Bái Sháo (白芍), known in English as White peony root (Paeonia lactiflora), is a cool, bitter and sour Chinese herb from the Tonify blood category. It enters the Liver and Spleen channels. Its main action: nourishes Blood, regulates menses.
| Pinyin | Bái Sháo (Bai Shao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 白芍 |
| English | White peony root |
| Botanical name | Paeonia lactiflora |
| Category | Tonify blood |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Bitter, Sour |
| Channels | Liver, Spleen |
| Dosage | 6–15g |
| Cautions | Cold patterns; diarrhoea from Yang deficiency; incompatible with Lilu |
Actions
- Nourishes Blood, regulates menses
- Calms Liver Yang, relieves pain by softening Liver
- Preserves Yin, adjusts Ying and Wei
Indications
- Blood deficiency: pallor, menstrual irregularity, uterine bleeding
- Liver Yang rising headache
- Cramping abdominal or limb pain
How to remember Bái Sháo
Tonify blood herbs are mostly warm or hot and sweet, and most enter the Liver, Spleen, Heart and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Spleen channel: like most Tonify blood herbs
- Liver channel: from its action “Calms Liver Yang”
- Learn by heart
- Cool: unusual for Tonify blood herbs (most are warm or hot)
- Bitter: unusual for Tonify blood herbs (most are sweet)
- Sour: unusual for Tonify blood herbs (most are sweet)
Formulas containing Bái Sháo
- Guì Zhī Tāng
- Sì Wù Tāng
- Xiāo Yáo Sǎn
- Jiā Wèi Xiāo Yáo Sǎn
- Chái Hú Shū Gān Sǎn
- Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng
- Xiǎo Qīng Lóng Tāng
- Qīng Jīng Sǎn
- Dà Chái Hú Tāng
- Sì Nì Sǎn
- Tòng Xiè Yào Fāng
- Wēn Jīng Tāng
- Zhēn Wǔ Tāng
- Wū Tóu Tāng
- Dāng Guī Sì Nì Tāng
- Huáng Qí Jiàn Zhōng Tāng
- Bā Zhēn Tāng
- Shí Quán Dà Bǔ Tāng
- Rén Shēn Yǎng Yíng Tāng
- Bǎi Hé Gù Jīn Tāng
- Zhèn Gān Xī Fēng Tāng
- Dà Dìng Fēng Zhū
- Jiāo Ài Tāng
- Sháo Yào Tāng
- Má Zǐ Rén Wán
Other Tonify blood herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Bái Sháo?
Bái Sháo is cool and bitter and sour.
Which channels does Bái Sháo enter?
Bái Sháo enters the Liver and Spleen channels.
What are the actions of Bái Sháo?
Nourishes Blood, regulates menses; Calms Liver Yang, relieves pain by softening Liver; Preserves Yin, adjusts Ying and Wei.
What is Bái Sháo used for?
Blood deficiency: pallor, menstrual irregularity, uterine bleeding; Liver Yang rising headache; cramping abdominal or limb pain.
Which formulas contain Bái Sháo?
Guì Zhī Tāng, Sì Wù Tāng, Xiāo Yáo Sǎn, Jiā Wèi Xiāo Yáo Sǎn, Chái Hú Shū Gān Sǎn, Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng, Xiǎo Qīng Lóng Tāng, Qīng Jīng Sǎn, Dà Chái Hú Tāng, Sì Nì Sǎn, Tòng Xiè Yào Fāng, Wēn Jīng Tāng, Zhēn Wǔ Tāng, Wū Tóu Tāng, Dāng Guī Sì Nì Tāng, Huáng Qí Jiàn Zhōng Tāng, Bā Zhēn Tāng, Shí Quán Dà Bǔ Tāng, Rén Shēn Yǎng Yíng Tāng, Bǎi Hé Gù Jīn Tāng, Zhèn Gān Xī Fēng Tāng, Dà Dìng Fēng Zhū, Jiāo Ài Tāng, Sháo Yào Tāng and Má Zǐ Rén Wán.
Practise Bái Sháo and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.