Paeonia lactiflora / CHI SHAO YAO / Red Peony Root Cut

Description

Botanical Name – Paeonia lactiflora

Chinese Name – CHI SHAO YAO

English Name – Red Peony Root

Paeonia lactiflora, commonly called Red Peony, is a flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae family. Also known as Radix Paeoniae Rubra in Latin, in Traditional Chinese Medicine it refers to the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. or Paeonia veitchii Lynch. This herb is produced in most parts of China. Usually the medicinal roots are harvested in spring and autumn.

Difference between BAI SHAO and CHI SHAO

Bai Shao (White Peony Root) comes from one plant, Paeonia lactiflora, whereas official Chi Shao can come from two plants, P. lactiflora and P. veitchii.  The later only produces Chi Shao and is only found in the wild.  The former can produce either bai shao or chi shao and can be either cultivated or wild-crafted.  If it is cultivated and subjected to pao zhi (boiling and scraping off the root bark), it is bai shao.  If it is wild-crafted and used crude, it is chi shao.

In China, Bai Shao and Chi Shao are regarded as two separate medicinals.  Both use paeoniflorin content for quality control testing, but the standard minimum content of chi shao is higher than that of bai shao.

Medicinal Action and Uses

Blood Conditions – Its most important uses and indications are measles in epidemic heat syndrome, hematemesis, nosebleed, discharging fresh blood stool, sore red swollen eyes, swelling, abscesses and boils.

Circulatory – Red Peony Rootpromotes blood circulation, dispels blood stasis. Many sources classify this herb as a blood mover. It can be used to treat pain and swelling (including after trauma), dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, immobile abdominal masses.

Hepatic –  Because Chi Shao Yao is cold and bitter, it is able to reduce Liver-Heat.

Packaging

Product is supplied in Resealable Foil Bags.

Packaging

This product is packaged in protective foil bags. These keep the contents fresh and protected from moisture and light. Look out for the QR code on the label - you can scan this with your smartphone to download the Certificate of Analysis document for this product.

Cut Herbs

Cut herbs are herbs which have been harvested and then cut into smaller pieces, suitable for further processing. Cut herbs like Paeonia lactiflora / CHI SHAO YAO / Red Peony Root Cut can be used to produce tinctures or fluid extracts. They can also be used in herbal teas and infusions.