Herb Herbs that nourish the Heart and calm the Spirit

Bai Zi Ren

Biota seeds | 柏子仁

Platycladus orientalis

TCM Properties

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Sweet

Organ Affinity

Heart, Kidneys, Large Intestine

Parts Used

Dried ripe seeds

TCM Actions & Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine properties and applications of Bai Zi Ren

Traditional Actions

Nourish the Heart
Calm the Mind
Moisten the intestines
Promote bowel movements

Key TCM Concepts

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Bai Zi Ren belongs to the 'Herbs that nourish the Heart and calm the Spirit' category. These herbs are substances that tranquilize the Mind and treat symptoms such as restlessness, palpitations, anxiety or insomnia. They tend to have sedative properties by tonifying Heart Yin and Blood as in TCM it is believed that the Heart is the store of the Mind.

 

Furthermore Bai Zi Ren is Neutral in nature. This means that Bai Zi Ren typically doesn't affect the balance in your body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Eating too many "Hot" (Yang) ingredients can lead to an imbalance whereby one has a Yang Excess. The inverse is true as well: too many "Cold" (Yin) ingredients can lead to a Yin Excess. The Neutral nature of Bai Zi Ren means that you don't have to worry about that!

 

Bai Zi Ren also tastes Sweet. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Sweet ingredients like Bai Zi Ren tends to slow down acute reactions and detoxify the body. They also have a tonic effect because they replenish Qi and Blood.

 

The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Bai Zi Ren is thought to target the Heart, the Kidney and the Large intestine. In addition to regulating Blood flow, in TCM the Heart is believed to be the store of the 'Mind' which basically refers to someone's vitality. The Kidneys do not only regulate the urinary system but also play a key role in the reproductive system and the growth and aging process of the body. The Large Intestine receives the "impure" parts of the digested food from the Small Intestine, absorbs the remaining fluids and excrete the remainder as feces.

Common Applications

Insomnia Restlessness Depression Night sweats Constipation Palpitations Spontaneous sweating

Research Studies

Scientific research and clinical studies on Bai Zi Ren

N-butanol extract from the seeds of Platycladus orientalis (BSPO) significantly extended the lifespan of C. elegans in a concentration dependent manner under normal culture conditions and stress. This lifespan-extension effect could be attributed to BSPO's direct ROS scavenging activity, reducing the amount of lipofuscin and increasing the expression of gens associated with resistance to stress.1

Sources:

1. H Liu, F Liang, W Su, N Wang, M Lv, P Li, Z Pei et al. (2013). Lifespan extension by n-butanol extract from seed of Platycladus orientalis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 147(2): 366-372. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.03.019

Preparation & Dosage

Traditional and modern methods for preparing Bai Zi Ren

Traditional Preparation

After harvest dry the seeds and remove the seed coats in order to collect the kernels.

Recommended Dosage

Note: The following information is provided for educational purposes only and is not meant to replace professional medical advice.

3 - 15 grams

Safety & Contraindications

Important safety information and precautions for Bai Zi Ren

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using any herb or supplement.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Like many herbs, Bai Zi Ren may interact with certain medications. If you are taking any prescription medications, we recommend consulting with a healthcare provider knowledgeable in herb-drug interactions.

Related Educational Resources

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