The medicinal part of Bai Shao is the root of Paeonia lactiflora, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine. As a dual-purpose medicine and food, Bai Shao has a bitter and cool taste and has the effects of nourishing blood, regulating menstruation, relieving pain, and treating liver disorders. It is mainly used for irregular menstruation, persistent pain, and other conditions. Let's take a closer look at the efficacy and functions of Bai Shao.
1. Nourishing Blood
Bai Shao has a bitter and sour taste, which has the effect of nourishing blood and soothing liver. It is especially effective in treating pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, menstrual disorders, and excessive bleeding caused by liver blood deficiency.
2. Clearing Heat and Drying Dampness
It is mainly used for abdominal pain caused by liver overactivity and weak spleen, liver-stomach disharmony, and stagnant liver qi (such as abdominal pain in peptic ulcer disease and gastritis, as well as liver area pain in hepatitis). Bai Shao can relieve spasms and soothe the "stubbornness" of liver qi, preventing it from causing pain. When combined with Chai Hu to clear liver and relieve depression, it has a better analgesic effect, such as in the prescription Si Ni San. For abdominal pain and tenesmus caused by dysentery, Bai Shao can be used with Mu Xiang and Bing Lang to regulate qi and relieve spasms, and Huang Qin, Chuan Lian, and other herbs can be added to enhance the antibacterial effect and clear heat and dry dampness, as in the prescription Shao Yao Tang.
3. Activating Blood Circulation and Dissipating Blood Stasis
The Yin and soft nature of Bai Shao also reflects its relieving and analgesic effects on acute conditions. Regular consumption of Bai Shao can help dredge meridians, activate blood circulation, and improve chest and abdominal pain or limb spasms caused by liver-spleen discomfort. When used with Gan Cao, it can be used to treat biliary colic, renal colic, gastrointestinal spasms, intestinal muscle spasms, and dysmenorrhea, effectively relieving various types of pain and discomfort.
4. Consolidating Yin and Stopping Sweating
Bai Shao enters the liver meridian and effectively inhibits excessive liver yang, providing good therapeutic effects for symptoms such as dizziness and blurred vision caused by hypertension and liver yang hyperactivity. In addition, Bai Shao also has the function of consolidating yin and stopping sweating, which is effective in treating external wind-cold, spontaneous sweating due to yin deficiency, and night sweats caused by evil wind.
5. Nourishing Blood and Relieving Pain
It is used to treat irregular menstruation and excessive bleeding with discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen. Bai Shao, with its blood-nourishing and pain-relieving properties, is often used in combination with Dang Gui and Shu Di to enhance the effectiveness of treating dysmenorrhea. In clinical practice, Bai Shao is commonly used in prescriptions for treating dysmenorrhea. It is also used to treat muscle spasms and convulsions in the limbs caused by blood deficiency, especially spasms in the calf muscles. It can relieve spasms and pain when used in combination with Gan Cao, as in the prescription Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang (experimental evidence has shown that the effective components of Bai Shao and Gan Cao have a synergistic effect when combined).
6. Soothing Liver and Calming Liver
It is used to treat dizziness and tinnitus caused by liver yin deficiency. Bai Shao is widely used for symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, numbness in limbs, muscle twitching, pale tongue, and thin or taut pulse caused by liver yin deficiency (commonly seen in chronic hepatitis, anemia, hypertension, and arteriosclerosis). It is often combined with other herbs that nourish yin and blood, such as Mai Dong, Dang Gui, and Shu Di, as in the prescription Bu Gan Tang. It is also used for post-febrile syndrome with depleted yin fluids and urinary difficulties. Bai Shao has a diuretic effect and is commonly used in such cases. It can also be used for excessive sweating due to yin deficiency.
