Pinyin Name: Bai Shao, Bai Shao Yao
English Name: White Peony Root
Properties: bitter, sour, cool
Channels Entered: Liver, Spleen

• Liver blood deficiency indicated by dull and pale complexion, dizziness, tinnitus and brittle, pale nails
• Blood deficiency or anemia

• Menstrual disorders with blood stagnation signs such as dysmenorrhea and clots, delayed onset or amenorrhea
• Menstrual disorders with cold sings such as cold extremities, dark purple clots, pain aggravated by cold, delayed menstruation
• Menstrual disorders with heat signs such as profuse flow of fresh red blood heat sensations or early menstruation
• Menstrual disorders with Liver qi stagnation, pre-menstrual syndrome, bloating, irritability, distended breasts
• Menstrual disorders with qi deficiency signs such as fatigue, weakness, pale and scanty menstruation
• Lower back pain or restless fetus due to Kidney deficiency
• Abnormal uterine bleeding

• Wind-cold with deficiency and perspiration
• Excessive perspiration caused by misuse of diaphoretic herbs

• Muscle spasms

• Liver yang rising due to deficient Liver yin and blood; symptoms can include dizziness, tinnitus, flushed face, red eyes, irritability, bad temper, headache, vertigo, poor balance
• Sever cases of Liver yang rising can include convulsions, delirium and loss of consciousness may occur
• Liver yang rising with Liver wind

• Pain and spasms in muscles, tendons and sinews from lack of nourishment
• Epigastric, hypochondriac or flank pain and spasms
• Sever epigastric or abdominal pain or cramps caused by liver overacting on the deficient cold middle jiao
• Numbness, spasms and pain in the limbs from blood deficiency
• Bi zheng (painful obstruction syndrome) due to coldness and blood deficiency
• Chronic bi zheng due to wind, cold and dampness with blood deficiency

• Mood swings, irritability, restlessness and bad temper associated with Liver qi stagnation and underlying Liver blood and yin deficiency

• Liver overacting on the Spleen creates stagnant qi with symptoms of borborygmus and abdominal pain that is relieved by diarrhea

• Dysentery disorders due to damp-heat accumulation in the lower jiao can result in burning diarrhea with rectal tenesmus and burning sensations

• Bai Shao is incompatible with Lu Lu
• Bai Shao is contraindicated in cases of middle burner yang deficiency with cold
• Contraindicated in patients with eczema or rashes from exterior wind attack with incomplete expression due to its astringent nature
• Contraindicated in postpartum patients with blood stagnation or for those who are still bleeding
• Use of Bai Shao may be associated with drowsiness and sedation. Exercise caution of driving or operating heavy equipment