Herb Leaf (叶 yè)

Ce Bai Ye

Arborvitae Leaf · 侧柏叶

Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco · Cacumen Platycladi

Also known as: Biota Leaves

Ce Bai Ye (Arborvitae Leaf) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Ce Bai Ye (Chinese arborvitae leaf) is a cooling herb best known for stopping bleeding caused by excess Heat in the Blood. It is commonly used for nosebleeds, coughing up blood, heavy menstrual bleeding, and blood in the stool or urine. It is also used externally to promote hair growth and darken prematurely grey hair.

Category Hemostatic herbs (止血药) Herbs that cool the Blood and stop bleeding (凉血止血药)
Therapeutic focus Bleeding Disorders Hair Health Respiratory Health Women's Health

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ), Astringent (涩 sè)

Channels entered

Lungs, Liver, Spleen

Parts used

Leaf (叶 yè)

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What This Herb Does

Every herb has a specific set of actions — here's what Ce Bai Ye does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Ce Bai Ye is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Bleeding Disorders Hair Health Respiratory Health Women's Health

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Ce Bai Ye performs to restore balance in the body:

Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding Resolves Phlegm and Stops Cough Promotes hair growth and darkens hair

How these actions work

'Cools the Blood and stops bleeding' is the primary action of Ce Bai Ye. When Heat accumulates in the Blood, it can force blood out of the vessels, causing various types of bleeding such as nosebleeds, coughing blood, vomiting blood, blood in the stool or urine, and heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding. Ce Bai Ye's bitter and cold nature clears this Heat from the Blood, while its astringent quality helps constrict the vessels and stop the bleeding directly. This combination of cooling and astringing makes it one of the most widely used herbs for bleeding caused by Blood Heat.

'Resolves Phlegm and stops coughing' applies when Lung Heat generates thick, sticky phlegm that is difficult to cough up, sometimes streaked with blood. Ce Bai Ye enters the Lung channel and uses its bitter, cold nature to clear Heat from the Lungs and help loosen and expel this hot Phlegm. The raw (unprocessed) form is preferred for this action.

'Promotes hair growth and darkens hair' reflects the traditional observation that Blood Heat can damage the hair roots, leading to hair loss or premature greying. Because Ce Bai Ye cools Blood Heat, it helps nourish the hair follicles indirectly. For this purpose, it is most commonly used externally (soaked in alcohol and applied as a tincture to the scalp), though it may also be taken internally.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Ce Bai Ye is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Ce Bai Ye addresses this pattern

Blood Heat occurs when excessive Heat enters the Blood level, agitating the Blood and forcing it out of the vessels. Ce Bai Ye is bitter and cold, entering the Liver and Lung channels. Its bitter cold nature directly clears Heat from the Blood, while its astringent quality constricts the vessels to stop bleeding. This dual mechanism of cooling and astringing makes it particularly effective for the reckless movement of Blood caused by Heat.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Epistaxis

Nosebleeds with bright red blood

Hematemesis

Vomiting blood

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood

Hematuria

Blood in the urine

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Heavy menstrual or uterine bleeding

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Ce Bai Ye is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Blood Heat

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, heavy or irregular uterine bleeding is often understood through the concept of the Chong and Ren vessels losing their ability to contain Blood. When Heat invades the Blood level (often related to Liver Heat or general Blood Heat), it agitates the Blood and forces it downward and outward through the uterus. The Liver stores Blood and governs its smooth flow; when Liver Heat flares, it disrupts the orderly storage and release of menstrual blood, leading to heavy flow, mid-cycle bleeding, or prolonged periods.

Why Ce Bai Ye Helps

Ce Bai Ye enters the Liver channel and directly cools the Blood Heat that is driving the excessive bleeding. Its astringent nature helps tighten the vessels to contain the Blood. For active, heavy bleeding, the charred form (Ce Bai Tan) is preferred because charring enhances the hemostatic action. It is often combined with other cooling hemostatics like Sheng Di Huang (raw Rehmannia) and herbs that astringe and hold Blood.

Also commonly used for

Hematemesis

Vomiting blood

Hemoptysis

Coughing blood or blood-streaked sputum

Hematuria

Blood in urine

Bleeding

Blood in stool, intestinal bleeding

Premature Graying Of Hair

Early greying of hair

Chronic Bronchitis

With phlegm-heat cough

Skin Burns

Minor burns, applied topically as powder

Dysentery

Bloody dysentery

Herb Properties

Every herb has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ), Astringent (涩 sè)

Channels Entered

Lungs Liver Spleen

Parts Used

Leaf (叶 yè)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Ce Bai Ye — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

6–12g

Maximum dosage

Up to 15g in decoction for acute bleeding conditions, under practitioner supervision. For external use, dosage is flexible and applied as needed.

