Táo Rén (桃仁), known in English as Peach kernel (Prunus persica (seed)), is a neutral, bitter and sweet Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Heart, Liver, Lung and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: breaks up Blood stasis strongly.
| Pinyin | Táo Rén (Tao Ren) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 桃仁 |
| English | Peach kernel |
| Botanical name | Prunus persica (seed) |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Bitter, Sweet |
| Channels | Heart, Liver, Lung, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 4.5–9g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; no Blood stasis; diarrhoea |
Actions
- Breaks up Blood stasis strongly
- Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels
- Stops coughing, calms wheezing (mild)
Indications
- Severe Blood stasis: amenorrhoea, appendicitis, masses
- Constipation from intestinal dryness
How to remember Táo Rén
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Bitter, Liver channel: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Lung channel: from its action “Stops coughing”
- Large Intestine channel: from its action “Moistens intestines”
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Sweet: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
- Heart channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Táo Rén
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Hóng Huā
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Chuān Niú Xī
- Huái Niú Xī
- Jiāng Huáng
- Yù Jīn
- Zé Lán
- Yì Mǔ Cǎo
- Wáng Bù Liú Xíng
- Jī Xuè Téng
- Gǔ Suì Bǔ
- Wǔ Líng Zhī
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Táo Rén?
Táo Rén is neutral and bitter and sweet.
Which channels does Táo Rén enter?
Táo Rén enters the Heart, Liver, Lung and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Táo Rén?
Breaks up Blood stasis strongly; Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels; Stops coughing, calms wheezing (mild).
What is Táo Rén used for?
Severe Blood stasis: amenorrhoea, appendicitis, masses; constipation from intestinal dryness.
Which formulas contain Táo Rén?
Xuè Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng, Gé Xià Zhú Yū Tāng, Shēng Huà Tāng and Táo Hé Chéng Qì Tāng.
Practise Táo Rén 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.