The Benefits and Uses of Platycladus orientalis Leaves: Cooling the Blood, Stopping Bleeding, and Promoting Hair Growth and Darkening the Hair

Platycladus orientalis leaves are the dried branches and leaves of the cypress-family plant Platycladus orientalis (Chinese arborvitae). Platycladus orientalis is widely distributed in China and stays green all year round; it is often used as a tree for afforestation and courtyard ornamental planting, and its branches and leaves carry a fresh fragrance and are relatively easy to collect. As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Platycladus orientalis leaves are bitter and astringent in taste and rather cold in nature, with a long history of medicinal use, and in folk practice the fresh leaves are often pounded and applied to the affected area or boiled in water for external washing.

In terms of traditional effects, Platycladus orientalis leaves are best known for cooling the blood and stopping bleeding, and are mostly used for bleeding symptoms caused by blood heat, such as vomiting blood, nosebleeds and blood in the stool, often in combination with other bleeding-stopping herbs. In addition, they also have the effect of resolving phlegm and relieving cough, and can be used as an auxiliary treatment for cough due to lung heat.

In external use, the most widely known purpose of Platycladus orientalis leaves is hair care. Many people boil the leaves in water to wash their hair, hoping to improve greasy scalp, relieve hair loss and the problem of premature graying of the hair and beard; this kind of use is quite widespread in folk practice, but the results vary from person to person and require long-term persistence before any effect can be noticed.

It should be noted that Platycladus orientalis leaves are rather cold in nature, so people with weak and cold spleen and stomach should not take them in large amounts over a long period, and pregnant women and those with a weak constitution should use them with caution. When used as a medicinal herb, it is best to choose it under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist according to syndrome differentiation, and when used externally one should also pay attention to skin reactions; if discomfort occurs, stop using it immediately and consult a professional.