Moutan bark (Mudanpi)
Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. (Fam. Ranunculaceae).
Pharmaceutical Name: Cortex Moutan
Botanical Name: Paeonia
suffruticosa Andr. (Fam.
Ranunculaceae).
Common Name: Moutan bark, Tree peony
bark.
Source of Earliest Record: Shennong
Bencao Jing.
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical
Preparations: The roots are dug and gathered in autumn. After the fibrous
roots have been removed, the roots are dried in the sun.
Properties & Taste: Bitter, pungent
and slightly cold.
Meridians: Heart, liver and kidney.
Functions: 1. To clear heat and cool
blood; 2. To invigorate blood and resolve blood stagnation.
Indications & Combinations:
1. Febrile disease in which pathogenic heat
enters the blood level manifested as fever, vomiting with blood, epistaxis,
blood in the urine, maculopapule and deep red tongue proper. Moutan bark
(Mudanpi) is used with Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang), Rhinoceros horn
(Xijiao) and Red peony (Chishao).
2. Late stage of febrile diseases with exhaustion
of body fluids or yin deficiency manifested as fever at night, and subsiding in
the morning, without presence of sweating, red tongue proper with scanty
coating and thready, rapid pulse. Moutan bark (Mudanpi) is used with
Anemarrhena rhizome (Zhimu), Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang), Turtle shell
(Biejia) and Sweet wormwood (Qinghao).
3. Blood stagnation manifested as
amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, hard masses, lumps, tumors and modules. Moutan
bark (Mudanpi) is used with Peach seed (Taoren), Cinnamon twigs (Guizhi), Red
peony (Chishao) and Poria (Fuling) in the formula Guizhi Fuling Wan.
4. Boil, carbuncles and furuncles. Moutan
bark (Mudanpi) is used with Honeysuckle flower (Jinyinhua) and Forsythia fruit
(Lianqiao).
5. For acute appendicitis with abdominal
pain and constipation, it is used with
Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (Da Huang) and Semen Persicae (Tao Ren). For suppurative
infections on the body surface, it is used with Flos Lonicerae ( Jin Ying Hua),
Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae (Lian Qiao), and Radix Angelicae Dahuricae (Bai
Zhi).
Dosage: 6-12 g, decocted in water for
oral use, or made into a bolus or powder. For clearing Blood Heat, it is used
unprepared; for promoting Blood circulation and removing Blood Stasis, it is
stir-baked with wine; for hemostasis, it is stir-baked until charred.
Cautions & Contraindications: This herb is contraindicated in Cold conditions due
to Blood Deficiency. Not to be used in cases
of menorrhagia and in pregnant women.
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