☯️Traditional Chinese Medicine🏮Taoist Herbal Medicine

White Peony (Bai Shao)

Paeonia lactiflora

About White Peony (Bai Shao)

White Peony (Bai Shao) (Paeonia lactiflora) is a herb used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoist Herbal Medicine traditions to help with Pain, Menopause, Anxiety, and Muscle Recovery, among 6 other conditions it addresses. The aerial parts and leaves are the parts traditionally used, taken internally.

Botanical background

Paeonia lactiflora (Chinese peony or common garden peony) is a species of herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Paeoniaceae, native to central and eastern Asia from eastern Tibet across northern China to eastern Siberia.

Source: Wikipedia, via iNaturalist

Parts used

Aerial Parts · internalLeaves · internal
🍵

Tea / Infusion

1–3 cups daily
  • Steep 1–2 tsp of dried White Peony (Bai Shao) in freshly boiled water for 5–10 minutes.
  • Cover while steeping.
  • Strain and drink.
💧

Tincture

20–40 drops in water, 2–3× daily
  • Pack dried White Peony (Bai Shao) into a jar and cover with 40–60% alcohol.
  • Seal and steep for 4–6 weeks, shaking daily.
  • Strain and store in a dark dropper bottle.
💊

Powder / Capsule

500 mg – 1 g, 1–3× daily
  • Grind dried White Peony (Bai Shao) into a fine powder.
  • Fill size 00 capsules or stir into smoothies or honey.
🛁

Herbal Bath

2–3× per week as needed
  • Brew 4–6 tbsp of White Peony (Bai Shao) in 1 litre of hot water for 15 minutes, strain, and add to a warm bath.
  • Soak for 20–30 minutes.

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy — may stimulate uterine contractions (avoid entirely)
  • Children under 12 — therapeutic dosage not established
  • Hormone-sensitive conditions (breast/ovarian cancer, endometriosis) — phytoestrogenic activity possible
  • Active liver disease — monitor liver enzymes with long-term use
  • CNS medications (benzodiazepines, SSRIs, MAOIs) — may potentiate sedative or serotonergic effects

Warnings

⛔ Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Avoid use during pregnancy or breastfeeding unless under direct supervision of a qualified healthcare provider.

⚠️ Sedatives & Antidepressants

May potentiate the effects of sedative, anxiolytic, or antidepressant medications. Use with caution alongside any CNS-active drugs.

⚠️ Liver Health

Some herbs used for liver conditions can be hepatotoxic at high doses. Have liver function monitored if using long-term.

⚠️ Allergic Reactions

Discontinue immediately if you experience rash, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing.

⚠️ Not Medical Advice

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal remedies.

Drug & herb interactions

May affect hormone levels

Watch for: Hormone therapies, oral contraceptives, and tamoxifen or similar medications

Some herbs have mild phytoestrogenic or hormone-modulating activity that can interact with hormonal medications.

May have a calming/sedative effect

Watch for: Benzodiazepines, sleep medications, other sedative herbs, and alcohol

Combined CNS-depressant effects can cause excessive drowsiness or impaired coordination.

Processed by the liver

Watch for: Any medication that is also processed by liver enzymes (ask your pharmacist — this includes many common prescriptions)

Can alter how quickly the body clears certain medications, raising or lowering their effective dose.

Where to find in nature

Native region

China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan

Climate

Temperate to subtropical

Habitat

Mountain forests, river valleys, and cultivated herb farms throughout East Asia

🌿 To see White Peony (Bai Shao) growing, visit botanical gardens, university plant collections, or specialist herb nurseries near you. If foraging in the wild, always work with an expert identifier — never consume a plant you are not 100% certain of.

Where to buy

In store

  • Chinese herbal medicine shops and TCM clinics
  • Chinatown herbal stores and Asian supermarkets with herbal sections
  • Health food stores (Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Holland & Barrett, GNC)
  • Naturopathic clinics and integrative medicine practices
  • Specialist herbal apothecaries and herbalist practices

Online

iHerb

Wide selection of standardised extracts, capsules, and powders with lab testing

Mountain Rose Herbs

Premium bulk dried herbs — certified organic, ethically sourced

Starwest Botanicals

Large selection of certified organic bulk herbs and powders

Herb Pharm

High-quality liquid extracts and tinctures, rigorous quality standards

Amazon

Convenient — verify brand certifications and check third-party testing

Etsy

Small-batch artisan herbalists, hand-harvested and wildcrafted herbs

Quality tips

When buying White Peony (Bai Shao), look for: certified organic labelling, clearly stated country of origin, third-party lab testing for heavy metals and pesticides, and a batch expiry date. Standardised extracts offer consistent dosing; bulk dried herbs are more economical for regular use. Avoid very cheap, unlabelled products — quality varies enormously.