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Latin pharmacognostic name: Paeoniae Radix Alba

Alternate Chinese names: 白芍药 bái sháo yào; 金芍药 jīn sháo yào

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin (other sources): Paeonia lactiflora Pall. [= P. albiflora Pallas var. trichocarpa Bunge.]

Use: Medicinal

Category: Supplementing agents / Blood-supplementing agents

Properties: Bitter, sour, sweet; slightly cold.

Channel entry: Liver and spleen channels.

Indications:

• Nourishes the blood and regulates menstruation: Menstrual irregularities or flooding and spotting due to blood vacuity or to yīn vacuity with heat.
• Emolliates the liver and relieves pain: Liver yīn vacuity, liver depression, or hyperactivity of liver yáng.
• Calms liver yáng: Headache or dizziness due to ascendant hyperactivity of liver yáng.
• Constrains yīn and checks sweating: Yīn vacuity night sweating; provisioning-defense disharmony (yíng-wèi bur hé) with exterior vacuity and spontaneous sweating.

Dosage & Method: Oral: 10–30g in decoctions. The raw form is generally used to calm the liver or constrain yīn, while stir-fried or wine-fried forms are preferred for nourishing the blood and regulating menstruation.

Warnings: Bái sháo is traditionally said to clash with lí lú (Veratri Nigri Radix et Rhizoma).

Quality: Long thick hard straight roots with a farinaceous texture are the best.

Product Area: Zhèjiāng, ānhuī, Sìchuān, and less importantly in Shāndōng, Guìzhōu, Húnán, Húběi, Gānsū, Shǎnxī (Shaanxi), Yúnnán, and Japan.

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