PEONY –Paeonia
Brownii, Paeonia Lactiflora, Paeonia Veitchii, Paeonia Suffruticosa, Paeonia
Officinalis, etc.
Also known
as: White Peony, Red Peony, Bai Shao, Coral
Peony, Mou-tan
Parts
used: root, flowers
Systems/organs
affected: liver, spleen, lungs, nervous system, female
reproductive, blood, cardiovascular, kidneys
Properties: antispasmodic, astringent, emmenogogue, blood
tonic, yin tonic, analgesic, anodyne, sedative, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary,
febrifuge, depurative
Peony is a member of the
Rununculaceae family. It is a perennial
with dark green leaves that are divided into lobed leaflets. It has red stems and several different color
variations of flowers. The roots are
fleshy and either red or white (referring to white or red peony-unlike most
assumptions it refers to the root color here rather than the flower color). While the root is most commonly used for
medicine, the flowers also have found a home in herbal kits with European
cultures. The tree peony is also
included in this class and rather than be a tree flower, it is in fact a bush
with very woody stems. The peony can get
up to 28 inches tall and grows wild throughout China, Tibet, Mongolia and
eastern Siberia. As it is a very popular
flower it can now be found throughout the globe.
Peony is perhaps one of the
oldest flowering herbs to be used as medicine dating back some 4000 plus years
in ancient Chinese texts. Peony was
actually named for the Greek physician Paion, who was reputedly the physician
or caretaker to the Gods. He used peony
quite often for maladies of all kinds.
The healing properties were later recorded by the Roman scientist Pliny
who used it for at least 20 different illnesses. Buddhist monks took it to Japan where they
developed a smaller, more delicate version in the 8th century. In China it is known as the ‘king of flowers’ and has been grown
there since 900 BC. The tree peony was
believed to bring riches and honor and was symbolic of spring’s arrival. The Chinese used both the tree peony and the
common peony for medicinal purposes.
They found within their studies that
peonies (Paeonia Lactiflora) yielded two separate kinds of medicine
which is commonly known today as Bai Shao (white peony) and Chi Shao (red
peony). The white peony was used for
circulation issues, menopause, as a liver tonic, for abdominal pain, menstrual
cramping and more while the red peony was used to relieve hot conditions
(fevers, sores, inflammation, etc.), to control bleeding and for eczema. In fact, it was used to treat eczema by the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital
in London, England. Tree peonies
(Paeonia Suffruticosa) were commonly used for gastro-intestinal issues,
bleeding, as an antibacterial and for pain management.
The early Europeans used the
common peony to ward off epilepsy (often used as a charm in that respect)
although it isn’t used much in that regard today. Herbalists do recognize a difference between
male and female peonies according to the plants appearance though. Female peonies have smaller, darker flowers
that are more divided and contain black seeds.
The female peony is also far more fragrant than its male counterparts. There are around 30 different species of
peony and it is widely prized for weddings and as an ornamental plant aside
from its medicinal uses.
Peony has been used by Asian cultures for centuries as a
medicinal. They have used it extensively
for childhood convulsions, epilepsy, whopping cough, chorea (abnormal
involuntary body movements) and as a blood tonic. Peony contains a glycoside called
paeoniflorin that has been found to act as an antispasmodic and a calming
agent. One study conducted on a
combination of licorice root and peony was found to relieve muscle cramping due
to diabetes, cirrhosis and dialysis.
Another one conducted on a formula containing peony root, dong quai and
a few other herbs, was found to reduce painful menstruation and cramping. Paeoniflorin was also found to improve mental
function in animals-possibly making it a promising aid for mental illnesses
like dementia and Alzheimer’s. Red peony
root has been found in Asian studies to have antioxidant activity. It was also found to contain
proanthocyanidins, flavonoids and of course, paeoniflorin. The root and bark also contain
polysaccharides that have been found to stimulate immune cells in lab tests. Red peony root was found to prevent liver
damage from chemical toxins-whether by itself OR in combination with other
herbs. An extract of the root was used
in a small study to reduce fibrosis in some patients with chronic viral
hepatitis. The Chinese use a combination
of peony extracts to help with thrombosis and excessive clotting. In one study done on rabbits it was found to
lower cholesterol. A small human study
confirmed this but more testing is required.
One study done on Mou-tan bark found it had a remarkable effect on
lowering one’s blood pressure. Peony may
also hold some promise for women with PCOS as it was found to improve fertility
in women suffering with this condition.
Peony was found to also contain paeonol, a compound found to have
anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory capabilities and used for skin
complaints and wound care. As a tonic it
has been used for gastrointestinal issues and as an antidote for
poisoning. An extract of the flowers is
said to be a skin regenerative and hair conditioner.
White peony has
a number of studies under its belt as well.
In June of 2010 a study was published on the antioxidant effects of
peony on the liver. The study published
in the ‘Archives of Pharmacol Research’ found that peony extract
protects the liver from oxidative stress.
A study published in ‘Die Pharmazie’ in August of the same
year found that peony inhibits blood coagulation. They found 18 different constituents that are
active in the blood protecting the cardiovascular system from excessive
clotting. In March of 2010 the results
of a study done on rats was published in ‘Phytomedicine’. The study found that an extract of peony root
reduced the urinary albumin in diabetics thus reducing the stress on the
kidneys. (This could help many a
diabetic escape dialysis-using other nutrient based options as well of course).
Peony has also
been used for fevers, gout, respiratory issues, upset stomach, neuralgia,
migraines, whopping cough, chronic fatigue, osteoarthritis and as an
abortifacient to name a few.
Of special
note: peony should NOT be used by
pregnant or nursing for the aforementioned reasons (uterine contractions,
etc). It should not be used by those
taking blood thinners or blood pressure medications. Do not use if scheduled for surgery as it may
increase the chance of bleeding-stop using at least 2 weeks before scheduled
surgery. Peony should be taken in short
spurts for most people-take up to 4 weeks and then let the body rest for a few
weeks before starting again as needed.
As always, consult a qualified physician before ever starting a new
regimen.
As is customary with my posts I am including some links herein for your perusal. Use them wisely. Stay strong and healthy!
