to astringe the Heart.
Commentary: Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) is an herb that acts on the Qi level of the Heart, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians. Although it calms the Heart, it also soothes the Liver. Therefore, for cases of Liver fire excess causing irritability and restlessness, or Heart Yin deficiency causing palpitations and mental confusion, it must be used in conjunction with blood-tonifying herbs that nourish Yin, soften the Liver, and nourish the Heart to achieve efficacy. Otherwise, without Yin to anchor the Heart Qi, and with the Liver Qi strengthened by supplementation, irritability will only increase. Why did the ancients not elucidate this? Since its nature is oily and lubricating, it is contraindicated for those with loose stools or diarrhea. Its efficacy relies entirely on its aromatic Qi entering the Heart and Spleen. It must be roasted fresh before use and ground into powder for decoction to be effective. If roasted too long, it develops an rancid oil smell and loses fragrance; if ground too early, it loses its aroma and flavor, rendering it ineffective. This is the insight of Zhang [Shi], added here to supplement previous omissions.