Oriental arborvitae (ce bai ye)

Platycladus orientalis (syn. Biota orientalis)

Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; dissolves phlegm and helps with burns.

Safety notes

Not without heat or dampness; not for long periods. Contains thujone. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.

Preparation

Young twigs with leaf. Usually as a decoction, together with other herbs.

Use in traditions

Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'herbs that stop bleeding'. The leaves (ce bai ye) stop bleeding and are worked into hair tonics against hair loss. The seeds (bai zi ren) calm the mind and moisten the bowels. In China the tree stands by temples and graves as a symbol of long life.

Applications

Use by tradition

How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.

Chinese materia medica

Nature and taste: bitter, slightly cold, astringent
Meridians: liver, lung, heart, large intestine

Attributed effects

For bleeding from heat (coughing up blood, bleeding gums, uterine bleeding), lung heat with bloody, sticky phlegm, wind-damp with hot joints and externally for burns.

Preparation and amount

Traditional dosage: 6–12 g a day, usually in a decoction. The seed (bai zi ren) is sweet and neutral (heart, liver, kidney, large intestine; 3–15 g). It nourishes the heart blood and calms the mind in palpitations, insomnia, anxiety and forgetfulness, and moistens the bowel in constipation from blood or yin deficiency. Not with diarrhoea or much phlegm.

Combinations

With cattail pollen, rehmannia and mugwort leaf for bleeding
Seed with sour jujube seed, schisandra and polygala for insomnia
Seed with hemp seed and walnut for constipation

Ways to prepare herbs: Decoction
Formulas: Huai hua san Tian wang bu xin dan

Sources

All herbs from Asia →