Peony Root (Shao yao)

• functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
• WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
• public pharmacopoeia & botanical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).

Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.

传统中医记载：芍药养血敛阴、柔肝止痛、平肝。《本经》主邪气腹痛、除血痹、破坚积、寒热疝瘕、止痛、利小便、益气；《别录》通顺血脉、缓中、散恶血、利膀胱大小肠、消痈肿；张元素谓泻肝、安脾肺、收胃气、止泻利、和血脉、收阴气。古人辨白芍益脾柔肝（补）、赤芍散邪行滞（泻）。

Nature & flavor: 苦，平，无毒（《本经》）；《别录》谓酸、微寒、有小毒；张元素谓性寒味酸；李杲谓白芍药酸平有小毒；王好古谓味酸而苦、气薄味厚、阴降、为手足太阴行经药、入肝脾血分。·Meridians: 肺（手太阴）, 脾（足太阴）, 肝（血分）

• Cinnamon Twig minus Cinnamon plus Poria and Atractylodes Decoction
• Peony, Licorice and Aconite Decoction
• Peony and Licorice Decoction
• Astragalus and Cinnamon Twig Five-Substance Decoction
• Cinnamon Twig, Peony and Anemarrhena Decoction
• Discharge Pus Powder
• True Warrior Decoction
• Cinnamon Twig Decoction Plus Astragalus
• Cinnamon Twig plus Aconite Decoction
• Cinnamon Twig plus Cinnamon Decoction
• Minor Blue Dragon Decoction
• Cinnamon Twig plus Peony Decoction
• Cinnamon Twig Decoction
• Half Cinnamon Twig and Half Ephedra Decoction
• Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Peony, Fresh Ginger and Ginseng (New Supplement)
• Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities plus Evodia and Fresh Ginger
• Scutellaria plus Pinellia and Fresh Ginger Decoction
• Two-Parts Cinnamon Twig One-Part Ephedra Decoction
• Cannabis Seed Pill
• Astragalus, Peony and Cinnamon Twig Decoction with Vinegar
• Two-Parts Cinnamon Twig One-Part Yuebi Decoction
• Chinese Angelica and Peony Powder
• Immature Bitter Orange and Peony Powder
• Scutellaria Decoction
• Cinnamon Twig plus Rhubarb Decoction
• Cinnamon Twig plus Kudzu Decoction
• Coptis and Ass-Hide Gelatin Decoction
• Trichosanthes Root and Cinnamon Twig Decoction
• Chinese Angelica Powder
• Kansui and Pinellia Decoction
• Major Bupleurum Decoction
• Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities
• Warm the Menses Decoction
• Frigid Extremities Powder
• Minor Construct the Middle Decoction
• Kudzu plus Pinellia Decoction
• Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Magnolia Bark and Apricot Kernel
• Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill
• Aconite Decoction
• Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction
• Kudzu Decoction
• Rhubarb and Eupolyphaga Pill
• Running Piglet Decoction
• Ephedra and Cimicifuga Decoction
• Vaccaria Powder
• Turtle Shell Decocted Pill
• Dioscorea Pill

• Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十四·草部·芳草类·芍药（条目标题·《本经》中品）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
• Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十四·草部·芳草类·芍药·释名（原文含「白术」，因与白术冲突已剔除）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its alternate names.
• Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十四·草部·芳草类·芍药·气味（《本经》《别录》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
• Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十四·草部·芳草类·芍药·气味（王好古）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
• Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十四·草部·芳草类·芍药·气味（归经·王好古：手足太阴行经、入肝脾血分）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its meridian tropism.
• Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十四·草部·芳草类·芍药·主治（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
• Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十四·草部·芳草类·芍药·主治（张元素）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
• Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十四·草部·芳草类·芍药·气味（畏恶反·徐之才：反藜芦）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.
• Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十四·草部·芳草类·芍药·发明（寇宗奭·血虚寒人禁之）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.