Herb

Ce Bai Ye (Tan)

Biota twig and leaf (Carbonized) | 侧柏叶(炭)

Also known as:

Chinese thuja twigs and leaves , Oriental arborvitae twigs and leaves , Oriental thuja twigs and leaves

Ce Bai Ye (Tan)

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Properties

Hemostatic herbs (止血药) · Cold

Traditionally supports*

Bleeding Disorders Hair Health Respiratory Health Women's Health

Parts Used

Leaf (叶 yè)

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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About This Herb

Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties

Herb Description

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.

Herb Category

Hemostatic herbs (止血药) Herbs that cool the Blood and stop bleeding (凉血止血药)

Main Actions

  • 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 that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Ce Bai Ye is traditionally associated with these specific patterns.

The following describes this herb's classification within Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and is provided for educational purposes only.

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

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ), Astringent (涩 sè)

Channels Entered
Lungs Liver Spleen
Parts Used

Leaf (叶 yè)

This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page

Product Details

Manufacturing, supplier, and product specifications

Product Type

Granules

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Botanical & Sourcing

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.

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.

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.

Supplier Information

Treasure of the East

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Miscellaneous Info

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Usage & Safety

How to use this herb and important safety information

Important Medical Disclaimer

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or to replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. This herb is a dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking other medications. Discontinue use and consult your healthcare provider if you experience any adverse reactions.

Recommended Dosage

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Instructions for safe storage and consumption

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Traditional Dosage Reference

Standard

6–12g

Maximum

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

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.

Processing Methods

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.

Modern Usage

Carbon Ce Bai Ye is more effective in stopping bleeding.

Toxicity Classification

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

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

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

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.

Pediatric Use

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

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

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.

Cautions & Warnings

Although this herb is typically safe for most individuals, it may cause side effects in some people. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, postpartum women, and those with liver disease should use the formula with caution.

As with any Chinese herbal remedy, it is advisable to seek guidance from a qualified TCM practitioner before beginning treatment.