Botanical Index No. 250

Chinese Peony

paeonia lactiflora

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Antiaging, Antiaggregant, Antiallergic, Antianaphylactic, Antiatherogenic, Antibacterial, Anticholinergic, Anticonvulsant, Antidiaphoretic, Antiedemic, Antifatigue, Antiherpetic, Antiinflammatory, Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Antiradicular, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antistress, Antitestosterone, Antitumor, Antiulcer, Antiviral, Astringent, Cardioprotective, CNS-Depressant, Fibrinolytic, Fungicide, Hepatoprotective, Hypotensive, Immunostimulant, Memorigenic, Myorelaxant, Phagocytotic, Tonic, Sedative, Uterocontractant

Primary Conditions Treated

Bitter Vasodilator Allergy Amenorrhea Anaphylaxis Angina Appendicitis Arthrosis Bacteria Bleeding Boil Bruise Burn Cancer Carbuncle Cardiopathy Contusion Convulsion Cramp Dementia Dermatosis Diarrhea Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Eczema Enterosis Epilepsy Erythema Fatigue Fever Flu Fungus Gastrosis Gingivosis Headache Hepatosis Herpes High Blood Pressure Hot Flash Immunodepression Infection Infertility Inflammation Insomnia Leukorrhea Measles Menopause Metrorrhagia Migraine Mycosis Nervousness Night Sweats Pain Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Senile Dementia Sore Swelling Systremma Tumor Ulcer Uterosis Vertigo Virus Wound

General Dosage

1 tsp flower/cup water; 20 g root/750 ml water sipped through the day; Chinese report 3–12 g peony root; 2–6 g dry root/day or 4–12 ml fluid extract; 6–15 g standardized for paeoniflorin.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. No peonies were approved by Commission E but they did say, “No risks known”. The Physicians Desk Reference was a bit more explicit regarding P. officinalis, “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. “Side effects that may occur, particularly in cases of over dosages, include gastroenterosis with vomiting, colic, and diarrhea”.

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