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Bai Shi (Platycladi Semen)
Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats palpitations and anxiety, calms the five Zang organs, supplements Qi, dispels wind-dampness bi-syndrome, treats mental confusion, deficiency with shortness of breath, lizhi syndrome (painful joints) and heaviness/pain in the waist, nourishes blood, and stops sweating. Long-term consumption makes the skin lustrous and complexion beautiful, sharpens hearing and vision, prevents hunger and aging, lightens the body, and prolongs life. Grows in valleys on Mount Tai. Those from Mount Tai are especially superior.

Bo Ye (Platycladi Cacumen)
Bitter in flavor, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), bloody dysentery, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea with red and white discharge. It lightens the body, benefits Qi, enables endurance to cold and heat, removes damp-bi, and relieves hunger. Harvested according to direction in all four seasons, dried in shade. Bai Pi (White Bark of Platycladus) treats burns and ulcerating sores, promotes hair growth. (Guided by Oyster Shell [Muli] and Cinnamon Twig [Guizhi], Sunflower Seed [Gua Zi]; adverse to Chrysanthemum [Juhua], Dock [Yangti], various minerals, and yeast/fermented grain [Qu].)

Tao Hongjing stated: Bo Ye and Bai Shi are also highly valued in elixir ingestion practices, which have specific methods. Platycladus grows everywhere, but those from Mount Tai are best; avoid harvesting from tombs. Although available year-round, autumn and summer harvests are preferred. Its resin is also used medicinally. The text mentions aversion to Qu; however, brewing wine with Platycladus branches causes no harm, likely because the mixture of wine rice differs from single use. *Tang Bencao* notes: Wine brewed from boiling Platycladus branch nodes treats wind-bi and lizhi wind; burning to collect resin effectively treats scabies and leprosy sores. Currently, Baizi Ren is utilized. Seeds and leaves are harvested in August, while other parts can be gathered anytime. *Yaoxing Lun* states: Baizi Ren is a sovereign herb, adverse to Chrysanthemum, adverse to Dock, sweet and pungent in flavor. It treats coldness in the waist and kidneys, cold bladder, retained turbid fluids, boosts sexual function, prolongs life, eliminates head wind, treats diseases caused by evil spirits/demons, and primarily manages pediatric convulsions and epilepsy. It further states that Ce Bai Ye (Side Cypress Leaf) is a sovereign herb, harmonizes well with wine, and stops hematuria. Bitter and pungent, astringent in nature. Treats cold wind and lizhi pain. Ri Huazi stated: Baizi Ren treats wind disorders and moistens the skin; this refers to Side Cypress seeds, which should be slightly stir-fried before use. It also states that Bo Ye moxibustion treats frostbite; burning to collect juice and applying it to the head darkens and moisturizes hair. Additionally, Bai Pi is non-toxic.

*Tujing* states: Bai Shi grows in valleys on Mount Tai and is now found everywhere, but those from Qianzhou are best. Flowers in March, fruits in September; harvest when ripe, steam and sun-dry, then extract mature kernels in spring. The leaf is named Ce Bai. Those from Mizhou are particularly excellent. Although similar to other cypresses, its leaves grow sideways, resulting in distinct efficacy. Harvest time is flexible. Zhang Zhongjing's formula for persistent hematemesis uses Bo Ye Tang as the primary prescription. One handful of Qing Bo Ye, three slices of Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), one piece of E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin, roasted). Add two sheng of water, boil to one sheng, strain. Mix with one sheng of Ma Tong Zhi (Horse Manure Juice), boil again to one sheng, filter through silk cloth, and consume in one dose. Shandong physicians also frequently use Ce Bai Ye. It is said to be cold in nature and analgesic. The method involves pounding fresh leaves in a mortar until mushy, mixing with cold water into a paste, and applying to burns or scalds on adults and children. Secure with cloth; wounds heal within two to three days, and scars may fade. Another method: dry leaves, powder them, decoct with Chuan Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome), and drink the juice to treat severe lower abdominal bleeding resembling tea dregs or pus-like dysentery (Gu Li), showing remarkable efficacy. It also kills internal parasites. Daoists often prepare Bo Ye Tang for daily consumption to benefit health. Ancient Platycladus leaves are particularly unique. In Yizhou, inside the temple of Zhuge Liang, there is a large Platycladus tree, traditionally planted during the Shu Han period, widely collected for medicine. It tastes sweet and is more aromatic than common cypress.

