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Knowledge baseHerbs

Bai Zi Ren柏子仁

Semen PlatycladiArborvitae Seed

Also known asSemen Biotae · Semen Thujae · Oriental Arborvitae Seed · Chinese Arborvitae Seed · Biota Seed · Platycladus Seed

Category
Herbs that calm the Spirit
Nature
neutral
Taste
sweet
Channels entered
Heart, Kidney, Large Intestine
Secondary channels
Spleen, Liver
Dosage
3–18 g

Actions & indications

Nourishes the Heart and calms the Spirit
  • Heart Blood and Yin Deficiency with palpitations and anxiety
  • Night terrors in children (can be used alone)
Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
Constipation in the elderly, debilitated or postpartum women due to Blood and Yin Deficiency
Astringes Yin Deficiency sweat
Night sweats due to Yin Deficiency

Contraindications

  • Contraindicated in those with loose stools.
  • Contraindicated in those with Phlegm disorders.
  • Contraindicated in those with Lung Qi rising upward.
  • Contraindicated in those with Stomach Deficiency accompanied by an urge to vomit.

Incompatibilities

Antagonizes Flos Chrysanthemi Ju Hua.

Combinations

  • Insomnia and palpitations from Heart Blood Deficiency.

  • Insomnia and palpitations caused by Heart Blood Deficiency.

  • Irritability, poor sleep, palpitations and nocturnal emissions arising when the Heart and Kidneys fail to communicate.

  • Heart Blood Deficiency depriving the Heart of nourishment, with marked palpitations, irritability, vertigo, forgetfulness and insomnia.

  • Constipation from Blood Deficiency in the elderly or in postpartum women.

  • Night sweats from Yin Deficiency.

  • Night sweats caused by Yin Deficiency.

  • Strongly settles the Spirit, calms the emotions, enriches Yin and Blood, stops night sweats, and treats palpitations, irritability and insomnia arising when Yin and Blood Deficiency fail to nourish the Heart and Liver; also effective when constipation is present alongside.

  • Ground to a powder and formed into honey pills to promote hair growth.

Notes

  • According to some sources, it also nourishes the Kidneys.
  • Some sources credit it with purging Heart Fire.
  • Other sources say it resolves Phlegm and disperses tumors.
  • It is typically used for Heart Deficiency manifesting as insomnia, restlessness and apprehension.
  • It has also been used to promote hair growth, especially when hair loss is linked to Blood Deficiency and depleted Jing.
  • Bai Zi Ren, Rx. Polygalae Yuan Zhi, and Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae Suan Zao Ren all enter the Heart channel, calm the Spirit, and address fright, palpitations and insomnia. Suan Zao Ren and Bai Zi Ren share a sweet, neutral nature that nourishes Heart Yin and Liver Blood, making them best suited to irritability and insomnia arising from Deficiency; Bai Zi Ren acts mainly on the Heart and also moistens and lubricates the Intestines for dry constipation, while Suan Zao Ren acts mainly on the Liver, restraining and astringing sweat and generating fluids to treat thirst from injured fluids and profuse sweating due to Deficiency. Yuan Zhi is acrid and dispersing, bitter and draining, and warm and unblocking; it supports Heart Yang and augments Heart Qi to restore communication between the Heart and Kidneys, calming the Spirit and strengthening resolve, and is more suited to palpitations and insomnia from a breakdown in that communication with confusion, poor concentration and forgetfulness. It also disperses Stagnation, expels Phlegm, reduces swelling and disperses sores, and can treat cough from Cold-Phlegm or Cold obstructing the Qi and allowing Phlegm-Dampness to enter the collaterals and cause toxic, swollen sores.
  • Dry-fried Biota Seeds, Chao Bai Zi Ren, are less moistening and do not cause nausea.
  • De-fatted Biota Seeds, Bai Zi Ren Shuang, neither loosen the stool nor cause nausea, and are most often used for insomnia or Heart-Spirit disturbance in patients who also have Spleen Deficiency.

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