Evidence supporting the use of: White Peony
For the health condition: Headache (tension)

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Synopsis

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

White Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is known as "Bai Shao." In TCM, White Peony is often included in herbal formulas intended to treat headaches, especially those associated with tension, stress, or menstrual imbalance. The root is considered to nourish the blood, soothe the liver, and alleviate pain. Classical TCM texts frequently cite Bai Shao as beneficial for "Liver Qi stagnation" and "Blood deficiency"—patterns that, according to TCM theory, may manifest in symptoms like tension headaches.

White Peony is commonly combined with other herbs such as licorice (in the classic formula Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang) to address muscle spasm and pain, which can be related to tension headaches. However, while there is a strong traditional basis for its use, modern scientific studies directly evaluating White Peony for tension headaches are lacking. Some laboratory and animal studies indicate that constituents of White Peony, such as paeoniflorin, may have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects, but these findings are preliminary and not specific to headache treatment.

In summary, the use of White Peony for tension headaches is primarily supported by traditional use in TCM, with limited scientific evidence directly validating its efficacy for this specific condition. The overall evidence for its effectiveness in treating tension headaches is moderate within traditional practice but remains weak by modern scientific standards.

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