Peony (Bai Shao)

Botanical Name: Paeoniae lactiflorae

A beautiful garden favorite, this flower is also a wonderful medicinal herb. It is especially known for treating female conditions associated with menstruation or menopause. It has a long history in Traditional Oriental Medicine for helping to nourish Liver Blood and Calm Yang.

Watch a short video, from Ann Christensen, Founder and Creator of White Rabbit Institute of Healing™ – Two Things You Gotta’ Know About White Peony.

Remember to check with your doctor before trying new medicines or herbal remedies, especially if you are taking other medication where drug interactions are possible.

Below is an overview of red jujube, combining the best of Western Science, Oriental Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Shamanism, Folklore, and a wide range of healing modalities. Gain a balanced and thorough understanding of the healing properties of red jujube.

Parts Most Frequently Used: Root, Petals

Flavors/Temps: Bitter, Sour, Slightly Sweet, Cool, Slightly Astringent

Caution: Considered safe used in proper dosing.

Key Constituents: Monoterpene Glycosides (including Paeoniflorin, and Albiflorin), Paeonol, Calcium, Copper, Astragalin, Tannins, Flavonoids

History/Folklore: In the Chinese tradition, it is said that women who use peony root teas on a regular basis will become as radiant and beautiful as the flower itself. It is said to make skin elastic and silky. White peony is one of the oldest remedies in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is always used in tandem with other herbs to support their function or as a counterbalance to their possible too strong actions.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), white peony is highly regarded for its emotional stabilizing benefits and ability to improve mental focus. In TCM, the Liver is associated with the Hun, your ethereal soul, that part of your being and psyche that is intuitive, psychic, and wanders at night in your dreams to bring back inspiration. By nourishing Liver Blood, white peony helps strengthen this important aspect of Liver function helping to calm, strengthen, and improve mental and emotional clarity.

Whtie peony is most often used as a blood tonic useful for treating stagnant Liver Qi, with symptoms that include, muscle spasms, irregular periods, abdominal pain. It is also used to treat infertility associated with PCOS, ovarian failure, and endometriosis. It is commonly paired with Licorice to promote fertility.

White peony is effective at supporting Liver Blood. Anemia, irregular menses, muscle spasms, cramping, restless leg syndrome, inflamed tendons, numbness, and muscle weakness, are all associated with weak Liver Blood. White peony is a premier herb for treating musculoskeletal problems associated with Liver Blood Deficiency. It is often combined with licorice root (LINK) to help treat these kinds of conditions.

White peony is also often used to counter the effects of blood deficiency caused by an excessive use of draining herbs. It will be added to many formulas to help counter the effects of these kinds of herbs when you need them.

White peony also has a unique ability to both nourish Liver Blood and subdue Liver Yang, making it the best remedy for headaches caused by Liver Blood deficiency and Liver Yang Rising. As a comparison, lavender can also direct Liver Qi (Yang) Downwards, but it does not also Nourish the Blood in the way that white peony does.

White peony has astringent properties that aid excess sweating and night sweats.

White peony is understood in Traditional Chinese Medicine to Pacify the Liver. This means it helps calm and cool the Liver, allowing the Liver to effectively fulfill its function of regulating the flow of Qi, and therefore also blood, throughout the body.

White peony helps nourish Liver Qi and Blood so there is enough of each to properly move through the body and for neither to become stagnant due to deficiency. The herb is often combined with bupleurum (Chai Hu) for this reason. Bupleurum has powerful draining and moving properties that can deplete blood over time. By adding white peony, blood is nourished and replenished allowing bupleurum to do a better job of getting things moving again, without causing depletion.

White peony roots are the peeled root and are white to pink in color, red peony root (Chi Shao) is from the same root but is unpeeled, retaining the outer layer and is red. White peony root is used most often. Both varieties have similar properties as well as slightly different strengths. White peony is considered to be more of a tonic to blood and Yin; the red variety is considered a better hemostatic and better at promoting circulation.

The name, peony, derives from the Greek name, Paeon, the physician of the gods, reputed to have discovered the medicinal properties of plants in this genus.

In China, peony petals are parboiled and sweetened for use as a tea-time delicacy, in summer salads, jams, or as a garnish in drinks. In the west, peony petals can be dried and used in potpourri or to scent baths with.

White peony tea is made from the leaves of Paeonia suffruticosa (Bai Mu Tan), a member of the peony family but a different plant from the flowers (Paeoniae lactiflorae). White peony tea is a popular type of white tea that can also boost the immune system and support heart health. The bark of this peony tree is also used as a medicine.