Bai Shao (白芍)
Tang Wang Zhenbai
Bai Shao flourishes in spring, envied by no peony.
How many days can the wheat autumn last, the Grain Rain is just slightly cold.
Jealousy arises frequently, delicate makeup reveals a desire to fade.
Hibiscus drapes with gauze, long-lasting sorrow separated by waves.
TCM Interpretation
【Source】This product is the dried root of the Ranunculaceae plant Bai Shao.
【Alias】Dong Shao, Bai Shao Yao, Shao Yao, Hang Shao.
【Properties】Bitter, sour, slightly cold.
【Meridians Entered】Liver (肝), Spleen (脾).
【Functions】Nourishes blood, regulates menstruation, astringes yin, stops sweating, soothes the liver, alleviates pain, and pacifies liver yang.
【Indications】Used for blood deficiency with sallow complexion, irregular menstruation, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, abdominal pain, limb cramps, headaches, and dizziness.
【Dosage】6~15g.
【Caution】Not suitable for use with Li Lu (藜芦).
baishao
Modern Pharmacology
Bai Shao mainly contains sterols, tannins, phenolic compounds, monoterpenes, paeoniflorin, oxidized paeoniflorin, and Bai Shao glycosides, which have liver-protective, hematopoietic, nephroprotective, sedative, antidepressant, gastrointestinal motility-regulating, anti-ischemic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
baishao
Chinese Patent Medicine
【Main Ingredients】Chai Hu (柴胡), Zhi Zi (栀子, ginger-fried), Mu Dan Pi (牡丹皮), Bo He (薄荷), Bai Shao (白芍), Dang Gui (当归), Bai Zhu (白术, wheat-fried), Fu Ling (茯苓), Gan Cao (甘草). Auxiliary ingredient is Sheng Jiang (生姜).
【Functions】Soothes the liver, clears heat, strengthens the spleen, and nourishes blood.
【Indications】Used for liver qi stagnation with blood deficiency, disharmony between liver and spleen, distension and pain in the flanks, dizziness, fatigue, poor appetite, irregular menstruation, and abdominal distension and pain.
【Precautions】
1. Avoid raw, cold, and greasy hard-to-digest foods.
2. Maintain an optimistic mood during medication, avoid anger and irritation.
3. Those with severe chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should take under medical guidance.
【Composition】Chai Hu (柴胡), Bai Shao (白芍), Zhi Shi (枳实), Zhi Gan Cao (炙甘草).
【Functions】Dissipates heat and resolves stagnation, soothes the liver and regulates the spleen.
【Indications】Used for heat-induced convulsions with cold extremities, abdominal and flank pain, and severe diarrhea.
baishao
Ancient Formula Applications
Si Wu Decoction (四物汤) from “Secret Formula for Treating Injuries”
【Composition】Shu Di Huang (熟地黄), Dang Gui (当归), Bai Shao (白芍), Chuan Xiong (川芎).
【Functions】Nourishes blood and regulates menstruation.
【Indications】Suitable for blood deficiency stagnation syndrome, symptoms include dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, pallor, irregular menstruation, scanty or absent menstruation, abdominal pain, and possibly hard masses, pale tongue, pale lips and nails, thin wiry or thin choppy pulse.
Gui Zhi Decoction (桂枝汤) from “Treatise on Cold Damage”
【Composition】Gui Zhi (桂枝), Bai Shao (白芍), Gan Cao (甘草), Sheng Jiang (生姜), Da Zao (大枣).
【Functions】Releases the exterior and resolves muscle layer, harmonizes nutritive and defensive qi.
【Indications】Suitable for exterior wind-cold deficiency syndrome, symptoms include aversion to wind, fever, sweating, headache, nasal congestion, dry retching, white tongue coating, no thirst, floating or weak pulse.
baishao
Nourishing Medicinal Cuisine
Si Wu Paste (四物膏)
【Preparation】Prepare 90g of Dang Gui, 60g of Chuan Xiong, 90g of raw Bai Shao, and 150g of Shu Di Huang. Place in a clay pot, add appropriate amount of water (about 3000ml), soak for 1 hour. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, strain the decoction for later use. Add water to the clay pot and repeat the process two more times, combine the three decoctions, filter, and pour into a pot, add 500g of brown sugar, simmer on low heat to form a paste, stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Once cooled, store in a clean glass jar in the refrigerator.
【Effects】Nourishes blood, regulates menstruation.
baishao
Identification and Application
Raw Bai Shao, Fried Bai Shao, Wine Bai Shao
Raw Bai Shao, Fried Bai Shao, and Wine Bai Shao are different processed varieties of Bai Shao:
Raw Bai Shao excels in nourishing blood and astringing yin, pacifying liver yang, used for blood deficiency, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, headaches, dizziness, as well as spontaneous sweating and night sweats.
Fried Bai Shao has a slightly milder nature, primarily nourishing blood and harmonizing, astringing yin and stopping sweating, used for blood deficiency with sallow complexion, abdominal pain, limb cramps, spontaneous sweating, and night sweats.
Wine Bai Shao has reduced sour and cold properties, enters the blood level, excels in regulating menstruation and stopping bleeding, soothing the liver and alleviating pain, used for liver qi stagnation with blood deficiency, flank pain, abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, and limb cramps.
BAISHAO
Text | Xie Ailing
Images | Internet (will remove upon request)
Layout | Wang Ling, Yang Lina
Review | Yang Lina