Dosage notes

Use the raw herb (生侧柏叶) for cooling Blood Heat, resolving phlegm, and stopping cough, as its heat-clearing action is strongest in unprocessed form. Use the charred form (侧柏炭) when the goal is primarily hemostatic, as charring moderates the cold nature and enhances astringent, blood-stopping action. For external use in hair loss, the fresh herb can be soaked in 60% alcohol and applied to the scalp, or a decoction used as a wash. For treating bleeding from Blood Heat, 10–15g is typical. Lower doses (6–9g) suit milder conditions or when combined with other hemostatic herbs.

Preparation

No special decoction handling is required. Ce Bai Ye is simply added to the pot and decocted with other herbs. When using the charred form (Ce Bai Tan), note that this is a separate processed product and should be specified at the pharmacy.

Processing Methods

In TCM, the same herb can be prepared in different ways to change its effects — here's how processing alters what Ce Bai Ye does

Processing method

The cleaned leaves are dry-fried over high or medium heat until the surface turns dark brown to black and the interior becomes scorched yellow (charring method). A small amount of water may be sprinkled on before removing from heat.

How it changes properties

Charring significantly reduces the cold nature of the herb, making it less likely to damage the Spleen and Stomach. The astringent, hemostatic effect is enhanced, while the Heat-clearing action is diminished. The carbonized form gains the ability to stop bleeding through adsorption and astringency regardless of whether the bleeding pattern is Hot or Cold.

When to use this form

Ce Bai Tan is the standard choice when the primary goal is to stop bleeding. It is especially important for patients with Cold-type or deficiency-type bleeding, where the raw herb's cold nature would be counterproductive. In dispensing practice, when a prescription simply writes 'Ce Bai Ye' for hemostasis, the charred form is often the default.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Ce Bai Ye for enhanced therapeutic effect

Ai Ye
Ai Ye 1:1 (both around 9-15g)

Ce Bai Ye (cold, cooling) and Ai Ye (warm, warming) create a balanced hemostatic pair. Ce Bai Ye cools Blood Heat and stops bleeding, while Ai Ye warms the channels and stops bleeding from Cold. Together they address bleeding regardless of whether the underlying pattern is Hot or Cold, and prevent either herb's temperature from being too one-sided.

When to use: Used for bleeding conditions where the pattern is mixed or unclear, or where Cold and Heat are both present. This pair appears in Bai Ye Tang from the Jin Gui Yao Lue for persistent vomiting of blood, and in Si Sheng Wan for Blood Heat bleeding.

Shu Di Huang
Shu Di Huang 1:1 (both 10-15g)

Both herbs cool the Blood and stop bleeding, but through complementary mechanisms. Sheng Di Huang nourishes Yin and generates Fluids while cooling Blood Heat at a deep level, whereas Ce Bai Ye provides astringent hemostatic action on top of cooling. Together they powerfully clear Blood Heat while protecting Yin from further damage.

When to use: For Blood Heat bleeding (nosebleeds, vomiting blood, coughing blood) accompanied by signs of Yin damage such as dry mouth, a red tongue with little coating, and a rapid pulse. This pair is the core of Si Sheng Wan.

Gan Jiang
Gan Jiang 1:1 (Ce Bai Ye 9g : Gan Jiang 9g)

Ce Bai Ye cools Blood and stops bleeding while Gan Jiang (dried ginger) warms the Middle Burner and disperses Cold. This seemingly contradictory pair allows the formula to stop bleeding without trapping Cold internally. Gan Jiang's warmth prevents Ce Bai Ye's cold nature from damaging the Spleen, while Ce Bai Ye's hemostatic action is retained.

When to use: For persistent bleeding (especially vomiting blood) in patients with underlying Spleen-Stomach Yang deficiency. A cold, pale complexion and weak pulse suggest this pairing. The combination appears in Bai Ye Tang (Jin Gui Yao Lue).

