Herbs that Invigorate Blood and Remove Stagnation
Tao Ren 桃仁
Semen Pruni Persicae Peach Kernel
✓ CALE Exam ✓ National Exam
Materia Medica Data
- Temperature
- Neutral
- Nature & Flavour
- Bitter, Sweet, Neutral
- Channels Entered
- HT, LI, LIV, ST
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Semen Pruni Persicae
- Chinese
- 桃仁
- Tone Marks
- táo rén
Chinese Herb Actions
- Activates Blood Circulation, Breaks Blood Stasis Treats many blood stasis conditions including menstrual disorders, abdominal pain, trauma, flank pain, lung abscesses, intestinal abscesses with fixed abdominal mass, postpartum abdominal pain, and general sores and abscesses.
- Moistens Intestines, Unblocks the Bowels For Constipation due to dry intestines, chronic constipation with yin or blood deficiency.
Chinese Herb Dosage
- 4.5–9 grams in decoction (Bensky)
- 6-10 grams in decoction (Chen)
Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions
- Do not use during pregnancy
- Do not use in cases with Blood Deficiency
Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose
- This herb is toxic due to amygdalin content.
- Decoctions are less toxic than unprepared kernels.
- Peeled kernels are less toxic than unpeeled.
- For children 5 years old or younger, 5-10 kernels cause side effects and 20 kernels can be lethal.
- Symptoms resemble cyanide overdose: nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, general weakness, blurred vision, tachycardia, tachypnea, slow or irregular respiration, terror, oppressive feeling in the chest, loss of consciousness, incontinence, dilated pupils, absence of pupiliary reflexes, severe spasms or cyanosis, coma, and shock
Herb-Drug Interactions
- Tao Ren may interfere with Anti-Coagulating drugs.
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
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