Bai Shao (White Peony)【Alias】Bai Shao Yao, Hang Shao, Dong Shao, Shao Yao, Chao Bai Shao, Bai Shao Tan, Jiu Chao Bai Shao, 【Taste and Properties】Bitter, sour, slightly cold. Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. Can ascend and descend.【Classification】Common blood tonic【Functions and Indications】1. Tonifies, nourishes blood, regulates menstruation, used for women’s menstrual irregularities, abdominal pain during menstruation, and blood deficiency with pale complexion. 2. Calms the liver and alleviates pain, used for disharmony of liver qi, pain in the hypochondrium, abdomen, or spasms in the limbs. 3. Suppresses liver yang, used for hyperactive liver yang, headaches, and dizziness. 4. Astringes yin and stops sweating, used for spontaneous sweating and night sweats.【Dosage】Decoction; 6-15 grams. For abdominal pain, use the raw form; for other uses, use the fried form. Chi Shao (Red Peony) has similar indications to Bai Shao, but Bai Shao has the ability to astringe yin and nourish the blood, while Chi Shao disperses pathogens and promotes blood flow; Bai Shao can drain wood from earth, while Chi Shao can activate stagnation in blood. Not suitable for use with Li Lu.【Source】The root of the perennial herbaceous plant Paeonia lactiflora Pall. of the Ranunculaceae family. Cultivated in Zhejiang, Anhui, Sichuan, and other regions. Harvested in summer and autumn, cleaned of soil and lateral roots, peeled, blanched in boiling water or slightly boiled until evenly heated, and then dried. When used, soak and slice. Raw, wine-fried, or dry-fried. Fried Bai Shao: Take clean slices of Bai Shao, stir-fry with bran until slightly yellow, and sift out the bran. Bai Shao Tan: Take clean slices of Bai Shao, stir-fry until the outside is charred black and the inside is old yellow. Wine-fried Bai Shao: Take clean slices of Bai Shao, spray with 15% yellow wine, mix well, and stir-fry until dry.【Other Information】”Shennong’s Herbal Classic”: “Bai Shao, taste bitter and neutral. It treats abdominal pain due to evil qi, eliminates blood stasis, breaks up cold and heat accumulation, hernia, stops pain, promotes urination, and benefits qi. It grows in river valleys and hills.” “Compendium of Materia Medica”: “Stops diarrhea and abdominal pain after heavy use.” “Essentials of Materia Medica”: “Nourishes blood, drains liver, benefits spleen, astringes liver yin, treats abdominal pain due to blood deficiency.” “Seeking Truth in Materia Medica”: “Chi Shao and Bai Shao have similar indications, but Bai Shao has the ability to astringe yin and nourish the blood, while Chi Shao only disperses pathogens and promotes blood flow; Bai Shao can drain wood from earth, while Chi Shao can activate stagnation in blood.” “Justification of Materia Medica”: “Bai Shao supplements blood and benefits the true yin of the liver and spleen, while restraining the scattered qi of the spleen and the rampant qi of the liver; Chi Shao drives blood and breaks stasis, promoting downward movement. Therefore, Bai Shao nourishes yin and blood, moistens the liver and spleen; Chi Shao activates blood flow and dispels stasis, and clears heat toxins.” It is also said: “Bai Shao is bitter and slightly sour, which can benefit the yin of the spleen and restrain the dispersing qi, also nourishing the liver yin and calming the rebellious qi.” Wine-soaked Bai Shao enters the spleen meridian, benefiting the spleen, draining the gallbladder, and draining the liver.【Properties and Meridians】Bitter, sour, slightly cold. Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians.【Functions】Nourishes blood, astringes yin, softens the liver, alleviates pain, and calms liver yang. Nourishes blood, regulates menstruation, astringes yin, stops sweating, softens the liver, alleviates pain, and calms liver yang. Used for blood deficiency with pale complexion, menstrual irregularities, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, hypochondriac pain, abdominal pain, limb spasms, headaches, and dizziness.【Dosage】Decoction, 6-15g; large doses 15-30g.【Precautions】Not suitable for use in cases of yang deficiency and cold. Avoid with Li Lu.【Storage】Store in a dry place, prevent insect infestation.【Remarks】It is generally believed that in terms of efficacy, Bai Shao excels in nourishing blood, regulating menstruation, astringing yin, and calming liver yang; Chi Shao excels in clearing heat, cooling blood, activating blood flow, and dispelling stasis. In application, Bai Shao treats blood deficiency and yin deficiency, while Chi Shao treats blood heat, blood stasis, and liver fire. Both Bai Shao and Chi Shao can relieve pain and can be used to treat painful conditions. However, Bai Shao excels in nourishing blood, softening the liver, and alleviating pain, primarily treating hypochondriac pain, abdominal pain, and limb spasms due to liver yin deficiency and blood deficiency; while Chi Shao excels in activating blood flow and dispelling stasis, primarily treating pain due to blood stagnation, especially suitable for blood heat and stasis conditions.
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