Peony Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Peony Root, known in Chinese as 白芍 (Báisháo) and scientifically as Radix Paeoniae Alba, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Peony Root carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Peony Root helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Peony Root provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Peony Root has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Peony Root, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as White Peony or Golden Peony. It is the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., a plant of the Paeoniaceae family. It is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Anhui, Sichuan, and other regions. The roots are harvested in summer and autumn, washed clean, with the head, tail, and fine roots removed. They are then boiled in water to remove the outer skin or peeled before boiling again, and finally sun-dried.

[Properties] Bitter and sour in taste, slightly cold in nature. Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians.

[Actions] Nourishes the blood and harmonizes the Ying (nutritive) Qi, softens the Liver and relieves pain, calms Liver Yang.

[Applications]
1. Used for Liver blood deficiency with irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, accompanied by pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, etc. Often combined with Angelica sinensis (Danggui), Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuanxiong), Rehmannia glutinosa prepared root (Shudihuang), as in the formula Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction). If blood deficiency with heat and irregular menstruation, it is combined with Scutellaria baicalensis (Huangqin), Phellodendron amurense (Huangbai), Dipsacus asper (Xuduan), as in Baoyin Jian. For persistent metrorrhagia, it may be combined with Artemisia argyi (Ai Ye), donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao), etc.
2. Used for Liver Qi stagnation with blood deficiency causing pain in the hypochondria, epigastric and abdominal pain, and limb cramps and pain. To treat Liver Qi stagnation with blood deficiency and hypochondriac pain, it is often combined with Angelica sinensis, Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), Bupleurum chinense (Chaihu), as in Xiaoyao San. For postpartum abdominal pain with fullness and restlessness, it may be combined with Citrus aurantium (Zhishi), as in Zhishi Shaoyao San. For painful menstruation, it may be combined with Angelica sinensis, as in Danggui Shaoyao San. If Liver and Spleen disharmony causes epigastric and abdominal spasmodic pain or blood deficiency causes limb cramps and pain, it is combined with Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gancao), as in Shaoyao Gancao Tang, which is the basic formula; cinnamon (Rougui) may be added if cold is present, or Scutellaria baicalensis if heat is present. For abdominal pain and diarrhea due to Liver hyperactivity and Spleen deficiency, it is often combined with Atractylodes macrocephala, Citrus reticulata (Chenpi), Saposhnikovia divaricata (Fangfeng), as in Tongxie Yaofang. For heat diarrhea with abdominal pain, it may be combined with Scutellaria baicalensis, as in Huangqin Tang.
3. Used for Liver Yang rising causing headache and dizziness, often combined with Rehmannia glutinosa raw root (Sheng Dihuang), Achyranthes bidentata (Niuxi), Hematite (Daizheshi), as in Jian Ling Tang. This herb can also be used for Liver heat causing red, swollen, painful eyes or eye cataracts, often combined with Bupleurum chinense, Cassia tora (Juemingzi), and Vaccaria segetalis (Qingxiangzi).
4. Used for spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency and night sweating due to Yin deficiency. For exterior wind-cold with disharmony of Ying and Wei Qi causing sweating and aversion to wind, it is often combined with Cinnamomum cassia (Guizhi) to harmonize Ying and Wei Qi, as in Guizhi Tang. For night sweating due to Yin deficiency, it is combined with Dragon bone (Longgu), Oyster shell (Muli), and floating wheat (Fuxiaomai).

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 6–12 g; or incorporated into pills or powders. To calm Liver Yang, use raw; to nourish and soften the Liver, use stir-fried.

[Cautions] Not suitable for use alone in cases of deficiency cold. Contraindicated with Veratrum (Li Lu).

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: The root contains paeoniflorin, oxypaeoniflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin, albiflorin, paeoniflorigenone, gallic acid paeoniflorin ester, β-10-pinene-β-glucopyranoside, new paeoniflorin derivatives, paeonolactone, β-sitosterol, carotenoid glycosides. It also contains dextrorotatory catechin and volatile oils, with main volatile components including benzoic acid and paeonol.
2. Pharmacological effects: White Peony root has significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects; its decoction inhibits bronchial and uterine smooth muscle contractions and antagonizes oxytocin-induced uterine contractions; paeoniflorin has preventive effects on stress ulcers, vasodilatory and hypotensive effects; it enhances both cellular and humoral immunity; total paeony glycosides significantly improve animal hypoxia tolerance and prolong survival time under decompression hypoxia; the decoction inhibits Jingke 681 virus and herpes virus in vitro.
3. Clinical reports: (1) Rheumatoid arthritis: An open clinical trial with total paeony glycosides was conducted on 29 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, administering large doses of 12–18 g daily for 8 weeks. Results showed significant efficacy in relieving clinical symptoms and improving laboratory indices. [Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin, Supplement 1994, 10(3):197] (2) Habitual constipation: Raw White Peony 24–40 g combined with raw Glycyrrhiza uralensis 10–15 g, decocted and taken orally. Treatment of 60 cases showed rapid effectiveness. [Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1983, (8):79]