Peony Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Peony Root, known in Chinese as 赤芍 (Chìsháo) and scientifically as Radix Paeoniae Rubra, 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 Mu Shaoyao, Chi Shaoyao, and Hong Shaoyao. It is the root of plants from the Paeoniaceae family: Paeonia lactiflora Pall. or Paeonia veitchii Lynch. It is produced in most regions nationwide. Harvested in spring and autumn, the roots are dug up, with rhizomes, fibrous roots, and soil removed, then sun-dried.

[Properties] Bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature. Enters the Liver meridian.

[Actions] Clears heat and cools the blood; activates blood circulation and removes blood stasis.

[Applications]
1. Used for warm-heat pathogens penetrating the blood level, causing blood heat with vomiting blood or nosebleed, purpura and dark purple spots, crimson tongue with prickles. Often combined with Rhinoceros Horn, Rehmannia glutinosa, and Cortex Moutan, as in the formula Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang (犀角地黄汤).
2. Used for blood stasis causing amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, especially when stasis and heat are combined. Commonly paired with Angelica sinensis, Cortex Moutan, and Ligusticum chuanxiong, as in Tao Hong Si Wu Tang (桃红四物汤). For irregular menstruation and infertility, often combined with Leonurus japonicus and Angelica sinensis.
3. Used for Liver Qi stagnation with hypochondriac pain, abdominal masses, and traumatic swelling and pain. For Liver Qi stagnation with hypochondriac pain, often combined with Lysimachia christinae, Toosendan Fructus, and Corydalis rhizome; for abdominal masses and lower abdominal pain, combined with Sparganium rhizome and Salvia miltiorrhiza; for traumatic swelling and pain, combined with Persicae Semen, Carthami Flos, and Boswellia.
4. Used for red swollen painful eyes and carbuncles or abscesses. For eye redness and swelling caused by Liver heat or wind-heat, often combined with Chrysanthemum and Saposhnikovia root; for carbuncles and ulcers, combined with Lonicerae Flos, Trichosanthes fruit, and Gleditsia spine.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 6–12 g; or incorporated into pills or powders.

[Cautions] Contraindicated in cases of blood deficiency without stasis and in suppurated carbuncles. Antagonistic with Veratrum.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Red Peony Root contains paeoniflorin, paeoniflorin lactone glycoside, oxidized paeoniflorin, benzoyl paeoniflorin, paeonilactone, and new paeoniflorin glycosides. It also contains gallic tannins, α-catechin, benzoic acid, volatile oils, fatty oils, resins, sugars, starch, mucilage, and proteins.
2. Pharmacological effects: Red Peony Root can dilate coronary arteries and increase hypoxia tolerance; it dilates blood vessels in pulmonary heart disease, lowers pulmonary artery pressure and vascular resistance, increases cardiac output, and improves cardiac function and hemorheology. The isolated compound paeoniflorin (α-catechin) has antiplatelet aggregation, antithrombotic, coronary flow-increasing, experimental myocardial ischemia-protective, and microcirculation-improving effects; it also lowers blood lipids and has anti-atherosclerosis effects. The n-butanol extract (Red Peony D) has antitumor effects possibly related to increasing cAMP in cancer cells; it has sedative, anticonvulsant, and analgesic effects; paeoniflorin has good anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects; it inhibits both humoral and cellular immunity; protects against D-galactosamine-induced liver injury in rats; inhibits bacteria including Shigella, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus, Bordetella pertussis, Staphylococcus, α- and β-hemolytic streptococci, Pneumococcus, and Vibrio cholerae; also inhibits some fungi; decoction (1:40) inhibits Coxsackie B virus and herpes virus in vitro.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Coronary heart disease: Using Red Peony Decoction (raw herb 1000 g, water 4000 ml, decocted in a large pot to 2000 ml, then concentrated to 1000 ml), 40 ml per dose, three times daily, for 5 weeks per course, two courses total. Among 125 cases, general symptoms improved after two courses; of 93 angina cases, 72 were controlled recently, 18 improved, total effective rate 96.8%. [Zhongji Yikan, 1984,(9):49]
2) Acute cerebral thrombosis: Using Red Peony 801 (gallic acid lactone) 180 mg added to 5% or 10% glucose solution 250–500 ml IV once daily; among 263 cases, 106 cured, 98 markedly effective, 38 improved, 21 ineffective; total effective rate 92.01%. [Zhongxi Yijie Zazhi, 1986,6(9):561]
3) Acute icteric hepatitis: Using Red Peony 100 g and Salvia miltiorrhiza 30 g decocted to 200 ml, taken orally twice daily for 10 days per course; 25 cases treated, cured within 3 courses. [Tiedao Yixue, 1989,(3):183]
4) Acute mastitis: Using Red Peony and Glycyrrhiza each 50 g; for abundant purulent discharge add Astragalus 30 g; for local eczema and itching add Kochia scoparia 20 g; for breast tuberculosis with mastitis add Manis pentadactyla 10 g and Laminaria 20 g. One dose daily, decocted and taken in two portions after meals, 3 days per course; 102 cases treated, all cured in short term, maximum 7 doses, minimum 2 doses. [Hunan Zhongyi Zazhi, 1990,6(5):17]