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Equine Calming Tonic - Suan zao ren

Suan Zao Ren

Suan zao ren Offers Help for the Nervous, Jumpy Horse and RiderHelp for the Nervous, Jumpy Horse and Rider
Suan zao ren Offers Help for the Nervous, Jumpy Horse and Rider    
By Gloria Garland L.Ac, Dipl. Ac. & CH.

We all have encountered the nervous, spooky horse on the trail, or perhaps you are the owner of such a horse, one who navigates with head held high, listing and worrying over every sound and what is around every turn. Easily startled and spooked - it can be a real anxiety-provoking challenge to ride a horse like this. Perhaps you are getting ready for a trail ride, show or competition and your anxious, jumpy mount’s behavior is causing you to be nervous, worried and stressed, taking all the fun out of the day’s activities.  

The Chinese herb Suan zao ren (Ziziphis jujuba Mill) may offer help for both horse and rider in overcoming a case of jumpy, nervous tension.  Suan zao ren is the primary herb in a number of classic Chinese herbal formulas designed to ease anxiety, fearfulness, nervousness and calm those who are easily startled. 

Suan zao ren is a first-rate calmer for horses and riders who become anxious, fearful, nervous and unable to think clearly before rides or competitions. While it is not a sedative, Suan zao ren allows horses and riders to be calm without feeling or acting sedated or sluggish. From a traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, we say that Suan zao ren calms the shen and nourishes the heart. The shen is our capacity for clear mental functioning and thinking.  It is our spirit and emotions. The shen is associated with the heart, the organ most negatively affected by fear, stress and anxiety.  When the heart is bothered, the shen becomes unbalanced; calming the shen is synonymous with settling the mind. 

Additionally useful to mountain bound horses or folks traveling to compete at higher altitudes is Suan zao ren’s capacity to reduce altitude stress/sickness.  It enables the body to acclimatize to higher altitudes more quickly without the usual side effect of headaches, dizziness, nausea and breathlessness which accompany higher altitude travel.  

In Chinese ren translates as seed.  Suan zao ren is a small seed that resembles a round, somewhat flattened, red lentil in size and shape. Suan zao ren is quite safe for long term use. For our equine friends, one to two tablespoons per day of ground herb in gain or well soaked beet pulp is usually adequate. It is easily ground in a coffee grinder and can be stored in a sealed container for several months. For human use, one to two tablespoons can be brewed as a tea or taken in capsules.  For high altitude travel start using three days prior to travel and continue for three days after arrival.

Chinese herbal supplements should be used properly and thoughtfully under the guidance of a licensed Chinese herbalist. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), used properly, is an adjunctive therapy and, therefore, complementary to veterinary treatment. Information presented here is not intended to replace proper veterinary diagnosis or treatment and should not be used for that purpose.
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Whole Horse Herbs
​P.O. Box 544
Oakhurst, CA 93644-0544

559-683-4434
Copyright ©1996-2025  by Gloria Garland / Whole Horse Herbs
  • Welcome
    • About Us
    • Whole Horse Resources
    • Blog
  • Articles & Education
    • Acupressure Books & Charts
    • Cinnamon
    • Chinese Hemp for Horses
    • Digestive Health
    • Equine Acupuncture
    • Equine Rehabilitation with Herbs
    • Fight Cancer with Fungi
    • First Aid for Horse and Rider
    • Fight Fungal Infections
    • Ginseng
    • Gou Qi Zi
    • He Shu Wu
    • Herbs and Acupuncture for Horses
    • Herbs to Soothe the Stress of Weaning
    • How Herbs Work
    • Huang Qi
    • Jiao Gu Lan & Laminitis
    • Mares and Vitex
    • Promoting Health Naturally
    • Remarkable Reishi
    • Seasonal Skin Allergies
    • Springtime Tune-up
    • ST36 - Zu San Li
    • Suan Zao Ren
    • Tui Na Massage
  • ABOUT HERBS FOR HORSES
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Ancient Herbal Formulas
    • Herbs for Pets
  • Whole Horse Herb Store
  • Our Herbal Formulas
    • Arthritis & Movement
    • Horse Allergies and Skin
    • Calming and Focus
    • Cushings and Insulin Resistance
    • Digestion, Ulcer, & Colic Support
    • Equine Recurrent Uveitis Support (Moon Blindness)
    • Equine Respiratory
    • EPM Support
    • First Aid & Liniments
    • Immune Support
    • Mares
    • Nutritional Support - Antioxidants and Omegas
    • Performance Horse Support
    • Racehorse Support Formulas
  • DIY Horse
    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Arnica
    • Bug Off
    • Green Grooming Your Horse
    • Greenthread Tea
    • Herbal First Aid for Horse and Rider
    • Hops prevent Laminitis
    • Liniments for Horses
    • Loss of a Pasture Mate
    • Make your own Linaments
    • Mullein
    • TCM can Help with Seasonal Allergies
  • Nutritional Support
  • CASE HISTORIES
    • Testimonials
    • Campbell-Arthritis & Movement
    • Spring - Arthritis & Movement
    • Cotton - ERU
    • Chappy- Racehorse Formula
    • Chips - Arthritis & Movement
    • Katie - EPM treatment
    • Altivo de Viking (Alti) - Digestive
    • Malarky - Pigeon Fever
    • Durango - ERU
    • Chance - Agression
    • Miro - Tendon Support
    • Jennifer - Head Shaking