Knowledge Base/Herbs/Biota Seed (Oriental Arborvitae Seed)
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安神药 · Spirit-calming

Biota Seed (Oriental Arborvitae Seed) bǎi zǐ rén · 柏子仁

Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (seed)

Nature and flavour. Sweet and neutral; Heart, Kidney and Large Intestine systems.

Classed as nourishing the Heart and calming the spirit, and as moistening the intestine to move stool. Within the spirit-calming group it is the one chosen where the tradition reads the picture as depletion: the restless sleep, palpitations and fretfulness attributed to depleted Yin and blood, and the dry constipation of the depleted or the elderly. It is an oily seed, and that oiliness is the thread running through both halves of its traditional profile.

性味归经。甘，平；归心、肾、大肠经。

归类为养心安神、润肠通便。在安神药中它对应的是「虚」的一类：阴血不足所致的虚烦不眠、惊悸怔忡，以及虚人或年老者津枯的肠燥便秘。它是富含油脂的种子，这「润」的性质贯穿其两方面的传统用途。

Classical category · no formulas, no dosages, no herb-drug combinations are given.
Safety. The tradition itself cautions against it where there is loose stool from weak digestion, or where phlegm is copious — an oily, moistening seed can make both worse. Human safety data in pregnancy and breastfeeding are insufficient. It is not a herb to try on your own.

传统本身即指出脾虚便溏、痰多者慎用 —— 质润多油的种子可能加重这两者。妊娠期与哺乳期的人体安全性数据不足。不得自行使用。

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