He Ye
He Ye 1:1 (both used fresh in Si Sheng Wan)

Both herbs cool Blood Heat and stop bleeding. He Ye (Lotus leaf) raises clear Yang and directs hemostatic action to the upper body, while Ce Bai Ye provides direct astringent hemostasis. Together they are particularly effective for upper-body bleeding such as nosebleeds and vomiting blood due to Blood Heat.

When to use: For acute Blood Heat bleeding from the upper body, such as nosebleeds, hematemesis, or hemoptysis, with signs like a red tongue, rapid pulse, and irritability.

Key Formulas

These well-known formulas feature Ce Bai Ye in a prominent role

Shi Hui San 十灰散 Deputy

Shi Hui San (Ten Partially-Charred Substances Powder) is a major hemostatic formula containing Ce Bai Ye in charred form among ten charred ingredients. Ce Bai Ye contributes its cooling and astringent hemostatic actions to this formula's broad-spectrum approach to stopping upper-body bleeding due to Blood Heat. It demonstrates the charred (Ce Bai Tan) processing form.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Di Yu
Ce Bai Ye vs Di Yu

Both Ce Bai Ye and Di Yu (Sanguisorba root) are bitter, cold, and stop bleeding due to Heat. However, Di Yu is colder and focuses on the Lower Burner, particularly for bloody dysentery, hemorrhoidal bleeding, and lower GI bleeding, with added toxin-resolving ability. Ce Bai Ye is more broadly applicable across upper, middle, and lower body bleeding, and has the additional actions of resolving Lung Phlegm and promoting hair growth, which Di Yu lacks.

Mo Han Lian
Ce Bai Ye vs Mo Han Lian

Both Ce Bai Ye and Mo Han Lian (Eclipta) cool the Blood, stop bleeding, and promote hair growth. However, their mechanisms differ fundamentally. Ce Bai Ye works by clearing Blood Heat with its cold, bitter nature, making it ideal for acute Blood Heat hair loss or bleeding. Mo Han Lian nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin to address hair loss and bleeding from Yin deficiency. Choose Ce Bai Ye for Hot, excess patterns and Mo Han Lian for deficiency patterns.

Huai Hua
Ce Bai Ye vs Huai Hua

Both are cool Blood-Heat hemostatics, but Huai Hua (Sophora flower) specifically targets the Large Intestine channel and is the first-choice herb for hemorrhoidal and rectal bleeding. Ce Bai Ye is broader in scope, treating bleeding from any location and adding Phlegm-resolving and hair-growth actions. For isolated lower intestinal bleeding, Huai Hua is more specific; for multi-site bleeding or when cough is also present, Ce Bai Ye is preferred.

Therapeutic Substitutes

Legitimate clinical replacements when Ce Bai Ye is unavailable, restricted, or contraindicated

Huai Hua

Huai Hua
Huai Hua 槐花
Japanese Pagoda Tree Flower

Covers: Shares Cè Bǎi Yè's core action of cooling the Blood and stopping bleeding (凉血止血) for heat-driven bleeding such as vomiting blood, nosebleed, blood in the stool, and uterine bleeding. Like Cè Bǎi Yè, it is bitter and cold and enters the Liver channel, making it a reasonable like-for-like swap for the hemostatic-cooling role.

Does not cover: Huái Huā has a particular affinity for the Large Intestine and is especially well-suited to lower-body bleeding (intestinal and hemorrhoidal bleeding). It is less versatile than Cè Bǎi Yè for upper-body bleeding such as hemoptysis or epistaxis. It does not share Cè Bǎi Yè's secondary actions of stopping cough, resolving phlegm, or promoting hair growth.

Use when: When Cè Bǎi Yè is unavailable and the clinical picture is Blood Heat bleeding, particularly intestinal or lower-body bleeding. Documented in classical Chinese clinical substitution literature as an explicit alternative ('或用槐花') for Cè Bǎi Yè's cooling-hemostatic role.

Qian Cao

Qian Cao
Qian Cao 茜草
Indian Madder root

Covers: Shares Cè Bǎi Yè's action of cooling the Blood and stopping bleeding for heat-driven hemorrhage. Classical Chinese clinical substitution literature explicitly states the two herbs share this function ('二者此功相同') and lists Qiàn Cǎo Gēn as the primary documented substitute for Cè Bǎi Yè in this role.

Does not cover: Qiàn Cǎo additionally moves Blood and dispels stasis (活血化瘀), giving it a more activating character than Cè Bǎi Yè. This added Blood-moving action means it is less appropriate in patterns where pure astringing and cooling are needed without any risk of further moving the Blood. It also does not share Cè Bǎi Yè's cough-suppressing, phlegm-resolving, or hair-promoting actions.

