calming
Arborvitae Seed (Bai Zi Ren)
柏子仁 · Bǎizǐrén
Platycladus orientalis
Nature
Neutral
Saveur
Sweet
Meridian
Heart, Kidney, Large Intestine
From the cypress that lives a thousand years, Bai Zi Ren nourishes heart blood to still a troubled mind and moistens the intestines for the dry constipation of elders. The evergreen's longevity earned its seed a place in every classical heart-blood insomnia formula — often beside its sour-jujube cousin.
🌿 Fonctions
- •Nourishes heart blood and calms the spirit
- •Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels
- •Stops night sweats (with astringents)
📖 Usage
9–15 g in decoction, crushed; the oil-rich kernel is rancid-prone — buy fresh, store cold.
🔬 Recherche moderne
Cypress-seed fatty acids and pinene constituents are studied for calming and mild laxative activity.
⚠️ Contre-indications
Avoid with loose stools and copious phlegm-damp.
