Silent Night™ Formulae

silent_nightsilent_night_liquidIngredients

Suan Zao Ren Semen Ziziphi spinosae
Ye Jiao Teng Caulis Polygoni multiflori
Bai Shao Radix Paeoniae albae
Deng Xin Cao Medulla Junci
Lian Zi Xin Plumula Nelumbinis nuciferae
Dang Gui Radix Angelicae sinensis
Sheng Di Huang Radix Rehmanniae recens
Zhi Zi (Shan) Fructus Gardeniae
Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis
Huang Lian Rhizoma Coptidis
Da Zao Fructus Ziziphi jujubae rubrae

Order Formulae

Classical Antecedent

Suan Zao Ren Tang Ziziphus Decoction

Pattern:

Liver-Yin and Kidney-Yin deficiency, Heart-Heat, Liver-Heat.

Action:

Nourish Liver-Yin and Kidney-Yin, clear Heart-Heat and Liver-Heat, calm the Mind, settle the Ethereal Soul (Hun).

Tongue: Without coating. Red if there Heat.
Pulse: Floating-Empty.

Explanation
This formula promotes sleep by nourishing Liver-Yin and Heart-Blood. Liver-Yin and Heart-Blood house the Ethereal Soul (Hun) and the Mind (Shen).
The state of the Mind (Shen) is rooted in the Heart and specifically in Heart-Blood and Heart-Yin. If the Heart is healthy and the Blood abundant, the Mind is properly rooted. If the Heart is deficient or if it is agitated by pathogenic factors such as Fire, the Mind is not properly rooted.

There is an interrelationship between body and Mind. On the one hand, a deficiency of Blood or a pathogenic factor such as Fire may affect the Mind; on the other hand, emotional stress affecting the Mind may cause a disharmony of the Internal Organs.

If the disharmony of the Internal Organs, whether it is due to a Deficiency or an Excess, affects Blood and Essence, this affects the Mind. Since the Essence and Qi are the root of the Mind, the Mind then has no residence. The Simple Questions in chapter 46 says: When a person lies down and cannot sleep, [it means] the Yin organs are injured [so that] the Essence has no residence and is not quiet and the person cannot sleep.

As far as sleep is concerned, the Mind is not the only mental-spiritual faculty involved. The Ethereal Soul (Hun) also plays an important role. In particular, the Ethereal Soul controls dreaming and therefore dream-disturbed sleep is often due to a disharmony of the Ethereal Soul.
If the Ethereal Soul is well rooted in the Liver (Liver-Blood or Liver-Yin), sleep is normal, sound and without too many dreams. If Liver-Yin or Liver-Blood is deficient, the Ethereal Soul is deprived of its residence and wanders off at night, causing a restless sleep with many tiring dreams. Tang Zong Hai says: At night during sleep the Ethereal Soul returns to the Liver; if the Ethereal Soul is not peaceful there are a lot of dreams.

Another organ and mental-spiritual aspect influencing sleep are the Kidneys and the Will-Power (Zhi). I translate Zhi as Will-Power but Zhi encompasses also other aspects of the psyche. The Zhi is the root of the Mind (Shen) and it controls memory and sleep. Thus, when the Kidneys and the Zhi are deficient, the person may sleep badly, in particular he or she may wake up frequently during the night.
I would recommend addressing the Root with acupuncture by reinforcing points such as LU-7 Lieque, LU-9 Taiyuan, BL-13 Feishu, Du-12 Shenzhu, Ren-4 Guanyuan and BL-23 Shenshu.

Disclaimer
This product is a dietary (food) supplement, as directed by a qualified practitioner. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Not to replace a varied diet or used continuously for longer than 3 months. Not to be taken if nursing or pregnant. Not for children under 6 months of age.