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| Red Peony used for liver conditions. |
Exhaustive review of research
After an exhaustive review of scientific journals, researchers from China’s Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine found eleven randomized and placebo-controlled studies that tested a Traditional Chinese Medicine herb called Chi shao against cholestatic hepatitis.
Chi shao utilizes the root of the red peony plant (Paeonia lactiflora or Paeonia veitchii).
These studies included 1,275 patients with diagnosed cholestatic hepatitis. Among the studies, patients were given either the Chi shao or placebo, or the Chi shao or conventional drug treatments.
After calculating the effectiveness among all the studies, the research concluded that the red peony root was able to significantly reduce cholestatic hepatitis symptoms - determined by reducing symptoms such as jaundice and reducing levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL).
The first two are liver enzymes that are typically found elevated among hepatitis patients. The remaining two bilirubin counts are related to the liver’s ability to conjugate bilirubin (from broken-down red blood cells) and excrete it through the bile to be eliminated through feces and some through urine.
When the liver is not working properly, cholestasis can form, which can block the flow of bile between the liver and the intestines. This leads to bilirubin being evacuated to the bloodstream, leading to jaundice.
How is red peony used?
The research utilized large dosages of the red peony root. The various studies gave patients an average of 25 grams of red peony per day in the treatments. Typical therapeutic doses run from about 4 grams to 9 grams of the whole root – often made into a “soup” by putting the ground or chopped root into boiling water.Sometimes the root is simply ground up and encapsulated, but putting with boiled water is the traditional use. This would be considered a hot water extract or infusion. TCM often refers to this as a "soup."
The red peony root is bitter and has blood purifying properties. It has been known to benefit the liver for many years and often used to detoxification and blood circulation problems in addition to liver disease or jaundice.
Most of the studies found the red peony to have excellent improvement in symptoms. In one study, for example, from China’s Hong’ a County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 45 hepatitis patients given the red peony twice a day with other Chinese herbs had a 93.4% effective rate while the 45 hepatitis patients given conventional treatment saw a 75% effective rate.
Some of the other studies also gave other herbs along with the red peony. These included diammonium glycyrrhizinate – a glycyrrhizic acid extract of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Some studies gave the peony treatment group vitamin C and vitamin K as well.
Red Peony used traditionally for liver issues
Traditional Chinese medicine healers have utilized red peony for centuries for liver issues, and not just for cholestatic hepatitis. Like most herbs, it has a whole-body and whole-organ effect so it can be applicable to other liver conditions as well.REFERENCE:
Xiao Ma, Ji Wang, Xuan He, et al., “Large Dosage of Chishao in Formulae for Cholestatic Hepatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2014, Article ID 328152, 10 pages, 2014. doi:10.1155/2014/328152