AN SHEN DING ZHI WAN BP001

Ziziphus & Polygala Formula

TCM ACTIONS ACTIONS OF THE MAIN HERBS

Nourishes the Heart Qi and Blood, calms the Spirit and • Z iziphus seed (suan zao ren) is used orally in formulas to treat
stabilises the emotions. irritability, insomnia, palpitations and anxiety, also to prevent
abnormal sweating. It has been shown to have sedative,
hypnotic, hypotensive and analgesic actions.
TCM SYNDROMES
• F allopia stem (ye jiao teng) is used orally in formulas to treat
Heart Qi-Blood deficiency insomnia, irritability and dream-disturbed sleep. It has been
shown to have sedative, hypnotic and tonic actions.
INDICATIONS • P olygala root (yuan zhi) is used orally in formulas to treat
insomnia, palpitations, anxiety and restlessness, also to expel
Insomnia, anxiety disorder, neurosis, depressed mood,
sputum from the lungs and to clear the mind and senses. It
neurasthenia.
has been shown to have sedative and expectorant actions.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

DOSAGE & COURSE OF TREATMENT
(key clinical features in bold)
12 - 15 pills, 2 - 3 times daily (best taken in the afternoon and
Insomnia, sleep disturbance
evening before bed), half to one hour away from food.
Forgetfulness
In severe cases and in the early stages of treatment (first 1 – 2
Anxiety, agitation, timidity, apprehensiveness weeks) the dosage may be increased by 50 - 100%.
Palpitations Course of treatment: 2 weeks to 3 months. Continue with a
Depressed mood constitutional formula after normal sleeping patterns has been
established (see ‘Combinations’ below).
Poor concentration
Nervous laughter
CAUTIONS & CONTRAINDICATIONS
Poor appetite
Avoid caffeine containing beverages (i.e. coffee, tea, cola drinks,
Pale tongue
guarana), especially in the afternoon.
Thready and weak pulse

COMBINATIONS
INGREDIENTS
• Heart and Kidney Yin deficiency:
Each pill contains extract equiv. to dry: + Tian Wang Bu Xin Wan (Ginseng & Ziziphus Formula BP025)
Fallopia multiflora, stem (ye jiao teng) 64.3 mg + Sheng Mai San (Dangshen and Ophiopogon Formula BP045)
Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, • Liver Fire:
seed (suan zao ren) 48.2 mg + Long Dan Xie Gan Wan (Gentiana Formula BP016)
Poria cocos, fruiting body • Liver Qi constraint:
(fu ling & fu shen) 96.5 mg + Jia Wei Xiao Yao San (Bupleurum & Peony Formula BP013)
Pseudostellaria heterophylla, • Depression:
root (tai zi shen) 48.2 mg + Wen Dan Tang (Bamboo & Hoelen Formula BP050)
Oyster shell (mu li) 29.7 mg • Menopause related disorder:
+ Gan Mai Da Zao Wan - Jia Wei (Wheat & Jujube
Polygala sibirica, root (yuan zhi) 26.8 mg
Combination BP054)
Anemone altaica, rhiz. (chang pu) 26.8 mg + Er Xian Tang (Epimedium & Curculigo Combination BP041)
+ Zhi Bai Ba Wei Wan (Anemarrhena, Phellodendron &
Rehmannia Formula BP038)
• Insomnia (general use):
+Tao Hong Si Wu Wan (Persica, Carthamus & Dang-gui
Combination BP061)

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BP001 AN SHEN DING ZHI WAN
CLINICAL GUIDE – Black Pearl® Pill Range www.sunherbal.com 4th Edition
• Insomnia, severe, recalcitrant: • Spleen and Heart deficiency:
Combine with one of the following, as appropriate (dosage: 30 + Gui Pi Wan (Ginseng & Longan Formula BP012)
pills once before sleep) + Jin Gui Suan Zao Ren Tang (Ziziphus Combination BP056)
+ Jin Gui Suan Zao Ren Tang (Ziziphus Combination BP056)
+ Tian Wang Bu Xin Wan (Ginseng & Ziziphus Formula BP025)
+ Gan Mai Da Zao Wan - Jia Wei (Wheat & Jujube
Combination BP054)
+ Gui Pi Wan (Ginseng & Longan Combination BP012)

COMMENTS This formula is a variant of Ding Zhi Wan (Stabilise the Mind Formula), which was first
AN SHEN DING ZHI WAN recorded in ‘Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergencies’ (bei ji qian jin
BP001 yao fang), by Sun Si-miao, 652 C.E., a 30 volume work that, together with an additional 30
volume supplement, is a compilation of medical knowledge to that date. The original formula
was indicated for emotional disturbance due to sudden fright or a severe emotional shock, in
patients with pre-existing Heart Qi deficiency. Such patients lack resilience and may be easily
become disoriented, anxious or, in severe cases, hypomanic.
This variant contains four additional ingredients: Oyster shell (mu li), Fallopia stem (ye jiao
teng), Ziziphus seed (suan zao ren) and Poria cocos (fu shen). In this way the formula is
composed of a mixture of Heart nourishing, Qi regulating and ‘heavy settling’ ingredients.
These enhance the formula’s actions and broaden the applications, so that it is suitable for a
range of disorders due to emotional over-excitement in the context of a deficiency syndrome.
Because of the inclusion of Oyster shell (mu li), with its heavy settling action, the formula has
a relatively rapid onset of action, reducing psychomotor agitation and promoting normal sleep.
The synergistic actions of the ingredients are as follows:
• Pseudostellaria root (tai zi shen), Ziziphus seed (suan zao ren), Poria cocos (fu ling & fu
shen): tonify the Heart Qi and calm the spirit
• Fallopia stem (ye jiao teng), Ziziphus seed (suan zao ren): nourish the Heart and Liver Blood
to calm the spirit.
• Oyster shell (mu li): subdues Yang hyperactivity to allay excitement
• Polygala root (yuan zhi), Anemone rhizome (chang pu): open the mind and senses, calm the
Spirit, direct the actions of the herbs in the formula to the Heart.

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BP001 AN SHEN DING ZHI WAN
CLINICAL GUIDE – Black Pearl® Pill Range www.sunherbal.com 4th Edition