Platycladi Cacumen
Aliases：Bǎi Yè (Arborvitae Leaf); Biǎn Bǎi Yè (Flat Arborvitae Leaf); Cóng Bǎi Yè (Clustered Arborvitae Leaf).
Cè Bǎi Yè (Platycladus orientalis leaves) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the tender branchlets and leaves of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco, a plant of the Cupressaceae family. It is mostly harvested in summer and autumn, and dried in the shade.
Efficacy & Actions
Cools blood and stops bleeding; resolves phlegm and stops cough; promotes hair growth and darkens hair.
Indications
Primarily used for bleeding disorders such as hematemesis, epistaxis, hematuria, and bloody dysentery; lung-heat cough; and hair loss and premature greying of hair due to blood heat.
Modern Pharmacology
Hemostatic Effect: Its decoction can significantly shorten bleeding and clotting time, with quercetin and tannins being the active components. Antibacterial Effect: Its alcohol extract shows inhibitory effects against various bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. Antitussive and Expectorant Effects: Its extract and flavonoid components exhibit significant antitussive and expectorant effects. Sedative Effect: The decoction can reduce spontaneous locomotor activity in animals and exhibit synergistic effects with central sedatives. Antitumor Effect: In vitro studies have shown inhibitory effects on tumor cells.
Ingredients
Volatile Oils: Content approximately 0.26%, with the main components being thujone, sabinene, fenchone, among others. Flavonoids: Including aromadendrin, quercetin, myricetin, hinokiflavone, and others. Others: Also contains tannins and trace elements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 6–12g, or prepared in pills or powder. For hemostasis, it is usually stir-fried to charcoal; for resolving phlegm and stopping cough, it is used raw. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, decocted in water for fumigation and washing, or ground into powder and mixed for external application.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: As the herb is bitter and cold in nature, it should not be used alone in patients with deficiency-cold patterns. Use with caution in patients with bleeding accompanied by blood stasis. Should not be taken for a prolonged period or in large amounts, as it may cause stomach discomfort and loss of appetite. Drug interactions: Contains tannins, and should not be used together with Western medications containing metal ions (such as aluminum hydroxide, calcium preparations, iron preparations, etc.), as this may affect absorption. Use with caution in pregnant women, nursing mothers, and patients with poor spleen-stomach function.
Selected Formulas
For hematemesis, epistaxis, and bloody dysentery (Mingyi Bielu) Take Cebaiye (Platycladus orientalis leaf), used alone or combined with other herbs according to the pattern. It is a key hemostatic herb. For hematemesis due to blood heat with reckless movement (Bencao Huiyan) Take Cebaiye, crush to extract juice and take. For consumptive conditions and promoting longevity (traditional health preservation method) Pick Cebaiye on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, grind together with Yuanzhi (Polygala) and Baifuling (Poria), mix with honey to make pills, and take.
Daily Consumption
Cebaiye Tea: Take 6–10g of Cebaiye (Platycladus orientalis leaves), and decoct it in water for oral use. Alternatively, it may be steeped in boiling water and drunk as a tea. However, the daily dosage should not exceed 10 grams, and continuous use should not exceed 1 month.
Medicinal Parts
Dried branchlets and leaves.
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place.
