Ce Bai Ye
English Name: platycladus leaves, leafy twigs of the Chinese arborvitae
Literal Translation: “flat fir leaves”
Pharmaceutical Name: Cacumen Platycladi
Medica Category: Stop-Bleeding Herbs
Properties: Ce Bai Ye enters the Lung, Liver, and Large Intestine channels; is bitter and astringent in nature and cool in temperature.
What is Ce Bai Ye?:
The Chinese Herb Ce Bai Ye is the twigs and “leafy” parts of the Chinese or Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco), a common ornamental evergreen shrub native to East Asia.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Ce Bai Ye:
Ce Bai Ye cools the blood and stops bleeding and is used to treat various bleeding disorders, both from blood heat or from deficiency/cold patterns (depending on the herbs with which it is combined in formula). Clinical applications of this herb include nosebleeds, coughing/vomiting up blood, profuse menstrual bleeding, and blood in the stools/urine.
Ce Bai Ye dispels phlegm and stops cough to address coughs with difficult to expectorate sputum that is some shade of yellow (i.e. hot, dry coughs).
Ce Bai Ye can be prepared as part of an herbal wash and applied topically to treat hair loss and itchy scalp (from oily hair).
**safety notes:
Contraindicated during pregnancy and while breast feeding.
Long-term use or a large dose may create nausea, and/or vomiting and dizziness.
Use with caution for persons with bleeding and blood stasis.
Use with caution for persons with Spleen/Stomach deficiency-cold patterns.