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Platycladus Semen, Bai Zi Ren 柏子仁

Arbor Vitae, Oriental Arbor Vitae
Bai Zi Ren (TCM)
L’ Illustration horticole, vol. 9 (1862)

Mouillefert, Traité des arbres et arbrissaux, Atlas (1892-1898)

Botanical name:
Platycladus orientalis (syn. Biota orientalis, Thuja orientalis)

Parts used:
Seed

Temperature & Taste:
Neutral, Sweet

Classification:
H. Nourish the Heart

Uses:
1. Nourishes the Heart, Calms the Spirit:
-Insomnia, Irritability, Amnesia, Neurasthenia
-Palpitations with Anxiety
-Night-Terrors in Children (can be used alone for this purpose as a powder)
-also Night Sweats associated with Yin Deficiency

2. Moistens the Intestines:
-Constipation in the old, weak, pregnant or postpartum

Dose:
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams

Preparation:
1. The dry fried Seed loses its laxative effect and makes them more gentle on the stomach
2. The Seeds may be defatted by steaming them pressing hard to remove most of the oil. This is also less laxative and less liable to cause nausea.

Main Combinations:
Often combined with Ziziphus Suan Zao Ren to nourish the Heart and calm the Spirit. Used for Palpitations, Insomnia, and Irritability. It is especially effective if the Blood and Yin are deficient.

1. Heart Blood and Yin deficiency:
i. Palpitations, Insomnia, with Ziziphus Semen Suan Zao Ren, Dang Gui, Poria Sclerotium Fu Shen (as in Yang Xin Tang)
ii. Palpitations, Insomnia, Dream-disturbed sleep, Frightened easily, with Dang Gui, Astragalus Huang Qi, Poria Fu Ling, Polygala Yuan Zhi, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Licorice (as in Bai Zi Yang Xin Pills)
iii. Irritability, Insomnia, Palpitations, with Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Calamus (Shi Chang Pu)
iv. severe Heart Blood deficiency with severe palpitations, anxiety, vertigo, amnesia, insomnia, with Ginseng, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Atractylodes Bai Zhu
2. Constipation:
i. in elderly or postpartum, with Cannabis Seed (Huo Ma Ren), Walnut (He Tao)
ii. with Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Almond kernel (Xing Ren)

Major Formulas:
Bai Zi Yang Xin Wan
Tian Wan Bu Xin Wan
Yang Xin Tang
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan

Cautions:
1. Not used with Loose stool or excess Phlegm. They are rich, oily, and heavy to digest. They may cause nausea in those with Stomach weakness or sensitive digestion.

Main Preparations used: