Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Medicine for Clearing Heat and Cooling Blood- Chi Shao
                
                          
                               Chi Shao
                   
                           Red Peony Root
                         Radix Paeoniae Rubra

This herb is the root of the perennial herb, Paeonia vetchii Lynch. and P.obovata Maxim. or P. lactiflora Pall. (Family
Ranunculacea , produced mainly in Inner Mongolia, Sichuan and Northeast China. The root is dug and collected in autumn,
dried after removing the stem, fibrous rootlets and rough bark, soaked to soften, and sliced.
Properties: Being bitter in flavour, slightly cold in nature, it acts on the liver channel. This herb is mainly acting on the-liver
channel and effective in blood. Its cold property clears away pathogenic heat from the blood, purges fire from the.
liver, and the bitter flavour relieves stasis and promotes blood circulation, so the herb has the functions of removing heat from
the blood, promoting blood circula- tion, and purging fire from the liver. It is indicated for blood-heat, blood stasis and the
syndromes caused by liver fire.
Effects: Removing pathogenic fire from the blood, dissipating blood stasis and relieving pain.
Indications:
1. For the syndromes caused by excessive heat in the blood division manifested as high fever, deep red tongue, maculs and
bleeding due to heat invasion of the blood. It is often used in combination with the drugs for clearing heat to cool the blood,
such as Xi Jiao (rhinoceros horn) and Di Huang (rehmannia root).
2. For the syndromes caused by stagnation in the blood division manifested in women as irregular menstruation or blood stasis
and swelling due to trauma, it is used in combination with the drugs for promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis,
such as Chuan Xiong (chuanxiong rhizome) and Dang Gui (Chinese angelica root).
3. For superficial suppurative infections caused by noxious heat, it is used in combination with clearing heat and detoxicating
herbs, such as Zhi Zi (capejasmine fruit), Pu Gong Yin (dandelion herb), Lian Qiao (forsythia fruit), etc.
In addition, it can also be used to treat conjunctival congestion due to liver fire, because it has the effect of purging fire from
the liver.
Dosage and Administration: 6 ~15 g .
Precautions: It is incompatible with hellebore root.
Modern Researches: Red peony root can create sedative, analgesic, and anti-spasmodic effects, and it has a significant effect
of inhibiting abdominal cramp caused by enterospasm. The herb also has the effects of lowering blood pressure,
anti-convulsion, anti-inflammation and ulcer prevention. The vitro testing reveals that the herb possesses potent inhibitory
activity against Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureaus, and influenza virus to a certain extent as
well.  (Aidus & E-fong herbal Solution)