Today, let’s talk about Bai Shao (White Peony).
Bai Shao is considered one of the best herbs for nourishing women. It is said that women are like water, and Bai Shao, being gentle, can make women as tender as water.
What are the magical effects of Bai Shao? Bai Shao can tonify, astringe, soften, alleviate, drain, and stop.
Understanding these terms is not easy, so let’s unveil the mysteries of Bai Shao.
01Bai Shao can tonify, what does it tonify? Liver Yin and Liver Blood.
For women, the liver is paramount; they need to tonify Liver Yin and nourish Liver Blood, which is why women need Bai Shao.
Why can Bai Shao tonify Liver Blood? Because Bai Shao has a sour taste that enters the liver, transforming its juices into the body’s Liver Yin and Liver Blood.
Many friends may ask: How do we know Bai Shao is sour? Is it juicy?
If you chew a piece of Bai Shao, it primarily tastes bitter with a slight sourness. The bitter taste descends, while the sour taste astringes inward, indicating that Bai Shao’s action is to draw inward.
How do we know Bai Shao is juicy? The water boiled from Bai Shao is very thick, which is evidence of its juiciness.
02Bai Shao can astringe, what does it astringe? The excess heat of the upper jiao.
In modern times, many people have excessive Yang energy in the upper jiao due to stress from work and constant video consumption, leading to a state of hyperactivity and insomnia.
Bai Shao can draw back the excess energy from the upper jiao, calming it down, which is the astringing effect of Bai Shao.
03Bai Shao can soften, what does it soften? The liver.
The liver is a rigid organ, often associated with a straightforward nature. In contrast, men tend to have a more rigid liver, making them stubborn and less flexible.
To counter this rigidity, softness is needed, and Bai Shao is the best herb to soften the liver.
Although the liver is a rigid organ, the softer it is, the better. How do we know if a person’s liver is soft? It’s simple: observe their tendons, as the liver governs the tendons.
The softer the body, the healthier the liver.
People with stiff bodies or impulsive temperaments often have a rigid liver, which is why they need Bai Shao to soften it.
Xifeng Tongluo Headache Tablets
Xifeng Tongluo Headache Tablets have the effects of invigorating blood circulation, unblocking meridians, and calming the liver. They are used for migraines with liver wind and blood stasis, presenting as head swelling, stabbing pain, and throbbing pain, often in the forehead and temples, accompanied by dizziness, emotional distress, irritability, dry mouth, red tongue, or stasis spots, thin yellow coating, and wiry or slippery pulse.
The Bai Shao in the formula softens the liver, alleviates pain, and nourishes Yin, combined with Chuan Shao, Tian Ma, Bai Fu Zi, Bing Pian, and Chrysanthemum, can treat headaches caused by excessive liver Yang and internal wind.
04 Bai Shao can alleviate, what does it alleviate? Pain.
During acute inflammation, Bai Shao can be used to alleviate urgency. For example: acute enteritis, acute appendicitis, acute tonsillitis, etc.
Bai Shao can also relieve bodily tension. In cases of leg cramps, trembling fingers, tongue tremors, muscle spasms, and bruxism, Bai Shao can help alleviate this tension.
Additionally, Bai Shao can relieve all types of pain. Whether it’s headaches, toothaches, or the unbearable pain from cancer, Bai Shao can help reduce pain. Bai Shao is like a woman, soothing wounds and healing a wounded heart.
Therefore, while Bai Shao may not cure pain, it can alleviate it.
05Bai Shao can drain, what does it drain? Turbid fluids.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that Bai Shao has a diuretic effect, helping to expel turbid fluids from the body through urination.
Many friends may ask: Why is this so?
Because Bai Shao has a heavy texture, it naturally moves through the lower jiao system. Bai Shao’s bitter and spicy flavors open and descend, allowing the turbid fluids to be expelled from the bladder.
Bai Shao can also drain heat from the liver and gallbladder, expelling the fire through urination.
Mr. Zhang Xichun said: Bai Shao can draw back the excess heat from the upper jiao and expel it through urination, making it a key herb for Yin deficiency with heat and urinary difficulties.
So, if you have difficulty urinating or reduced urination, don’t forget about Bai Shao!
06Bai Shao can stop, what does it stop? Diarrhea.
As turbid fluids are expelled from the body, one pathway is through urination, and another is through the large intestine. If the urinary pathway is blocked, the fluids must exit through the large intestine, leading to diarrhea.
Moreover, if damp-heat accumulates in the large intestine, dysentery may occur.
The root cause is the obstruction of the pathways for water.
Bai Shao can promote urination while solidifying the stool, allowing the body’s fluids to follow their respective pathways: those meant for urination exit through the urethra, and those meant for defecation exit through the large intestine. This is the principle behind Bai Shao’s ability to stop diarrhea.
Bai Shao is indeed a fascinating herb, essential for nourishing and regulating the liver.
Many friends may be curious about how to use this wonderful Bai Shao.
Common Combinations of Bai Shao
Bai Shao and Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis) complement each other, generating new blood and tonifying liver blood and liver yin, making it suitable for those with liver blood and liver yin deficiency.
Bai Shao, Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), and Hong Hua (Safflower) work together to invigorate blood and are suitable for those with significant blood stasis.
Bai Shao and Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-Fried Licorice) can harmonize sour and sweet, alleviate urgency and pain, treating various acute conditions, and are also effective for abdominal pain and leg cramps.
Bai Shao, Bai Fu Ling (Poria), and Bai Zhu (Atractylodes) work together to strengthen the spleen, transform dampness, and replenish fresh moisture to cells, accelerating fluid metabolism and purifying the body, resulting in fairer skin.
Bai Shao and Zhu Ru (Bamboo Shavings) are used to treat vomiting and nosebleeds caused by rebellious fire.
Bai Shao and Fu Zi (Aconite) combine the sour cold of Bai Shao with the spicy heat of Fu Zi, creating a unique effect that can consolidate Yang energy in the kidney water.
Lastly, a reminder that there are two types of Peony: the white one is Bai Shao, and the red one is Chi Shao. Most prescriptions refer to Bai Shao, as it has a more comprehensive and superior effect compared to Chi Shao, which is better at invigorating blood.
The most authentic Bai Shao comes from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, known as “Hang Shao”.
Alright, that’s all for today’s sharing. This gentle Bai Shao can tonify, astringe, soften, alleviate, drain, and stop. Remember it well!
