Arborvitae Seed (Bai Zi Ren)
柏子仁 · Bǎizǐrén
Platycladus orientalis
Family: Cupressaceae · Part used: Seed kernel · Origin: Shandong & Henan, China
Nature
Neutral
Flavor
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.
🌿 Functions & Actions
- •Nourishes heart blood and calms the spirit
- •Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels
- •Stops night sweats (with astringents)
📋 Traditional Indications
- •Insomnia with palpitations
- •Anxiety and forgetfulness
- •Constipation in elders and postpartum
- •Night sweats from deficiency
📖 Usage & Dosage
9–15 g in decoction, crushed; the oil-rich kernel is rancid-prone — buy fresh, store cold.
🍵 Classic Recipes
Bai Zi Ren Porridge
Crushed kernels 15 g stirred into rice congee — the elder's evening sleep porridge.
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan Base
Arborvitae + sour jujube seed + ophiopogon + rehmannia — the great heart-yin nourishing formula.
🔬 Modern Research
Cypress-seed fatty acids and pinene constituents are studied for calming and mild laxative activity.
⚠️ Contraindications
Avoid with loose stools and copious phlegm-damp.
