White Peony Root
白芍 · Báisháo
Paeonia lactiflora
Nature
Cool
Saveur
Bitter, sour
Meridian
Liver, Spleen
White peony root from Bozhou — the medicine capital of China — nourishes the blood and softens the liver, easing the tension and pain that arise from liver blood deficiency. It is one-quarter of the foundational Si Wu Tang blood formula and the key herb for soothing cramps and spasms anywhere in the body.
🌿 Fonctions
- •Nourishes liver blood
- •Softens the liver and relieves pain
- •Restrains yin and stops sweating
- •Calms liver yang
📖 Usage
6–15 g in decoction, simmered 30 minutes; stir-fried with wine for stronger liver action.
🔬 Recherche moderne
Paeoniflorin, the signature monoterpene glycoside, is extensively studied for antispasmodic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects, with growing clinical interest in polycystic ovary and neuropathic pain models.
⚠️ Contre-indications
Avoid with deficiency-cold diarrhea. Traditionally antagonized by Veratrum (li lu).
