Intestine dryness, insomnia treated TCM herb Arborvitae seeds

What are Arborvitae seeds (Bai Zi Ren)?
Arborvitaes are one of evergreens or shrubs from the Cypress Family (Cupressaceae). Statistics show that there are more than 150 types in the globe, fast-growing or slow-growing species. The most common varieties are American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), Giant Arborvitae (Thuja plicata), Japanese Thuja (Thuja standishii), Chinese arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis), and Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata), etc. And they also have a few of different common names respectively, for example, not a cedar at all as it is, American one is called Eastern Arborvitae or Northern Whitecedar.

Also known as biota seed and Bo Zi Ren in Pinyin, it refers to the kernel of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco or commonly the seed of Oriental arborvitae and Cacumen Biotae Orientalis. Also, it is one common type of artificial dwarf arborvitae used as landscape trees in China, which frequently grows along walkways. Just like Bonsai, it is cultivated by repeated ruthless pruning, ending up presenting what the planters expect it to be. However, without interfering with their growth in the wild, they grow to 20m high and 1m in diameter.

Arborvitae seeds contain large amount of fatty oils, small amount of essential oil, and saponins. These medicinal seeds are long ovate or oblong in shape, 0.3 to 0.7cm long, and 0.1 to 0.3cm in diameter. The newly harvested herb is yellowish white or light yellow while the old stocks, exudating oil spots, yellowish brown. Kernels are often covered with thinly membranous seed coat, round prismatoidal, and with slightly tapering top and blunt end. The texture is soft, oily, and moist. Cross section is yellowish white, with more endosperm and 2 seed leaves containing rich oil. The odor is lightly scented and the taste is neutral but greasy.

What is it used for?
As mentioned earlier, biota seed is one of commonly used Chinese herbs in TCM practice. The experience shared as follows is accumulated and proven by generations of TCM practitioners.

Property and indications
TCM holds the view that Arborvitae seeds are sweet and neutral in nature and covers meridians of Heart, Kidney, and Large Intestine. Main functions are nourishing heart blood for tranquillization and moistening dryness in intestine for relaxing bowels. Main usages and indications are Insomnia due to deficient dysphoria, severe palpitation, and Constipation causing by intestine dryness. Usual dosage is 6 to 15 grams in decoction.