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Wild Jujube Seed

Wild Jujube Seed (산조인, 酸棗仁) is recorded in the Donguibogam as a mind-calming herb. Its nature is neutral and its taste sweet, associated with the Heart, Liver, Gallbladder meridians. Traditional uses recorded in the text include nourishes the heart, calms the spirit, treats restless insomnia, astringes sweat. Caution: The Donguibogam notes that raw seed is used when sleep is excessive, while roasted seed is used for insomnia — a processing distinction worth confirming with a professional.

산조인 (酸棗仁) · Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F.Chow
Mind-calming herb Neutral Sweet Heart, Liver, Gallbladder
NatureNeutral
TasteSweet
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Gallbladder
Part usedSeed (kernel), from a distinct wild, thorny jujube tree
FamilyRhamnaceae
CategoryMind-calming herb
Find by concern: InsomniaAnxietySpontaneous sweating

Overview

Wild jujube seed comes from a different tree than the sweet jujube eaten as food — a smaller, thornier wild relative whose fruit is prized not for its flesh but for the seed within. The Donguibogam records it as the herb for a heart too restless to let its owner sleep.

In the Donguibogam

東醫
寶鑑
性平, 味甘, 無毒. 主煩心不得眠, 臍上下痛, 血泄, 虛汗. 益肝氣, 堅筋骨, 令人肥健.
Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)
TranslationIts nature is neutral, its taste sweet, and it is non-toxic. It chiefly treats a vexed heart that cannot find sleep, pain above and below the navel, blood leakage, and deficient sweating. It boosts liver qi, firms the sinews and bones, and makes a person robust.

Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam

  • Nourishes the heart, calms the spirit
  • Treats restless insomnia
  • Astringes sweat
  • Strengthens the liver and sinews

Traditional applications recorded in the classical text

  • Insomnia with a restless, vexed heart
  • Anxiety and palpitations
  • Night sweats
  • Fatigue with poor sleep

Traditional preparation

Typically roasted for insomnia; often combined with poria and licorice.

This describes traditional preparation recorded in the classics, not a recommendation for use today. DonguiHub does not provide dosage guidance — consult a qualified professional before using any herb.

Cautions

Caution: The Donguibogam notes that raw seed is used when sleep is excessive, while roasted seed is used for insomnia — a processing distinction worth confirming with a professional. Caution with acute infections marked by excess phlegm-heat.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same plant as the jujube fruit (daechu)?

A close relative but a distinct plant — wild jujube is a smaller, thornier tree, and unlike the fruit-focused daechu, its medicinal value lies specifically in the seed kernel, not the flesh.

Does raw or roasted seed matter?

The Donguibogam distinguishes them: raw seed was traditionally noted for excessive sleepiness, while roasted seed was used for insomnia — opposite indications from the same seed depending on processing, so professional guidance on form matters.

Sources

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