White Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
Paeonia lactiflora
Chinese Herbalism
Chinese Herbalism

White Peony

Paeonia lactiflora

Also known as Red Peony, Bai Shao, Chi Shao, sháo yào, chuān chì sháo, chì sháo.

CoolingMoisteningTaste: BitterTaste: SourTaste: AstringentTaste: Sweet

Distinguish Bai Shao (nourishing blood, yin tonic, liver soothing) from Chi Shao (invigorates blood, clears heat). Often combined with licorice (Si Wu Tang, Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang). Liver/Spleen meridians (TCM). Processed: wine-fried for pain, ginger-fried for digestion. Phytoestrogenic poor oral bioavailability of paeoniflorin. Used in RA (TGP), autoimmune. No EU monograph due to insufficient data

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Actions

AntispasmodicAnalgesicAnti-inflammatoryBlood tonicBlood moverHepatoprotectiveImmunomodulatorSedativeAntipyreticAntioxidantNeuroprotectiveUterine tonicAntihypertensiveAstringentNervineCarminativeDiureticExpectorant

Indications what the tradition reached for it in

Safety

Pregnancy: Pregnancy Caution

Breastfeeding: Lactation (source flag notSafeInLactation)

The record lists 4 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.

Dosing as the sources wrote it

PreparationAs writtenMetric
Decoction6-15g/day6000-15000 mg
Powder6-15g/day6000-15000 mg
Tincture (1:3-1:5)2-4ml TID2-4 mL
Capsule250-500mg TID (extract)250-500 mg
TGP extract600mg TID600-600 mg
Decoction: 6-15 g/day6000-15000 mg

Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.

From the sources

Clinical Notes. Distinguish Bai Shao (nourishing blood, yin tonic, liver soothing) from Chi Shao (invigorates blood, clears heat). Often combined with licorice (Si Wu Tang, Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang). Liver/Spleen meridians (TCM). Processed: wine-fried for pain, ginger-fried for digestion. Phytoestrogenic poor oral bioavailability of paeoniflorin. Used in RA (TGP), autoimmune. No EU monograph due to insufficient data

Clinical Notes. Radix Paeoniae Alba (peeled root) TCM chief herb for nourishing blood, soothing Liver qi, relieving spasms/pain Often paired with Glycyrrhiza (licorice) for synergy Distinguish from red peony (unpeeled, Chi Shao - more cooling, blood invigorating

chemotherapy-muscle-pain-relief. In an open trial of cancer patients suffering muscle pain due to paclitaxel and carboplatin therapy, adding shakuyaku-kanzo-to (peony with licorice) to the second course relieved the pain in 7 of 10 patients.

primary-actions. White Peony acts primarily as: Antispasmodic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Blood tonic, Blood mover, Hepatoprotective. Secondary actions include Immunomodulator, Sedative, Antipyretic, Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Uterine tonic.

In formulas

White Peony stands in 521 documented formulas in the library, among them gui thi má huáng gè bàn tàng, guì zhi èr yuè bì yì tāng, wù tóu gui zhi tāng, gé gên tāng, ging bí tāng, xião ging lóng tāng.

Often paired with

Licorice rootGlycyrrhiza glabraDong QuaiAngelica sinensisGingerZingiber officinaleSichuan Lovage RhizomeLigusticum chuanxiongRehmanniaRehmannia glutinosaPeonyPeonia officinalis

Nearby on the shelf

White LettuceNabalus AlbusWhite mugwortArtemisia lactifloraWhite mustardBrassica albaWhite Oak BarkQuercus albaWhite Pond LilyNymphaea odorataWhite quebrachoAspidosperma quebracho-blancoWhite SageSalvia apianaWhite snakerootEupatorium ageratoides

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