Mu Dan Pi (Cortex of the Peony Tree Root)

Herb 5 of 11 in Herbs that Cool the Blood

Channels:

HT, LIV, KI

Properties:

Spicy, Bitter, Cool

Latin:

Cortex Radicis Moutan

Chinese:

牡丹皮

Tone Marks:

mŭ dān pí

Chinese Herb Actions

• Clears Heat and Cools the Blood
  For heat in the Blood causing nose bleed, vomiting with Blood, Bloody phlegm, subcutaneous bleeding, and heavy menstruation.
• Clears Fire from Yin Deficiency
  For Yin deficiency symptoms, especially without sweating.
• Invigorates the Blood and Removes Stagnation
  For abdominal tumors, bruises, lumps, and amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea.
• Calms Liver Fire
  For headache, rib pain, or eye pain.
• Reduces Swellings
  Used topically to drain pus and reduce firm sores. Used internally for intestinal abscesses.

Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions

• Contraindicated in pregnancy, Yin deficiency with excessive sweating, and diarrhea. Some traditional sources say this herb is not to be used with Bulbus Fritillariae (bei mu), Semen Cuscutae Chinensis (tu si zi), Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (da huang), and is not to be taken when using garlic.

Herb-Drug Interactions

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Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose

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Chinese Herb Dosage

• 6-12 grams.
• Part used: root-bark.

Chinese Herb Notes

• Used raw to more effectively cool the blood, charred to stop bleeding, and dry-fried to remove stasis.

This Herb Appears in the Following Formulas:

• Da Huang Mu Dan Tang (Rhubarb and Moutan Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Purge Heat Accumulation
• Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan (Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill)
  Category: Formulas that Warm the Menses and Dispel Blood Stasis
• Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet)
  Category: Formulas that Warm and Tonify the Yang
• Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia)
  Category: Formulas that Nourish and Tonify the Yin
• Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang (Artemisia Annua and Soft Shelled Turtle Shell Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat from Deficiency
• Qing Re Zhi Beng Tang (Clear Heat and Stop Excessive Uterine Bleeding Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Stop Bleeding
• Qing Wei San (Clear the Stomach Powder)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat from the Organs
• Qing Wen Bai Du Yin (Clear Epidemics and Overcome Toxins Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Relieve Toxicity
• Shi Hui San (Ten Partially Charred Substances Powder)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Stop Bleeding
• Wen Jing Tang (Warm the Menses Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Warm the Menses and Dispel Blood Stasis
• Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang (Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat from the Nutritive Level and Cool the Blood
• Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang (Nourish the Yin and Clear the Lungs Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Enrich the Yin and Moisten Dryness