Mǔ Dān Pí · Tree Peony Root Bark
Mǔ Dān Pí (牡丹皮, Tree Peony Root Bark) is a herb of Cool nature and Bitter, Pungent flavor, in the “Blood Moving” category. Tradition uses it to clear Blood Heat, Invigorate Blood, Clear Deficiency Heat.
Energetic profile
- Pinyin name
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Characters
- 牡丹皮
- Botanical name
- Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews
- Family
- Paeoniaceae
- Part used
- Root bark
- Nature
- Cool
- Flavor
- Bitter, Pungent
- Meridians
- Heart, Kidney, Liver
- Category
- Blood Moving
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- Pregnancy
- Avoid
- Origin
- China
Actions according to tradition
- Clear Blood Heat
- Invigorate Blood
- Clear Deficiency Heat
- Reduce Swelling
Traditional uses
- Blood heat with skin eruptions and purpura
- Blood stasis pain in lower abdomen
- Liver qi stagnation with blood stasis
- Bone-steaming fever without sweating
- Appendicitis and intestinal abscess
Studied effects and current applications
- Clears heat from the blood level
- Invigorates blood and disperses stasis
- Clears deficiency heat from yin deficiency without sweating
- Reduces inflammation and swelling
- Treats skin eruptions from blood heat
Applications under investigation
- Amenorrhea and menstrual disorders from blood stasis
- Anti-inflammatory conditions
- Cardiovascular protection
- Allergic conditions from blood heat
- Endometriosis
An effect being investigated does not mean it has been proven in humans.
Contraindications and adverse effects
Absolute contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Blood deficiency cold patterns
- Excessive bleeding tendency
Relative contraindications
- Excessive menstrual flow
- Lactation (large doses)
- Pregnancy
- Contraindicated in pregnancy. Blood-moving and heat-clearing nature can harm fetus.
- Breastfeeding
- Use cautiously during breastfeeding.
- Children
- Use cautiously in children for blood heat conditions.
- Older adults
- Safe for elderly with appropriate patterns. Monitor bleeding tendency.
Possible adverse effects
- Possible excessive menstrual flow
- Nausea
When to stop
- Bleeding increases
- Pregnancy confirmed
- Excessive cold symptoms
Interactions with medications
| Group | Drugs | Severity | Effect and recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulants | Warfarin, Aspirin | Moderate | Additive antiplatelet and blood-moving effects Monitor INR and bleeding time |
| Estrogen | Oral contraceptives, HRT | Mild | May affect estrogenic effects via paeonol Monitor hormonal status |
With other herbs
- sheng_di_huang Classic combination for blood heat with blood stasis
Reference dose
- Decoction
- 6-12 grams daily
- Powder
- 2-4 grams daily
- Acute use
- 1-2 weeks
- Chronic use
- 1-2 months
- Maximum
- Avoid in bleeding tendency
- Children
- Use cautiously in children.
Forms of preparation
Simmer 6-12g in 3 cups water 30-40 min. Take warm twice daily.
Blood heat, blood stasis conditions
Charred Mu Dan Pi (Mu Dan Pi Tan) stops bleeding. Use 6-9g in decoction.
Bleeding with blood heat
Approximate doses from the literature; they are not a prescription. Consult a professional.
Active compounds
Monoterpenoids (paeonol) and phenolic glycosides (paeonoside)
Acetophenone (phenolic monoterpene) · Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiplatelet, antiallergic, antipyretic
COX-2 and 5-LOX inhibition, mast cell degranulation block, TXA2 inhibition · 1-5% in root bark; main compound
Paeonol glycosides and monoterpene glycoside · Anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective
Hydrolysis to active paeonol, ischemic myocardial protection · 0.5-2%
Hydrolyzable tannins · Anticoagulant, antiviral, antioxidant, hemostatic (paradoxical dose-dependent)
Thrombin and factor Xa inhibition, viral protease inhibition, radical scavenging · 1-3%
Benzoylated monoterpene · Antitumor, anti-inflammatory
Apoptosis induction, NF-κB inhibition · 0.1-0.5%
Harvesting and processing
- Harvest
- Autumn (September-November), 3-5 year old plants
Tree peony root bark harvested in autumn. The root is extracted, the thick outer cortex and the central xylem are removed, leaving only the bark, which is the medicinal part. Anhui and Shandong are the main producers.
Root bark without central xylem, sliced and dried. Contains paeonol and paeoniflorin as main active ingredients. DO NOT heat excessively (paeonol is volatile).
Slices mixed with yellow wine and fried. Wine enhances blood activation and eliminates stagnation.
Fried slices over high heat until external charring. Enhances hemostatic action for heat bleeding.
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.
