Herb module

Bai Zi Ren

Arbor Vitae SeedPlatycladus orientalis (syn. Thuja orientalis)

A small, oily seed from an evergreen tree, used to nourish the Heart and settle a restless Spirit.

Bai Zi Ren is the seed of the oriental arborvitae, a tree many people know as a garden hedge. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is valued for its gentle, nourishing quality and is used to calm the Spirit while moistening the body. It appears in Zoi's Heart Meridian™ formula, where it supports the Heart's role as the home of the Spirit.

Best functions

Nourishes the Heart
Calms the Spirit (Shen)
Moistens the Intestines and helps the bowels move
Traditionally used to rein in sweating that comes from Yin Deficiency

Fascinating facts

"Arbor vitae" is Latin for "tree of life."
The part used in the formula is the seed kernel, which is rich in oil. This oiliness fits its traditional role of moistening the Intestines.
Traditional Chinese Medicine places Bai Zi Ren among the tonic herbs, the group of herbs valued for building up and nourishing.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Bai Zi Ren is a sweet herb that is neutral in nature. It belongs to the tonic herbs and enters the Heart, Kidney, and Large Intestine channels.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Heart Meridian page

Biomedical deep dive

Bai Zi Ren Arbor Vitae Seed

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

Bai Zi Ren (Arbor Vitae Seed Thuja orientalis) is neutral and enters the HT, KI, and LI channels; nourishes the Heart, calms the Spirit, moistens the Intestines, unblocks bowels and astringes Yin Deficiency sweat. Heart · Meridian sheet

Formula-level notes (about the whole formula, not this herb alone)

Heart Meridian sheet: the herbs in Heart Meridian have been shown to have a broad range of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-arrhythmic effects, as well as impacts on blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids. The sheet does not single out Bai Zi Ren.
Heart Meridian sheet: the formula’s modern applications include support of a healthy brain and nervous system, and some of its herbs have been shown to improve cognitive function and regenerate nerve cells (herbs not named individually).

Key active constituents

The fact sheets don’t name constituents for this herb.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

No herb-specific mechanism on the fact sheets.

What the research says

No herb-specific study on the fact sheets.

Safety, interactions and cautions

Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
Caution with loose stools from Spleen deficiency and with significant Damp or Phlegm (Traditional Chinese Medicine terms). Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

Heart Meridian (#9 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.