Use when: When Cè Bǎi Yè is unavailable for its cooling-hemostatic role and the bleeding is accompanied by some degree of Blood stasis — in which case Qiàn Cǎo's additional Blood-moving action may even be advantageous. Use cautiously in pure Blood Heat patterns without stasis, as the activating element may be counterproductive.

Identity & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Ce Bai Ye

In Tibet, the leaves of Himalayan cypress (Cupressus torulosa, 喜马拉雅柏木) and twisted juniper (Juniperus recurva, 曲枝柏) are sometimes used locally as substitutes for Ce Bai Ye, though they are different species with potentially different chemical profiles. Among the various cypress species, Li Shizhen emphasized that only the flat-leaved lateral cypress (侧柏) with fan-shaped branch sprays should be used medicinally. Varieties described classically as 'Qian Tou Bai' (千头柏, thousand-head cypress) or 'Fo Shou Bai' (佛手柏, Buddha-hand cypress), with dense tufted growth from the base, were considered the authentic superior form. Round-leaved or needle-leaved cypresses and junipers should not be substituted.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herb.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Ce Bai Ye

Non-toxic

Ce Bai Ye is classified as non-toxic in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Animal toxicity studies in mice showed that oral administration of 60g/kg produced no deaths after 72 hours of observation, and the intraperitoneal LD50 of the water decoction was 15.2g/kg, indicating very low toxicity. However, the volatile oil contains thujone (侧柏酮), a compound that in very large isolated doses can be neurotoxic. At standard medicinal doses, thujone concentrations are far too low to cause harm. Excessive or prolonged use may cause gastrointestinal discomfort including nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, abdominal bloating, throat dryness, or dizziness. Rare allergic reactions (skin rash, facial or limb swelling) have been reported and resolve upon discontinuation.

Contraindications

Situations where Ce Bai Ye should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold (脾胃虚寒): Ce Bai Ye is bitter and cold in nature, which can injure the Spleen and Stomach. Classical sources note it can 'upset the stomach' (倒胃) with excessive use. People with cold, weak digestion should avoid this herb.

Caution

Yin deficiency with Lung dryness causing cough with blood: The Ben Cao Hui Yan specifically warns against using Ce Bai Ye when bleeding arises from Yin-deficient Lung dryness rather than Blood Heat, as its bitter, cold, and drying nature can worsen the underlying deficiency.

Caution

Liver and Kidney deficiency with Blood dryness and marrow depletion: When bleeding or joint pain stems from severe Liver-Kidney depletion rather than Heat or Dampness, Ce Bai Ye's cold nature will further damage the weakened constitution without addressing the root cause.

Caution

Bleeding due to deficiency cold without Heat signs: While Ce Bai Ye can be combined with warm herbs (as in Bai Ye Tang with dry ginger and Ai Ye) for cold-type bleeding, it should not be used alone in these cases as its cold nature could worsen the condition.

Caution

Long-term unsupervised use: Prolonged consumption may cause gastrointestinal side effects including nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, poor appetite, and dizziness. Some individuals may develop allergic reactions such as skin rash or facial swelling.

Classical Incompatibilities

Traditional Chinese pharmacological incompatibilities — herbs or substances to avoid combining with Ce Bai Ye

Ce Bai Ye does not appear on the classical Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反) or Nineteen Mutual Fears (十九畏) lists. However, classical sources note it is 'incompatible with Chrysanthemum flowers' (恶菊花) and works well with wine (宜酒). Gui Zhi (Cinnamon twig) and Mu Li (Oyster shell) are listed as traditional guide substances (使).

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Ce Bai Ye should be used with caution during pregnancy. Its bitter, cold nature and Blood-cooling, Blood-moving properties could theoretically disturb the fetus. While it is not on the standard list of absolutely prohibited herbs in pregnancy, its hemostatic action works by cooling Blood, and cold herbs can impair the normal flow of Qi and Blood needed to nourish the fetus. Pregnant women should avoid this herb unless specifically prescribed by a qualified practitioner for an acute condition.

Breastfeeding

There is insufficient clinical data on the safety of Ce Bai Ye during breastfeeding. Its bitter, cold properties and volatile oil content raise theoretical concerns about transfer through breast milk and potential gastrointestinal discomfort in the nursing infant. It is best avoided during breastfeeding unless specifically indicated and supervised by a qualified practitioner.

