Introduction of Cè Bǎi Yè: Chinese Arborvitae Twig and Leaf
✵This article records the herb Chinese Arborvitae Twig and Leaf—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical source (a single plant species: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco)—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Cacumen Platycladi (Chinese Arborvitae Twig and Leaf)
Pinyin Name: Cè Bǎi Yè
English Name: Chinese Arborvitae Twig and Leaf
Latin Name:Cacumen Platycladi Properties and Flavor: Slightly cold, bitter, and astringent
Brief Introduction:Cacumen Platycladi is the dried twigs and leaves of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco., used as a blood-cooling hemostatic agent to treat epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematemesis, hematochezia, and metrorrhagia. It is also employed to address premature graying of hair. Common names include Cacumen Platycladi, Chinese Arborvitae Twig and Leaf, and Cè Bǎi Yè.
Botanical source: Classical TCM works define Cacumen Platycladi (Cè Bǎi Yè) as the dried terminal branchlets bearing leaves (i.e., young shoots or apical portions of branches with foliage) of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco., a species of the Cupressaceae family (cypress family). The commonly used species is described below:
(1) Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco.
Botanical Description:Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco.—also known as Thuja orientalis L. or Biota orientalis (L.) Endl.—is an evergreen tree belonging to the genus Platycladus and the family Cupressaceae (cypress family). Common names include Chinese Arborvitae, Oriental Arborvitae, Cè Bǎi, Xiāng Bǎi, Biǎn Bǎi, and Biǎn Sōng. Mature trees reach up to 20 meters in height and approximately 1 meter in DBH (diameter at breast height: 1.3 m above ground). The bark is thin, pale grayish-brown, and longitudinally fissured into narrow strips. Branchlets are straight, flattened, and arranged in a single plane. Leaves are scale-like, decussate, 1–3 mm long, with a slightly obtuse apex. The exposed portions of leaves on the upper and lower surfaces of the branchlets are obovate-rhombic or rhombic; lateral leaves fold over the basal margins of the upper and lower leaves and are keeled (carinate). Glandular grooves are present along the midline of the abaxial leaf surface.
The tree is monoecious; strobili are solitary and grow on the tips of short branchlets. Male strobili are yellow, ovoid, and approximately 2 mm long. Cones mature in the same year: they are ovoid, 1.5–2 cm long, fleshy before maturity, bluish-green (cyan), and covered with a whitish bloom; upon maturity, they become woody, dehisce, and turn russet (reddish-brown). Seed-bearing scales (ovuliferous scales) occur in four pairs, are flattened, and bear a reflexed, pointed apical projection on the dorsal surface near the apex; those in the middle portion each bear one or two seeds.
Seeds are ovoid or ovate-oblong, 4–6 mm long, taupe (dusty gray) or puce (purplish-brown), wingless or longitudinally ridged; the hilum is large and conspicuous. Flowering occurs from March to April; fruit ripens from September to October.
Ecological Environment:Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco. grows in moist, fertile soils—including limestone mountainous regions and gentle, well-drained slopes. It is native to northwestern China and widely distributed and cultivated throughout China. It has also become naturalized in other parts of Asia: southward to northern Pakistan and westward to northern Iran.
Growth Characteristics:Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco. is a temperate, light-demanding species, occurring both in cultivation and in the wild. It thrives in full sun, exhibits slight shade tolerance when young, and is highly adaptable. Soil requirements are not stringent: it grows well in acidic, neutral, calcareous (lime-rich), and mildly saline soils. It is drought-tolerant, cold-hardy, and salt-tolerant, but has relatively weak wind resistance. Growth is slow and plants remain slender on dry, infertile mountainsides. The taproot is shallow, whereas lateral roots are well-developed, exhibit vigorous sprouting capacity, and confer long lifespan. The species effectively absorbs smoke, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, and other harmful gases. With broad geographic distribution, it ranks among the most commonly used ornamental trees in China.
Landscaping:Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco. holds an indispensable role in landscape architecture. It is suitable for roadways, pavilion gardens, flanking gateways, perimeter green belts, roadside flower beds, and interior/exterior wall plantings—all yielding elegant visual effects. Seedlings serve well as hedges, and isolated specimens accentuate walls. In urban greening, it is widely planted along downtown streets and roadsides: it grows vigorously, causes no visual obstruction, adsorbs particulate matter, and purifies air. It may also be grown in windowsills or near doorways for strong decorative impact. Evergreen year-round, it admits ample light, maintains clear sightlines, and displays exceptional vitality—especially under snow cover. When planted in lawns, flower beds, rockeries, or woodland edges, it enhances afforestation quality and offers rich aesthetic value. Its well-developed tolerance to pollution, cold, and drought makes it especially valuable in northern forest ecosystems. As a nursery stock, Platycladus orientalis offers advantages including low cost, high transplant survival rate, and abundant supply.
Timber Value: The wood is light yellowish-brown, resinous, fine-grained, with interlocked grain, highly durable, and moderately resistant to decay (density ≈ 0.58 g/cm³). It is used in construction, furniture, agricultural tools, and stationery.
Characteristics of the Herb: Branches vary in length and are profusely branched; branchlets are flattened. Leaves are small, scale-like, decussate, adnate, and tightly appressed to the stems; color ranges from dark green to yellowish-green. The herb is brittle and fractures easily. It possesses a faint odor and tastes bitter, astringent, and slightly pungent.
