Botanical Index No. 395

European Peony

paeonia officinalis

Medicinal Actions

Alterative, Analgesic, Antidiuretic, Antiherpetic, Antiinflammatory, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Astringent, CNS-Depressant, Depurative, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Hypertonic, Hypotensive, Immunostimulant, Laxative, Myorelaxant, Tonic, Uterocontractant, Uterotonic

Primary Conditions Treated

depression Inflammation Lichen Lunacy Mastosis Migraine Mucososis Nervousness Neuralgia Neurasthenia Neurosis Nightmare Odontosis Pain Pertussis Phlebitis Prolapse Proctosis Respirosis Rheumatism Sore Throat Spasm Splenosis Tumor Ulcer Uterosis Varicosis Virus Wound allergy arthrosis cardiopathy cramp enterosis gastrosis migraine neuralgia neurasthenia bronchosis dermatosis gout hemorrhoid Abortifacient Deobstruent Hemostat Poison Vasodilator Acne Allergy Arthrosis Asthma Bleeding Bronchosis Cardiopathy Childbirth Chorea Colitis Constipation Convulsion Cough Cramp Cystosis Dermatosis Diarrhea Dropsy Eclampsia Enterosis Epilepsy Epistaxis Excitability Gastrosis Gout Headache Hemoptysis Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Herpes High Blood Pressure Immunodepression

General Dosage

1 tsp flower/cup water; 30–40 grains seed for nightmare; 2 g seed; 3–12 g peony root; 1 oz root boiled in a pint of liquid; 1–30 drops root tincture; 0.3–0.6 g powder root for children; 5–15 drops tincture; 2–3 fluid oz 3–4 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. “Canadian regulations do not allow European peony as a nonmedicinal ingredient for oral use products”. 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”. “Because efficacy has not been documented, therapeutic use cannot be recommended”.

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