Red Peony

Latin name: Radix Paeoniae Rubra

Chinese Name: Chi-Shao

Traditional Uses

Actions: Cleanses heat, cools blood, invigorates blood circulation, disperses stagnancy

Applications: Abdominal pain, subcostal pain, accumulation, obstruction of blood circulation, hernia, intestinal wind, swelling, hyperemia, amenorrhea

Pharmacology

(1) Tranquilizing effect: It inhibits the central nervous system, producing a tranquilizing action.

(2) Analgesic and anticonvulsive effects: It suppresses abdominal pain caused by spasms of the smooth muscle of the small intestine.

(3) Antibacterial effect: In vitro it inhibits dysentery bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus.

(4) Antiviral effect: It inhibits the virus causing epidemic common cold.

(5) Coronary artery-dilating effect: The aqueous extract dilates the coronary arteries.

Reference: Hung-yen Hsu, Ph.D. and Associates: Oriental Materia Medica A Concise Guide 1986, Keats Publishing