Lei Gong stated: For processing, soak in wine overnight, drain, and sun-dry. Then decoct with natural juice of Huang Jing (Polygonatum Rhizome) under sunlight, stirring constantly. If weather is persistently cloudy, add water to a pan, place Baizi Ren in a bottle within the pan, and slowly simmer into a paste. For every three liang of Baizi Ren, use five liang of wine for soaking. Also, do not use Hua Bai Ye (Flowering Cypress Leaf) or Cong Bai Ye (Cluster Cypress Leaf). Youzi Yuan Ye has round leaves forming sheets like mica, growing sideways with fine red hairs. Hua Bai Ye trees have dense foliage clusters without seeds. Cong Bai Ye trees are green and not used medicinally. To process one jin: remove side branches and heartwood first, soak in glutinous rice wash water for seven days, drain, mix with wine, steam for one fu (approx. 2 hours), then soak in Huang Jing juice and dry. Repeat soaking and drying until Huang Jing juice is exhausted. Use twelve liang of Huang Jing juice per jin of herbs. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats epidemic miasma. Use southeast branches of southwest-facing cypress trees near community altars, dry, powder, and take one qian bi mixed with water. Take three to four times daily. Same as *Zhouhou Beiji Fang*. Another formula: Treats severe wind disease to regrow eyebrows and hair. Nine-steamed and nine-sun-dried Ce Bai Ye, powdered, mixed with refined honey into pills the size of Sophora seeds. Take three times daily, once at night, with warm water, 5-10 pills. Hair grows after 100 days. Another formula: Treats vomiting blood due to sorrow/anger, irritability, fullness, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Powder Bo Ye, take two qian bi mixed with porridge drink at any time. Another formula: Treats pediatric crying, convulsions, abdominal distension, refusal to nurse, and green-white stools. Take two qian of Baizi Ren powder mixed with warm water. *Jingyan Houfang*: Treats cholera with muscle cramps. Wrap feet in warm materials, then pour hot decoction of finely chopped Platycladus wood over them. Another formula: Treats pediatric profuse dysentery by decocting Bo Ye. *Meishi Fang*: Treats heatstroke, oil burns, and fire burns. Decoct Bai Pi with pig fat and apply to sores. Same as *Guiyi Fang*. Sun Simiao's Dietary Taboos: For hair growth, dry Ce Bai Ye in shade, powder, mix with oil, and apply. Sun Simiao's Pillow Book: Method for collecting pine and cypress: Collect new pine needles in March/April, about 3-4 cun long, along with flower buds, dry in shade, powder finely. For cypress leaves, collect new growth from deep mountain valleys, 3-4 cun long, dry in shade, powder finely. Mix with white honey into pills the size of adzuki beans. On the 15th of each month, before sunrise, burn incense facing east, hold 81 pills, swallow with wine. One year of use extends life by ten years; two years by twenty years. To build flesh, add Da Ma (Hemp Seed) and Ju Sheng (Sesame); to strengthen heart/mind, add Fu Ling (Poria) and Ren Shen (Ginseng). This drug eliminates hundred diseases, benefits Yuan Qi, nourishes Zang-Fu, clarifies senses, prevents aging, and prolongs life. Pills made with dew from July 7th are superior. Recite mantra before taking: "True elixir of immortals, conforms to nature. Entering the abdomen, sharing years with heaven and earth." After chanting, take medicine. Avoid all meats and Five Pungent Spices. Most critical to observe. Yao Shi Formula: Treats scrofula (swollen lymph nodes) before suppuration. Apply Bo Ye to swelling, press hot salt on top to fumigate/warm, directing heat downward to dissipate swelling. *Baopuzi*: During Emperor Cheng of Han's reign, hunters on Mount Zhongnan saw a naked person covered in black hair, jumping across ravines like flying. They ambushed and captured her, discovering she was a woman. She claimed to be a Qin palace maid who fled to mountains after Qin surrendered to rebels in Guandong. Starving, an old man taught her to eat pine and cypress leaves/seeds. Initially bitter, she adapted and no longer felt hunger. She endured cold winters and hot summers. She was a Qin person, and over 300 years had passed since Qin fell. *Lie Xian Zhuan*: Chi Songzi loved eating Bai Shi; lost teeth grew back. *Bieshuo*: According to Tao Hongjing, avoid cypress from tombs; currently, Qianzhou cypress is best. Large cypresses in Qianzhou originate from Qianling Mausoleum. Their wood always has patterns resembling Bodhisattvas, clouds, figures, birds, and beasts, clearly visible. A thief once stole a trunk one chi in diameter worth ten thousand coins; families in Guan-Shaan value it highly, justifying its superior fruit quality. Burning branch nodes yields oil/grease for treating chronic ulcers with worms. Applied 3-5 times to cattle/horses with mange/scabies, it heals completely.

*Yanyi* states: Cypress resin is used to treat horse mange, though pine resin is rarely seen in current practice. For elderly constipation due to deficiency, mix equal parts Baizi Ren, Da Ma Ren (Hemp Seed), and Song Zi Ren (Pine Seed), grind together, melt white beeswax, and form pills the size of Sophora seeds. Take 20-30 pills before meals with a small amount of Huang Dan (Lead Monoxide) decoction. Having served in Shaanxi, I observed that even thousands of trees always point west. This wood is extremely hard, resistant to frost and snow, possessing the true qi of wood, surpassing other trees. Thus, constrained by the true qi of metal, they all point west.