Radix Paeoniae Alba (Bai Shao) is also known by the common names White Peony Root and Peony. The herb is the root of the perennial herbaceous plants Paeonia lactiflora Pall. of family Buttercup. It is collected in summer and autumn, washed clean, peeled, boiled, and dried in the sun. Before use, they are soaked in water, cut into slices, and dried in the sun. The roots can also be processed. In TCM, the herb is bitter, sour in flavor and mildly cold in medicinal properties; it belongs to the category of herbs that Tonify the Blood.
Radix Paeoniae Alba nourishes Blood, regulate menstruation and preserve the Yin, nourish the Liver to calm Liver Yang and Liver Wind, softens the Liver, relieves pain, and eliminates blood stasis.
Effects: It is used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic drug in the treatment of amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, muscle spasm of neck, shoulder, face, abdomen, limbs and back, jerky legs, and pain in the chest and abdomen. It is also to treat dementia, headache, vertigo, liver disease, anemia, fever, diarrhea, borborygmus, dysenteric disorders with tenesmus, menstrual dysfunction, uterine bleeding, vaginal discharge, allergies, spontaneous perspiration, night sweat, and as an anticoagulant. It is also used in the treatment of atopic eczema, boils, and sores.
Health Benefits: Lowers blood pressure, dilates peripheral blood vessels, lower resistant, Dilates coronary arteries, Neutralizes the carcinogenic effect of aflatoxins. It has anti-spastic, anticonvulsant, analgesic, sedative and cardiovascular effects; and Antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and antiplatelet properties.