Paeoniae Radix Alba
| Herb | Red peony, Red peony root, White peony root |
|---|---|
| Latin name | Paeoniae Radix Alba |
| Scientific name | Paeonia lactiflora Pallas |
| Origin | The root of Paeoniae Radix |
| Properties | Bitter, sour, and slightly cold. |
| Channels Targeted | Liver (肝) and Spleen (脾) meridians. |
| Efficacy | 淸熱凉血 祛瘀止痛 養血斂陰 平和肝陽 柔肝止痛 |
| Administration | Deficiency in blood and body fluids Stress-related pain, inflammation, and neuralgia |
| Dosage | 8~16g |
| Suitable Constitution | lesser yin(So-eum) person(소음인) |
| Unsuitable Constitution | lesser yang(So-Yang) person(소양인) |
Origin
- The root of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas is used as peony root.
- The flowers of peony can be white or red.
- The root of peonies with white flowers is known as white peony root, while the root of peonies with red flowers is known as red peony root.
- Most peonies have white flowers. (In the classic herbal text Shennong Ben Cao Jing, peonies were not differentiated into red and white.)
- Usually, white peony root is what is referred to simply as peony root.
- Red peony root has different effects and characteristics from white peony root.
- If one wishes to use red peony root, it should be clearly distinguished as such.
Properties and Channels Targeted
White Peony Root:
Bitter, sour, and slightly cold.
Acts on the Liver and Spleen meridians.
Red Peony Root
Bitter and cold. Acts on the Liver meridian.
Indications and Effects
It can be used to treat early-stage colds accompanied by fever and sweat, abdominal pain, edema, palpitations, and cold sensations by warming and promoting circulation.
Efficacy
- 청열양혈(淸熱凉血), 거어지통(祛瘀止痛), 양혈렴음(養血斂陰). 평화간양(平和肝陽), 유간지통(柔肝止痛)
Terms
- 청열양혈(淸熱凉血): a therapeutic method of using heat-clearing and blood-cooling medicinals to treat blood heat pattern/syndrome
- 양혈(養血): a therapeutic method to treat blood deficiency by using blood-tonifying medicinals, the same as to nourish or restore blood
- 간양(肝陽): yang qi of the liver, opposite to liver yin, referring chiefly to the warming, upbearing and coursingfreeing function of the liver
- 유간지통(柔肝止痛): a therapeutic method to treat liver yin deficiency or liver blood deficiency by using liver blood-tonifying and liver yin-replenishing medicinals
Recommended Dosage
- 8~16g can be steeped in boiling water to make tea.
- Soak in water for about 30 minutes to absorb moisture, then Boil for 1 to 1.5 hours before consumption.
Side Effects and Safety Rating
- Peony root is considered to have low toxicity.
- However, due to its slightly cold nature and its property of adding blood and body fluids,
- It may not be suitable for individuals with a deficiency in body fluids or without symptoms of blood heat,Leading to possible side effects like diarrhea.
- Peony root is widely used in famous tonics but is not recommended for prolonged use alone.(Long-term use should always be consulted with a healthcare professional)
Principles and Clinical Experience
Effect on the Liver Explained
Peony root, with its sour, bitter taste, and cold property, rushes to the Liver meridian, lowering Liver heat and nourishing Liver blood.
The Liver easily changes nature to Liver heat or blood heat when Qi is stagnant, and the flow of Qi can also reverse. When the energy of peony root reaches the Liver, Liver heat extinguishes, and the Liver Qi flows downward again.
Improving the flow of Liver Qi, which governs blood circulation, allows for the treatment of stasis and pain.
Red peony root, used mainly for improving blood circulation and relieving pain, tends more towards the Liver blood than white peony root.
Effect on the Spleen Explained
Peony root, despite being a blood-moving herb, has a strong property of gathering due to its Qi nature.
Peony root, with its sour and bitter taste, can gather body fluids while not being overly cold.
Thus, it rushes to the Spleen meridian, gathering and producing body fluids and blood.
The analgesic action of peony root not only resolves Liver Qi stagnation but also adds body fluids and nutrients to the muscles and Spleen, preventing pain.
It treats pain caused by muscle spasms and tension.
Peony root is a key component of famous tonics like Si Wu Tang, Ba Wei Tang, Shi Quan Da Bu Tang, and Ren Shen Yang Ying Tang, playing a leading role in enriching the body’s Yin.
Another representative prescription containing peony root is Xiao Yao San, Where peony root replenishes blood and body fluids, calming the muscles and alleviating pain.
Beneficial Constitution Peony root benefits the Spleen , enriching blood and body fluids, and is beneficial for the lesser yin(So-eum) person(소음인). Harmful Constitution Harmful for the lesser yang(So-yang) person(소양인) constitution. Not suitable for Tai-Yin constitution without Liver heat, as converging Qi to the Liver is a cause of illness in this constitution.
Suitable and Unsuitable Constitutions
White Peony Root(Bitter, sour, and slightly cold)’s properties benefits those with lesser yin(So-eum) person(소음인).
References
- KMCRIC 생약 up-to-date
- KIOM 본초감별도감 (사진)
- [본초학] 전국한의과대학 본초학공동교재편찬위원회
- [한의학대사전] 한의학대사전 편찬위원회
- [새로 쓴 사상의학] 유주열
- [동의보감]
- [본초비요 本草備要]
Disclaimers
The content provided here is for educational purposes and should not substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Always seek the guidance of a medical professional for medical treatments.
