Bai Zi Ren
StarPlatycladus orientalis (L.) Franco
☯ TCM Properties
Nourishes the Heart and Calms the Spirit; Moistens the Intestines and Unblocks the Bowels; Astringes to Stop Sweating
Traditional Chinese Uses
Bai Zi Ren (arborvitae seed, biota seed) is a gentle, oily, neutral herb that nourishes Blood, calms the Spirit, and moistens the Intestines. It is the gentlest of the Heart-calming herbs, suitable for insomnia, anxious dreams, and palpitations in Blood-deficient patients without significant heat. Its moisture-rich content also relieves constipation from intestinal dryness and deficiency. It is often used alongside suan zao ren (sour jujube seed) for complementary sleep-support action.
Used In Formulas (1)
Botanical Description
Platycladus orientalis, the Chinese arborvitae, is an evergreen coniferous tree in the family Cupressaceae, native to northern and northeastern China, Korea, and the Russian Far East, and widely planted across temperate Asia. Mature trees reach 15-20 m tall with a dense, conical to broadly rounded crown and reddish-brown, fibrous bark that exfoliates in vertical strips. The branchlets are flattened into vertical, fan-like sprays clothed in tiny, scale-like, decussate leaves that are bright green and aromatic when crushed. The plant is monoecious, bearing small yellowish male cones and bluish-green female cones at the branch tips. The female cones mature in a single season into ovoid, fleshy, glaucous structures 1.5-2.5 cm long bearing prominent recurved horn-like processes on each scale, opening at maturity to release wingless or narrowly winged ovoid seeds. The seed (Bai Zi Ren) is the medicinal part, collected in autumn.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-30g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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