"April in the world"
But there is a flower
It is open in May
That's it – peony flowers
April and May every year
on social platforms
Many people began to dry the peony flowers they raised
▲ Image source: provided by netizens
Peony with color, fragrance and rhyme
In addition to being able to watch
It is also very medicinous
Its roots can be used as medicine
Different types have different effects
Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty said: "Peony, like a covenant, a covenant, a beautiful appearance." This grass flower is tolerant of grace, so it is named. ”
Peony is used as a root medicine, which was first published in the "Shennong Materia Medica". Tao Hongjing divided peony into white peony and red peony in the "Commentary on the Materia Medica".
▲ peony flowers. Image source: Provided by netizens
Both white peony and red peony are the dried roots of the ranunculaceae plant peony (red peony can also be derived from red peony).
- White peony is the root of peony after digging, washing, removing the head and tail and fine roots, boiling in boiling water to remove the outer skin, or peeling and then boiling, drying, the surface is white or light brown-red;
- Red peony is to remove rhizomes, fibrous roots and sediment, dry in the sun, the surface is brown.
White peony and red peony have the following effects:
White peony is slightly cold, bitter and sour, partial to replenish blood and yin, can nourish blood and regulate menstruation, collect yin and stop sweating, soften the liver and relieve pain, calm liver yang, used for blood deficiency and chlorosis, menstrual irregularities, self-sweating, night sweats, hypochondria pain, abdominal pain, limb cramps, headache and dizziness.
Red peony slightly cold, bitter taste, can clear heat and cool blood, disperse stasis and relieve pain, good at diarrhea and stagnation, used for hot blood, warm poison spots, vomiting blood, red and swollen eyes, liver depression and flank pain, amenorrhea dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain, fall injury, carbuncle swelling and ulcers.
The processing method is different
The efficacy is also different
Through different processing methods, the clinical efficacy and application of white peony and red peony are also different. Modern studies have shown that different processing methods have an impact on their composition, which plays a role in "reducing by-products and increasing efficiency" for medicinal materials.
※ Fried white peony is slightly slower, mainly to nourish blood and collect yin.
※ 麸炒白芍药性缓和，以调和肝脾为主。
※ Wine white peony can reduce its coldness, clear heat and cool blood, disperse stasis and relieve pain.
※ Vinegar white peony can enter the blood to collect blood and stop bleeding, soothe the liver and relieve depression, and astringent and relieve pain.
※ Stir-fried white peony can enhance its spleen and antidiarrheal function, calm the liver and relieve pain, nourish blood and regulate menstruation, and collect yin and stop sweating.
※ Pyeonia can alleviate its sour and cold properties, nourish blood and regulate menstruation, reduce yin and stop sweating, soften the liver and relieve pain, and calm liver yang.
▲ Stir-fried white peony
Its flowers can be used for health care
In addition to the roots, peony flowers also have the effect of invigorating blood through menstruation, nourishing blood and softening the liver, and have the reputation of "the flower of the female family" since ancient times.
▲ Image source: provided by netizens
- As a dietary therapy, in the Western Han Dynasty, there was "the face of the bear's foot, the sauce of the spoon of medicine" was a dish of stewed bear's paw dipped in peony sauce; in the Yuan Dynasty, one of the four famous teas, "Qiong Ya" was made of peony buds; in the Qing Dynasty, there was a record that "spring buds or petals, fried with noodles, the taste is crisp and beautiful".
- In modern times, it is the pursuit of peony flowers to make herbal tea, flower porridge, flower wine, flower cakes, flower soup, etc. to maintain health care.
Studies have shown that peony flowers are rich in trace elements such as zinc, iron and copper, as well as high content of proteins, polysaccharides, organic acids, phenols, astragalosides, gallic tannins and other compounds, which can supplement a variety of nutrients required by the human body.
Peony flower essential oil has a unique aromatic aroma and strong antioxidant activity.
▲ Image source: provided by netizens
In addition, white peony also has the effect of emollient whitening. The Ming Dynasty's "Introduction to Medicine" recorded that 5 grams of white peony, atractylodes, and white poria cocos, and 2.5 grams of licorice (Sanbai soup) can replenish qi and benefit blood when decocted in warm water, and make qi and blood smooth through the function of the viscera, which has a conditioning effect on rough skin, facial chlorosis, chloasma, pigmentation, and acne, so as to have the effect of moisturizing and whitening.
However, it should be noted that peony should not be used with quinoa, and its sour and cold astringent, can not be used after childbirth, spleen qi deficiency and cold, can not be used raw, or used in wine stir-frying.
Contribution | Pharmacist of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hu Li, Luo Mingchao
编辑 | 张芷莹 责编 | 张秀丽
Produced by the Guangdong Health Online all-media team