Bai Shao (White Peony)
The “Book of Songs” states, “When a gentleman and lady jest with each other, they gift each other with peonies.” This phrase carries profound meaning; the affection between men and women is not only adorned with roses but also scented with peonies. Bai Shao is a uniquely characteristic flower, and among the flowers known for their medicinal properties, it is perhaps the only one. Bai Shao can nourish blood, regulate menstruation, soften the liver, and alleviate pain. It is widely used in the treatment of chest and abdominal pain, dysentery, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, and irregular menstruation, making it a truly effective medicinal herb.
What is Bai Shao?
Bai Shao is a blood-nourishing herb, first recorded in the “Shennong’s Herbal Classic.” Tao Hongjing classified it into two types: red and white, stating, “The best comes from Bai Mountain, Jiang Mountain, and Mao Mountain, with the white variety being larger. Other places also have it, but they mostly produce the red variety, which is smaller and less effective.” It has the effects of nourishing blood, regulating menstruation, astringing yin, stopping sweating, softening the liver, alleviating pain, and calming liver yang. Now, let us learn more about this medicinal material.
Introduction to the Herb
Alias: Bai Shao Yao (White Peony Root) as recorded in the “Compendium of Materia Medica”; Jin Shao Yao (Golden Peony) as noted in “Anqi Sheng’s Method of Medicinal Preparation.”Taste and Properties: Bitter, sour, slightly cold. Enters the liver and spleen meridians.Main Functions and Indications: Nourishes blood, regulates menstruation, astringes yin, stops sweating, softens the liver, alleviates pain, and calms liver yang. Used for blood deficiency, menstrual irregularities, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, flank pain, abdominal pain, limb cramps, headaches, and dizziness.Category: Tonifying herbs – Blood tonics.Source: This herb is the dried root of the plant Paeonia lactiflora Pall. from the Ranunculaceae family. It is harvested in summer and autumn, cleaned, with the head and tail and fine roots removed, boiled in water, and then peeled or boiled again before drying.
Bai Shao also has an interesting folk legend, let’s take a look!
Hua Tuo, a master of medicine, also loved to plant herbs to distinguish their authenticity. One day, a guest gifted him peony flowers, saying they grew wild and might be medicinal. Hua Tuo planted them under his window for careful observation. However, as the years passed, the peony flowers bloomed quietly, and Hua Tuo found them ordinary, failing to recognize their use.
One night, under the moonlight, Hua Tuo was studying under his lamp. Suddenly, he heard weeping outside the window. Listening closely, he realized it was a woman sobbing. Hua Tuo was puzzled and went outside to search, only to see a woman in green standing by the peony flowers, tears in her eyes. Hua Tuo inquired repeatedly, but the woman remained silent, her figure gradually disappearing. Hua Tuo looked back and suspected it was the spirit of the peony flowers.
The next day, Hua Tuo told his wife about this incident. His wife laughed and said, “Husband, your medical skills are superb, but perhaps you have not fully explored the uses of this flower. Why not investigate its properties further?” Hua Tuo nodded in agreement, yet still harbored doubts.
Another day, his wife accidentally cut her finger, and the blood flowed uncontrollably. Hua Tuo hurriedly took medicine, but none were effective. His wife smiled and said, “Why not try that peony flower?” Hua Tuo suddenly realized, quickly dug up the peony root, crushed it, and applied it to the wound. In an instant, the bleeding stopped.
Hua Tuo was overjoyed, realizing that this flower could not only stop bleeding but also invigorate blood, relieve pain, nourish, and regulate menstruation. Thus, it was recorded in the “Qing Nang Jing” as “Peony Flower.” From then on, the name Bai Shao spread far and wide, especially the variety from Qiaoling (present-day Bozhou), which was highly praised. Hua Tuo, due to this incident, became even more dedicated to herbal medicine, elevating his medical skills to a higher level.
Do you know the applications and combinations of Bai Shao?
1. Used for irregular menstruation, excessive bleeding. Bai Shao is combined with Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong), and Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia Glutinosa) to nourish blood and regulate menstruation, as in the Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction). In cases of excessive bleeding, stopping the bleeding is urgent, as in the “Jiyin Gangmu,” where Bai Shao is combined with He Ye (Lotus Leaf) to astringe yin, clear the liver, and cool the blood to stop bleeding.2. Used for wind-cold spontaneous sweating and aversion to wind. Combined with Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) to release the muscle and induce sweating, achieving the function of harmonizing Ying and Wei, as in the Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) from the “Treatise on Febrile Diseases.”3. Used for flank pain and abdominal pain caused by liver qi stagnation and blood deficiency, as well as limb cramps and pain. Bai Shao has the ability to soften the liver, relieve urgency, and alleviate pain. For flank pain, it is often combined with Dang Gui, Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala), and Chai Hu (Bupleurum) as in the Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder).4. Used for symptoms of liver yang rising, headaches, and dizziness. Bai Shao is combined with Sheng Di (Rehmannia), Niu Xi (Achyranthes), and Dai Zhe Shi (Hematite) as in the Jian Ling Tang (Building the Ridge Decoction) from the “Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu.”
Various discussions on Bai Shao exist among different schools of thought
1. “Shennong’s Herbal Classic”: “It treats abdominal pain due to evil qi, removes blood stasis, breaks up masses, treats cold and heat hernias, stops pain, promotes urination, and benefits qi.”
2. “Bie Lu”: “It promotes smooth blood circulation, alleviates pain, disperses evil blood, expels stagnant blood, removes water qi, benefits the bladder and intestines, resolves abscesses, treats seasonal cold and heat, evil qi, abdominal pain, and low back pain.”
3. “Newly Revised Materia Medica”: “It benefits good blood.”
Which regions produce Bai Shao?
Mainly produced in Bozhou, Anhui, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and Heze, Shandong, primarily cultivated varieties. Guizhou, Henan, Hunan, and Shaanxi also produce and sell nationwide.
Did you know Bai Shao has multiple uses?
Bai Shao has various processed forms.
1. Stir-fried Bai Shao, with its cold nature moderated, primarily used to nourish blood and harmonize the Ying, astringe yin, and stop sweating. Used for blood deficiency, pale complexion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, spontaneous sweating, and night sweats.
2. Wine-prepared Bai Shao, with reduced cold and sour properties, enters the blood level, good for regulating menstruation and stopping bleeding, softening the liver, and alleviating pain, used for liver qi stagnation and blood deficiency, flank pain, abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, and limb cramps.
3. Vinegar-prepared Bai Shao, with the strongest effect of guiding the herb into the liver, astringing blood, nourishing blood, and soothing the liver to relieve depression.
4. Soil-fried Bai Shao can borrow the earth’s energy to enter the spleen, enhancing blood nourishment and stopping diarrhea, suitable for liver excess and spleen deficiency, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Expert Introduction
Tao Jiyang, Deputy Chief Pharmacist of the Pharmacy Department at Zhengzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
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Provided by: Traditional Chinese Medicine Development Department
Zhengzhou Health Commission
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Coordinated by: Zhang Hao, Lin Kun
Edited by: Peng Yun, Mei Jie, Dan Yang
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