Children

Ce Bai Ye can be used in children at appropriately reduced dosages based on age and body weight, typically one-third to one-half of the adult dose. It has been traditionally used topically as a paste for burns in both adults and children. Due to its cold, bitter nature, it should be used cautiously in children with weak digestion. Paediatric use should always be under practitioner guidance.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Ce Bai Ye

Ce Bai Ye has demonstrated hemostatic (blood-stopping) activity in pharmacological studies. Its active compounds, including quercetin and tannins, shorten clotting and bleeding times. Theoretically, this could interact with anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (such as warfarin, heparin, aspirin, or clopidogrel) by either counteracting their blood-thinning effects or creating unpredictable changes in clotting parameters. Patients on anticoagulant therapy should consult their physician before using Ce Bai Ye.

The herb also contains flavonoid compounds that may interact with cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in drug metabolism, though specific interaction studies for Ce Bai Ye are lacking. As a general precaution, patients taking medications with a narrow therapeutic index should inform their healthcare provider before using this herb.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Ce Bai Ye

Classical sources note that Ce Bai Ye 'is compatible with wine' (与酒相宜), and many traditional formulas combine it with wine to enhance its Blood-moving and channel-opening properties. However, because the herb is cold and bitter, it can burden digestion. Avoid excessive consumption of cold, raw, or greasy foods while taking Ce Bai Ye to protect the Spleen and Stomach. If gastrointestinal discomfort occurs, reduce the dose or take the herb after meals.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Ce Bai Ye source plant

Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco is an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family (Cupressaceae), and the sole species in the genus Platycladus. It typically grows 15–20 metres tall with a conical to columnar crown, though ancient specimens near Buddhist temples in China are reported to exceed 1,000 years of age. The bark is thin, greyish-brown, and fibrous.

The branches are distinctive: primary branches are erect while secondary branches spread in flattened, fan-like sprays. The leaves are tiny, scale-like, arranged in opposite pairs pressed closely against the flattened branchlets, and are shiny deep green in colour with a small linear gland on the lower surface. Female cones are ovoid, up to 12 mm long, bluish-green and waxy before ripening, becoming woody and brown when mature. Male cones are small, globular, and yellow. The tree flowers mainly in May and produces thick, unwinged, ovoid seeds.

The species is remarkably hardy, tolerating drought, poor soils, and a wide range of climatic conditions from cold temperate to subtropical. Its common Western name 'arborvitae' (Latin for 'tree of life') reflects its association with longevity and vitality in Chinese culture, where it has been revered by Daoist practitioners since antiquity.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Ce Bai Ye is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Summer and autumn; the leaves can be collected year-round, but quality is best when harvested during summer and fall, then dried in the shade.

Primary growing regions

Ce Bai Ye is widely distributed throughout most of China and is not strongly associated with a single dao di (terroir) production region. The largest production volumes come from Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hebei, and Shandong provinces. The tree also grows across Korea, Japan, and Iran. Because Platycladus orientalis is extremely adaptable to diverse soils and climates, quality depends more on harvesting timing and leaf maturity than on specific regional origin.

Quality indicators

Good quality Ce Bai Ye consists of young, tender branchlets with intact scale-like leaves that are deep green in colour. The branches should be small and flat. The herb should be fragrant with a clean, aromatic cedar-like scent, and taste bitter, astringent, and slightly pungent. Avoid material that is yellowed, dried out, brittle with excessive broken fragments, or that has lost its aromatic scent. The cross-section of small branches should appear yellowish-white. Excessive amounts of hard, thick woody stems indicate lower quality.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Ce Bai Ye and its therapeutic uses

Ming Yi Bie Lu (名医别录)

Original: 主吐血、衄血、血痢、崩中赤白。轻身益气，令人耐寒暑，去湿痹，生肌。

Translation: "Governs vomiting of blood, nosebleeds, bloody dysentery, and uterine bleeding (red and white discharge). Lightens the body, boosts Qi, helps one withstand cold and heat, removes Damp impediment, and promotes tissue healing."

Ben Cao Gang Mu (本草纲目) — Li Shizhen

Original: 柏性后凋而耐久，禀坚劲之质。乃多寿之木，道家以之点汤常饮，元旦以之浸酒辟邪，皆有取此。

Translation: "The cypress is the last to wither and endures long, possessing a firm and resilient nature. It is a tree of great longevity. Daoists brew it as a daily drink, and on New Year's Day it is steeped in wine to ward off evil — all drawing on these qualities."

