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Paeoniae Radix Rubra

Red peony [root]

赤芍 〔赤芍〕 chì sháo

Alternate Chinese names: 赤芍药 chì sháo yào; 木芍药 mù sháo yào; 臭牡丹皮 chòu mǔ dān pí; 红芍药 hóng sháo yào

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Paeonia lactiflora Pall.; Paeonia veitchii Lynch. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin in unofficial sources: Paeonia lactiflora Pall.* [= P. albiflora Pallas var. trichocarpa Bunge.]; Paeonia obovata Maxim.; Paeonia veitchii Lynch; Paeonia anomala L.; Paeonia obovata Maxim. var. willmottiae (Stapf) Stern; Paeonia hybrida Pall.; Paeonia mairei Lévl.

Use: Medicinal

Category: Heat-clearing agents / Heat-clearing blood-cooling agents

Properties: Bitter; slightly cold.

Channel entry: Liver channel.

Actions and indications:

Dosage and method: Oral: 6–15g in decoctions; also used in powders and pills.

Warnings: Unsuitable for vacuity cold patterns and should not be used for amenorrhea due to blood cold. It is traditionally said to clash with lí lú (Veratri Nigri Radix et Rhizoma).

Quality: Long roots without bark, with deep rough grain the best. They should be white and farinaceous on the cut edge.

Production area: Paeonia lactiflora: Inner Mongolia, Zhèjiāng, ānhuī, Héběi, Sìchuān. Paeonia obovata: Hēilóngjiāng, Jílín, Liáoníng, Inner Mongolia, Xīnjiāng, Héběi, Gānsū. Paeonia veitchii: Sìchuān, Yúnnán, Guìzhōu, Shānxī.

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