Medicinal efficacy: Cools the blood, arrests bleeding, promotes hair growth and darkens hair, relieves cough and expels phlegm, dispels wind-dampness, and reduces swelling and toxicity. It is indicated for hematemesis, epistaxis (nasal bleeding, or bleeding from orifices/subcutaneous tissues), hematuria, hematochezia, bacillary dysentery with bloody stools, menorrhagia and metrorrhagia, hemorrhoidal bleeding, rheumatic arthralgia, hypertension, cough, copious phlegm, erysipelas, mumps, scalds, blood-heat-induced alopecia, and premature graying of hair and beard.
Administration of Cacumen Platycladi (Cè Bǎi Yè):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Cacumen Platycladi (Cè Bǎi Yè)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 6–12 grams; externally: appropriate amount. (2) Internally: water decoction, 2–4 qian (≈6–12 grams), or prepared as pills or powder; externally: wash with water decoction, apply mashed herb topically, or apply ground herb powder topically. (3) Internally: water decoction, 6–15 grams, or prepared as pills or powder; externally: appropriate amount—wash with water decoction, apply mashed herb topically, or apply ground herb powder topically.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Cacumen Platycladi is preferably processed with wine; excessive dosage may cause vomiting.
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1.Introduction of Cè Bǎi Yè: Chinese Arborvitae Twig and Leaf
✵This article records the herb Chinese Arborvitae Twig and Leaf—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical source (a single plant species: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco)—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Cè Bǎi Yè
Botanical Description: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco.—also known as Thuja orientalis L. or Biota orientalis (L.) Endl.—is an evergreen tree belonging to the genus Platycladus and the family Cupressaceae (cypress family). Common names include Chinese Arborvitae, Oriental Arborvitae, Cè Bǎi, Xiāng Bǎi, Biǎn Bǎi, and Biǎn Sōng. Mature trees reach up to 20 meters in height and approximately 1 meter in DBH (diameter at breast height: 1.3 m above ground). The bark is thin, pale grayish-brown, and longitudinally fissured into narrow strips. Branchlets are straight, flattened, and arranged in a single plane. Leaves are scale-like, decussate, 1–3 mm long, with a slightly obtuse apex. The exposed portions of leaves on the upper and lower surfaces of the branchlets are obovate-rhombic or rhombic; lateral leaves fold over the basal margins of the upper and lower leaves and are keeled (carinate). Glandular grooves are present along the midline of the abaxial leaf surface.
The tree is monoecious; strobili are solitary and grow on the tips of short branchlets. Male strobili are yellow, ovoid, and approximately 2 mm long. Cones mature in the same year: they are ovoid, 1.5–2 cm long, fleshy before maturity, bluish-green (cyan), and covered with a whitish bloom; upon maturity, they become woody, dehisce, and turn russet (reddish-brown). Seed-bearing scales (ovuliferous scales) occur in four pairs, are flattened, and bear a reflexed, pointed apical projection on the dorsal surface near the apex; those in the middle portion each bear one or two seeds.
Ecological Environment: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco. grows in moist, fertile soils—including limestone mountainous regions and gentle, well-drained slopes. It is native to northwestern China and widely distributed and cultivated throughout China. It has also become naturalized in other parts of Asia: southward to northern Pakistan and westward to northern Iran.
Growth Characteristics: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco. is a temperate, light-demanding species, occurring both in cultivation and in the wild. It thrives in full sun, exhibits slight shade tolerance when young, and is highly adaptable. Soil requirements are not stringent: it grows well in acidic, neutral, calcareous (lime-rich), and mildly saline soils. It is drought-tolerant, cold-hardy, and salt-tolerant, but has relatively weak wind resistance. Growth is slow and plants remain slender on dry, infertile mountainsides. The taproot is shallow, whereas lateral roots are well-developed, exhibit vigorous sprouting capacity, and confer long lifespan. The species effectively absorbs smoke, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, and other harmful gases. With broad geographic distribution, it ranks among the most commonly used ornamental trees in China.
Landscaping: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco. holds an indispensable role in landscape architecture. It is suitable for roadways, pavilion gardens, flanking gateways, perimeter green belts, roadside flower beds, and interior/exterior wall plantings—all yielding elegant visual effects. Seedlings serve well as hedges, and isolated specimens accentuate walls. In urban greening, it is widely planted along downtown streets and roadsides: it grows vigorously, causes no visual obstruction, adsorbs particulate matter, and purifies air. It may also be grown in windowsills or near doorways for strong decorative impact. Evergreen year-round, it admits ample light, maintains clear sightlines, and displays exceptional vitality—especially under snow cover. When planted in lawns, flower beds, rockeries, or woodland edges, it enhances afforestation quality and offers rich aesthetic value. Its well-developed tolerance to pollution, cold, and drought makes it especially valuable in northern forest ecosystems. As a nursery stock, Platycladus orientalis offers advantages including low cost, high transplant survival rate, and abundant supply.
Characteristics of the Herb: Branches vary in length and are profusely branched; branchlets are flattened. Leaves are small, scale-like, decussate, adnate, and tightly appressed to the stems; color ranges from dark green to yellowish-green. The herb is brittle and fractures easily. It possesses a faint odor and tastes bitter, astringent, and slightly pungent.
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