Chì Sháo · Red Peony Root
Chì Sháo (赤芍, Red Peony Root) is a herb of Cool nature and Bitter flavor, in the “Blood Moving” category. Tradition uses it to cool blood and stop bleeding, Activate blood and disperse stasis, Reduce inflammation and pain.
Energetic profile
- Pinyin name
- Chì Sháo
- Characters
- 赤芍
- Botanical name
- Paeonia lactiflora Pall.
- Family
- Paeoniaceae
- Part used
- Root
- Nature
- Cool
- Flavor
- Bitter
- Meridians
- Liver, Spleen
- Category
- Blood Moving
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- Pregnancy
- Avoid
- Origin
- China, Mongolia, Siberia
Actions according to tradition
- Cool blood and stop bleeding
- Activate blood and disperse stasis
- Reduce inflammation and pain
Traditional uses
- Heat in the blood with skin rashes and hemorrhages
- Blood stasis with abdominal pain
- Pain due to obstruction of the canals
- Red and painful eyes due to liver heat
- Appendicitis and intestinal abscess
Studied effects and current applications
- Cools the heat in the blood level
- Disperses blood stasis and relieves pain
- Anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties
- Reduces fever in febrile illnesses with heat in the blood
- Hepatoprotector
Applications under investigation
- Enfermedades cardiovasculares
- Hepatitis and liver disease
- Menstrual disorders due to blood stasis
- Chronic inflammation
- Autoimmune conditions with heat in the blood
An effect being investigated does not mean it has been proven in humans.
Contraindications and adverse effects
Absolute contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Active bleeding without blood stasis
- Blood deficiency without stasis
Relative contraindications
- Anticoagulants
- Surgery (suspend 2 weeks before)
- Spleen deficiency with diarrhea
- Pregnancy
- CONTRAINDICATED in pregnancy. It activates the blood and can cause abortion.
- Breastfeeding
- Use with caution during breastfeeding.
- Children
- Use with caution in children for hot blood conditions.
- Older adults
- Useful for elderly people with blood stasis. Caution with tendency to bleeding.
Possible adverse effects
- Excessive bleeding at high doses
- gastric upset
When to stop
- Sangrado aumenta
- Confirmed pregnancy
- Before surgery
Interactions with medications
| Group | Drugs | Severity | Effect and recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulants | Warfarin, Aspirin, Clopidogrel | Moderate | Additive antiplatelet effect - increased risk of bleeding Monitor INR and bleeding time. |
| AINE | Ibuprofeno, Naproxeno | Mild | Complementary anti-inflammatory effects Generally safe at normal doses. |
With other herbs
- mu_dan_pi Classic combination to cool the blood and inactivate heat in the blood
Reference dose
- Decoction
- 6-12 g daily
- Powder
- 2-4 g daily
- Acute use
- 1-2 weeks
- Chronic use
- 2-4 weeks
- Maximum
- With supervision in chronic use
- Children
- Use with caution in children.
Forms of preparation
Boil 6-12g in 3 cups of water for 30-40 min. Drink warm twice a day.
Blood heat, blood stasis, red eyes
Take 2-4g in warm water.
Conveniencia
Approximate doses from the literature; they are not a prescription. Consult a professional.
Active compounds
Monoterpene (paeoniflorin) and phenolic (paeonol) glycosides
Monoterpene glycoside · Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic
COX-2 and 5-LOX inhibition, GABA-A receptor modulation · 1.5-3.5% in dry root
Phenylpropanoids · Anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, analgesic
Inhibition of platelet aggregation, blockage of calcium channels · 0.5-2.0%
Monoterpene glycosides · Hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory
Hepatocyte apoptosis inhibition, ALT/AST reduction · 0.3-1.0%
Hydrolyzable tannins · Astringent, antioxidant
Protein precipitation, free radical scavenging · 2-5%
Harvesting and processing
- Harvest
- Summer (June-August), 3-5 year old plants
Paeonia lactiflora roots with reddish skin (red cultivars). They are washed, the outer bark is removed and dried in the sun or with gentle heat. Different from Bai Shao (white) in color and more mobile-cold action.
Unpeeled or partially peeled root, sliced and dried. It is not boiled like Bai Shao to preserve more mobile action.
Formulas it appears in
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