Ben Cao Hui Yan (本草汇言)

Original: 侧柏叶，止流血，去风湿之药也。凡吐血、衄血、崩血、便血，血热流溢于经络者，捣汁服之立止。

Translation: "Ce Bai Ye is a herb that stops flowing blood and dispels Wind-Dampness. For vomiting of blood, nosebleeds, uterine flooding, or bloody stool caused by Blood Heat overflowing through the channels, pounding the juice and taking it orally stops it immediately."

Ben Cao Cong Xin (本草从新)

Original: 最清血分热。止吐衄崩淋。肠风尿血。血痢。一切血证。

Translation: "Most effective at clearing Heat from the Blood level. Stops vomiting of blood, nosebleeds, uterine flooding, stranguria, intestinal wind, blood in the urine, bloody dysentery — all manner of Blood conditions."

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Ce Bai Ye's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Ce Bai Ye was first recorded as a medicinal herb in the Ming Yi Bie Lu (Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians), compiled around the 5th century CE, though the cypress tree itself appears in far older texts. Li Shizhen clarified in the Ben Cao Gang Mu that among the various types of cypress, only the species with flat, laterally arranged leaves (hence the name 'ce' 侧, meaning 'lateral') should be used medicinally.

The tree holds deep cultural significance in China. Daoists revered it as a symbol of longevity and resilience, incorporating cypress leaf preparations into their daily health regimens. A famous legend tells of Mao Nu (毛女), a woman from the Qin dynasty palace who survived famine by eating pine and cypress leaves and eventually grew so light and nimble she could leap across mountains. On New Year's Day, cypress leaves were traditionally steeped in wine to ward off evil and promote health for the coming year. The Western botanical name 'arborvitae' (tree of life) echoes this same cultural association. Ce Bai Ye is also the leaf of the same tree that produces Bai Zi Ren (柏子仁), the seed used to nourish the Heart and calm the spirit, making the cypress one of the most versatile medicinal trees in Chinese medicine.

Modern Research

4 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Ce Bai Ye

1

Systematic Review: Platycladus orientalis Leaves — Botany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology (2014)

Shan M, Yu S, Yan H, Guo S, Xiao W, Wang Z, Zhang L, Ding A, Wu Q, Li SFY. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2014, 42(3): 523-542.

A comprehensive review covering research from 1980 onward found that Ce Bai Ye leaves demonstrate a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, diuretic, hair growth-promoting, neuroprotective, and antifibrotic effects. The review also covered processing research and toxicology of the leaves.

PubMed
2

In Vivo Study: Hair Growth Promoting Activity of Cedrol from Platycladus orientalis Leaves (2016)

Zhang B, et al. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2016, 83: 960-966.

Cedrol, a major sesquiterpene component isolated from P. orientalis essential oil, was applied topically to C57BL/6 mice at different concentrations. The 30mg/mL cedrol group showed significantly faster hair growth than both control and 2% minoxidil groups, with hair length reaching 11.07mm versus 9.94mm for minoxidil after 21 days. The effect was dose-dependent and more pronounced in female mice.

PubMed
3

In Vitro and In Vivo Study: Water Extract of Cacumen Platycladi Promotes Hair Growth via Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin Signaling (2023)

Fu H, Li W, Weng Z, Huang Z, Liu J, Mao Q, Ding B. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2023, 14: 1038039.

Using both cultured human dermal papilla cells and a mouse model, this study found that the water extract of Ce Bai Ye significantly promoted hair growth and hair follicle construction. The mechanism was traced to activation of the Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway, which stimulates dermal papilla cell proliferation and migration.

PubMed
4

In Vitro and Clinical Study: Platycladus orientalis Leaf Extract Promotes Hair Growth via ACK1 Activation (2024)

Kim J, Joo JH, Kim J, Rim H, Choi YH, Shin JY, Min K, Lee SY, Jun SH, Kang NG. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 2024, 46(10): 665.

This study found that P. orientalis leaf extract stimulated proliferation of cultured human dermal papilla cells, with quercitrin identified as the key active flavonoid. The extract decreased cellular senescence markers (p16 and p21) and activated growth factor receptors (FGFR1, VEGFR2/3) and non-receptor tyrosine kinases (ACK1, HCK). A 12-week topical application in humans showed increased terminal hair density.

PubMed

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.