Paeonia veitchii

Traditional uses Paeonia veitchii is employed in the Chinese pharmacopoeia as the root of chishao—particularly the northwestern chishao—and is documented in several modern Chinese materia medicas for blood‑activating applications. According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020, volumes for crude drugs), the sliced root is used in decoctions to move blood and relieve pain in cases of bruises, traumatic injuries, and menstrual pain. In the Chinese Herbal Materia Medica by Bensky et al., the root of Paeonia veitchii is recorded among the sources used for “disperse blood stasis” and “clear heat from blood,” with the same preparation approach as for chishao generally (decoctions of sliced root). The article “Traditional Chinese medicine by the ethnic groups of Yunnan” by Li et al. notes the use of Paeonia veitchii (called danzhong chishao) in Tibetan communities of northwest Yunnan for trauma and menstrual discomfort, again mainly as a decoction or as a ground poultice applied to bruises.

One practical recipe To make a traditional decoction, soak 6–12 g of sliced Paeonia veitchii root in cold water for 30 minutes, bring to a boil, and simmer 20–30 minutes; strain and drink the warm decoction once or twice daily. For a simple tincture using the Chinese monograph tradition, macerate 100 g of sliced root in 500 mL of 45% ethanol (1:5 w/v) for 2 weeks with daily shaking, then strain; typical internal doses are 2–3 mL two or three times a day. Safety: do not exceed recommended doses and avoid using during pregnancy. Because chishao interacts with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, consult a healthcare professional if you take blood thinners or are about to undergo surgery.

Active constituents Paeonia veitchii root contains monoterpene glycosides such as paeoniflorin and albiflorin, and the water‑soluble polysaccharides described by Jiang et al. are characteristic for this species. These compounds support the root’s recorded blood‑circulating and anti‑inflammatory actions.

Modern relevance Current research on Paeonia veitchii focuses on its paeoniflorin and the related aglycone paeoniflorigenone, and on safety evaluations in the Chinese literature; the dried root remains widely available from Chinese herbal suppliers and is actively used in contemporary TCM formulas and in ethnobotanical practice across northwestern China and Yunnan.

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