Botanical Name: Paeoniae Radix alba
Bai Shao
Category: Tonify the Blood
Taste: Bitter, Sour
Temperature: Slightly Cold
Channels Entered: Liver, Spleen
Dosage: 6-15g
Key Characteristics: Tonifies the Liver blood, extinguishes wind, stops pain, nourishes the Liver and Spleen yin.
Cautions & Contraindications:
- None noted
Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes the blood and regulates the menses: for blood deficiency with such symptoms as menstrual dysfunction, vaginal discharge, and uterine bleeding accompanied by a pale, lusterless complexion, and dull, lusterless nails. This herb is very commonly used in the treatment of women’s disorders.
- Calms and curbs the Liver yang and alleviates pain: for such symptoms as flank, chest, or abdominal pain from either constrained Liver qi or disharmony between the Liver and Spleen. In general, this herb is used to ‘soften and comfort’ the Liver, stop painful spasms in the abdomen, stop cramping pain or spasms in the hands and feet, and alleviate abdominal pain associated with dysenteric disorders. It is also used for headache and dizziness due to ascendant Liver yang.
- Preserves the yin and adjusts the nutritive and protective levels: for spontaneous sweating, vaginal discharge and spermatorrhea, as well as exterior wind-cold from deficiency patterns with continuous sweating that does not resolve the problem.
