Evidence supporting the use of: Peony
For the health condition: Epilepsy

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Peony, particularly the root of Paeonia lactiflora (commonly known as Bai Shao), has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, especially within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, peony is often included in multi-herb formulas to "nourish the blood" and "calm the liver," terms that are sometimes associated with treating convulsive disorders, including epilepsy. Historical records and pharmacopoeias describe the use of peony root as an adjuvant for calming the nervous system and managing symptoms that may be consistent with epilepsy, such as involuntary muscle movement or spasms. However, the traditional context does not always correspond directly to the Western medical diagnosis of epilepsy.

From a scientific perspective, there is limited evidence to support the use of peony for epilepsy. Some preclinical studies have investigated the anticonvulsant properties of compounds isolated from peony, such as paeoniflorin, and have shown potential neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in animal models. However, these findings are preliminary and have not translated into strong clinical evidence in humans. Therefore, while tradition supports the use of peony in epilepsy, this is not strongly validated by modern scientific research, and the evidence quality remains low (rated 2 out of 5).

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