Bai Shao (白芍) is a natural Chinese medicinal material, derived from the underground roots of the peony plant (Paeonia lactiflora) of the Ranunculaceae family. After removing the outer skin, the roots are sliced and dried to obtain the medicinal product. It is known for its ability to invigorate blood circulation, reduce swelling and pain, and expel pathogens while consolidating the body’s defenses. Below is a detailed introduction to the effects and functions of Bai Shao, along with its consumption methods.

Effects and Functions of Bai Shao

1. Pain Relief

Pain relief is the most important effect of Bai Shao after it is processed for medicinal use. Bai Shao has significant nourishing blood and softening the liver effects, which can decrease the body’s sensitivity to pain. It is particularly effective for abdominal pain caused by liver qi stagnation. When treating this condition, it can be combined with other herbs such as Chai Hu (柴胡) for enhanced efficacy, leading to a rapid reduction in pain symptoms.

2. Prevention of Liver Yang Rising

Bai Shao is a herb that enters the liver meridian. It can pacify liver yang and prevent its excessive rising, which is beneficial for symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and vertigo caused by liver yang rising. When needed, it can be decocted alone or combined with herbs like Sang Ye (桑叶), Ju Hua (菊花), and Bai Ji Li (白吉利) to enhance its therapeutic effects, leading to quicker relief of discomfort.

3. Beauty and Skin Nourishment

Bai Shao has a mild nature and is known for its beauty-enhancing properties. It not only nourishes and replenishes blood, alleviating dull complexion, but also provides sufficient nutrition to skin cells, promoting their regeneration and reproduction. This can nourish delicate skin and slow down the aging process. For beauty purposes, Bai Shao can be consumed as a tea or ground into a fine powder and mixed with honey to create a facial mask.

Consumption Methods of Bai Shao

Bai Shao can be consumed in various ways. The simplest and most common method is to decoct it into a soup. It can be boiled alone or combined with other herbs according to a doctor’s guidance to maximize its medicinal effects. Additionally, Bai Shao can be stewed with pigeon meat, which helps alleviate excessive liver heat and strengthens the body’s immune system.

Bai Shao

This product is the dried root of the peony plant (Paeonia lactiflora). It is mainly produced in Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. The roots are harvested in summer and autumn, cleaned, and the heads and fine roots are removed. They are boiled in water to remove the outer skin or peeled before boiling, then dried. The best quality roots are those that are thick, long, firm, and free of white hearts or cracks. They are sliced thinly and can be used raw, stir-fried, or roasted with alcohol.

Identification of Traditional Chinese Medicine: This product is cylindrical, straight or slightly curved, with flat ends. The surface is whitish or light brownish-red, smooth or with longitudinal wrinkles and fine root marks. It is firm, not easily broken, with a relatively flat cross-section, whitish or slightly brownish-red, with distinct growth rings and radiating rays. It has a faint aroma and a slightly bitter, sour taste. Properties: bitter, sour, slightly cold. It enters the liver and spleen meridians.

Main Functions: Nourishes blood, regulates menstruation, astringes yin and stops sweating, softens the liver and relieves pain, pacifies liver yang. It is indicated for blood deficiency, menstrual irregularities, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, flank pain, abdominal pain, limb cramps, and headaches with dizziness.

Dosage: Decoction, 6-15 grams.

Precautions: Should not be used with Li Lu (藜芦). Not suitable for conditions of yang deficiency and cold.

Modern Pharmacology: The decoction of Bai Shao and paeoniflorin has antibacterial effects, inhibiting pathogens such as Shigella, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It also increases coronary blood flow, improves myocardial nutrition, dilates blood vessels, counters acute myocardial ischemia, inhibits platelet aggregation, and regulates blood sugar. Additionally, paeoniflorin has good antispasmodic, analgesic, hepatoprotective, and stress-enhancing effects.

Selected Formulas

1. For qi and blood deficiency, and unstable fetal condition: 3 grams each of Ren Shen (人参) and Huang Qi (黄芪), 1.5 grams each of Bai Zhu (白术) and Zhi Gan Cao (炙甘草), 3 grams of Dang Gui (当归), 2.4 grams each of Chuan Xiong (川芎), Bai Shao, and Shu Di Huang (熟地), 3 grams of Xu Duan (续断), a pinch of glutinous rice, 3 grams of Huang Qin (黄芩), and 1.5 grams of Sha Ren (砂仁). Decoct and take.

2. For constipation due to dryness and heat in the stomach: 20 grams of Ma Zi Ren (麻子仁), 9 grams of Bai Shao, 9 grams of Zhi Shi (枳实), 12 grams of Da Huang (大黄), 9 grams of Hou Po (厚朴), and 10 grams of He Shou Wu (否仁). Grind into a fine powder, mix with honey to form pills, take 9 grams each time, 1-2 times daily with warm water, or decoct as a soup.

3. For dysmenorrhea: 60 grams of Bai Shao and 24 grams of Gan Jiang (干姜). Grind into a fine powder, divide into 8 packets, take one packet daily during menstruation with yellow wine as a guide, for 3 consecutive weeks.

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