Biota Seed
柏子仁 · bǎi zǐ rén
Calms the mind and settles restless, dream-filled sleep
What it does
Bai zi ren nourishes Heart blood and yin to calm the spirit, while also moistening the Intestines for constipation. It appears in Tonify the Heart (Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan) alongside sour jujube seed and salvia root for anxiety, palpitations, and dream-disturbed sleep from Heart blood insufficiency. The defatted form (bai zi ren shuang) suits patients with loose digestion.
Safety
- Contraindicated in loose stools, diarrhea, or phlegm disorders; oily and moistening.
- The oily seed can cause nausea in sensitive patients; defatted form (bai zi ren shuang) reduces this.
- As an oily seed, bai zi ren carries a high risk of carcinogenic aflatoxin contamination.
- Store it cool and dry with air circulation, not in a sealed container or plastic bag.
- Buy only from suppliers who batch test for aflatoxins.
- Traditionally said to antagonize ju hua (Chrysanthemi Flos).
How to take it
Decoct 3–9g of biota seed in 4 cups water for 25–30 minutes. Often combined with sour jujube seed and salvia root in spirit-calming formulas.
Best used in a formula for dream-disturbed sleep and palpitations from Heart blood deficiency
Follow the product label for the formula containing bai zi ren. Available in spirit-calming formula products.
Look for it in sleep or heart-calming formula products
Where it comes from
Biota seed comes from Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis), a tree associated with longevity and dignity in Chinese culture, commonly planted at temples and grave sites. The seed (bai zi ren) and the leafy twig (ce bai ye) are separate medicinals with opposite uses: the seed calms the spirit; the twig cools blood and stops bleeding. This illustrates how TCM evaluates plant parts as distinct medicinals.