Paeoniae lactiflora, Chinese Peony, Shao Yao 芍药White Peony, Bai Shao 白芍
Red Peony, Chi Shao 赤芍 |
|
P. lactiflora
The Botanical Register, Edwards & Lindley, 1815
The Botanical Register, Edwards & Lindley, 1815
Slices of wild, unsulphured White Peony Bai Shao (Adam, Chengdu Medicine Market, 2017)
Botanical name:
TCM uses 2 types of herbaceous Peony, designated 'Red' and 'White' (based on the color of their root):
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, neutral in respect of dryness. Bitter, Sour.
The Red Peony is colder.
Classification:
White: N. Blood Tonic
Red: B. Clears Heat, Cools the Blood
TCM uses 2 types of herbaceous Peony, designated 'Red' and 'White' (based on the color of their root):
- White: Bai Shao Yao: Paeonia lactiflora, P. albiflora
- Red: Chi Shao Yao: P. lactiflora, P. veitchii, P. obvata
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, neutral in respect of dryness. Bitter, Sour.
The Red Peony is colder.
Classification:
White: N. Blood Tonic
Red: B. Clears Heat, Cools the Blood
ADVERTISEMENT:
Uses:
WHITE CHINESE:
1. Nourishes the Blood:
-signs of deficient blood, including pale face and tongue, fatigue, dizziness, headache
-menstrual dysfunction, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea.
-'good for treating all sorts of feminine diseases including ante- and postpartum diseases'. (Da Ming)
2. Calms and Soothes the Liver, Eases pain:
-a wide range of Liver disorders with symptoms such as pain in the chest, flank or abdomen, and also headaches, dizziness, irritability etc from Liver dysfunction.
-Spasms in the abdomen and cramps of the extremities.
-Wind disorders associated with Yin or Blood deficiency
3. Restrains and Consolidates the Yin and Body fluids:
-leukorrhea, spermatorrhea.
-various types of sweating from deficiency, including Yin deficient night sweats, and spontaneous sweating
-Hectic Fever from Yin deficiency (Zhen Quan)
4. Benefits Spleen, Increases Qi:
-'reinforces Qi'. (Shen Nong Ben Cao, Da Ming)
-treats Spleen deficiency. (Wang Haogu)
-'reinforces the Five Viscera and tones the Kidney'. (Zhen Quan)
RED CHINESE:
1. Moves the Blood, Clears Blood Stasis:
-amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea
-abdominal pain
-headaches with fixed pain.
-various types of injury due to internal or external trauma to help ease the swelling and pain. (stir-fried in wine is best)
2. Clears Heat, Cools the Blood:
-when heat enters the blood during fevers, manifesting as purple blotches on the skin, red skin rashes etc.
-bleeding from strong heat in the blood.
-In TCM, Red Peony is often added to formulas where strong blood cooling medicines are used to prevent the blood stasis that can accompany such treatment.
3. Clears Liver Heat:
-red, swollen and painful eyes from Liver heat.
Dose:
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams
Comment:
... available in PRO version
Corrective:
... available in PRO version
Preparation:
... available in PRO version
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams
Comment:
... available in PRO version
Corrective:
... available in PRO version
Preparation:
... available in PRO version
Main Combinations:
Peony & Licorice
WHITE CHINESE PEONY:
1. To Nourish the Liver and Blood:
i. Paeonia Bai Shao is combined with Dang Gui to nourish the Blood and regulate menstruation
ii. to nourish the Blood, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
2. To strengthen the Spleen, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
3. Menstrual cramping and pain Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
4. To help expel Measles, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
5. To warm, the channels and expel humidity, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
6. Spontaneous Sweating, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
7. Weakness after Childbirth Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
8. Abdominal pain and cramping, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
9. To soothe the Liver, move Qi, for abdominal pain and cramping, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
10. Dysentery:
i. Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
ii. with Blood, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
11. Health Tonic to nourish Qi and Blood, Paeonia Bai Shao (5 parts) with ... available in PRO version
RED CHINESE PEONY:
1. Menstrual pain and clotting from Qi and Blood stasis, Paeonia Chi Shao, ... available in PRO version
2. For stronger Blood stasis add ... available in PRO version
3. Hypochondriac or abdominal pain, Paeonia Chi Shao, with ... available in PRO version
4. Bruising and Trauma, Paeonia Chi Shao, with ... available in PRO version
5. Liver Heat, Paeonia Chi Shao, with ... available in PRO version
Major Formulas
Gui Zhi Tang
Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang
Fu Zi Tang
Zhen Wu Tang
Xiao Qing Long Tang
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang
Si Ni San
Si Wu Tang
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Dang Gui Shao Yan San
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Bai Zhu Shao Yao San
ADVERTISEMENT:
Peony & Licorice
WHITE CHINESE PEONY:
1. To Nourish the Liver and Blood:
i. Paeonia Bai Shao is combined with Dang Gui to nourish the Blood and regulate menstruation
ii. to nourish the Blood, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
2. To strengthen the Spleen, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
3. Menstrual cramping and pain Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
4. To help expel Measles, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
5. To warm, the channels and expel humidity, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
6. Spontaneous Sweating, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
7. Weakness after Childbirth Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
8. Abdominal pain and cramping, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
9. To soothe the Liver, move Qi, for abdominal pain and cramping, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
10. Dysentery:
i. Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
ii. with Blood, Paeonia Bai Shao with ... available in PRO version
11. Health Tonic to nourish Qi and Blood, Paeonia Bai Shao (5 parts) with ... available in PRO version
RED CHINESE PEONY:
1. Menstrual pain and clotting from Qi and Blood stasis, Paeonia Chi Shao, ... available in PRO version
2. For stronger Blood stasis add ... available in PRO version
3. Hypochondriac or abdominal pain, Paeonia Chi Shao, with ... available in PRO version
4. Bruising and Trauma, Paeonia Chi Shao, with ... available in PRO version
5. Liver Heat, Paeonia Chi Shao, with ... available in PRO version
Major Formulas
Gui Zhi Tang
Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang
Fu Zi Tang
Zhen Wu Tang
Xiao Qing Long Tang
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang
Si Ni San
Si Wu Tang
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Dang Gui Shao Yan San
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Bai Zhu Shao Yao San
ADVERTISEMENT:
Cautions:
WHITE CHINESE: not used for Cold Stomach and Spleen
RED CHINESE: not used for anemia from deficiency (weak Blood)
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the Roots and Flowers, Syrup of the Infusion of the Flowers, Extract of the dried Flowers, Conserve of the Flowers, Salt of the Ashes
WHITE CHINESE: not used for Cold Stomach and Spleen
RED CHINESE: not used for anemia from deficiency (weak Blood)
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the Roots and Flowers, Syrup of the Infusion of the Flowers, Extract of the dried Flowers, Conserve of the Flowers, Salt of the Ashes